KIA is on a roll, notching up successes in most sectors of the industry and still offering an eye-catching seven year warranty.

That goes for all of its models from the city car Picanto, right up the revamped seven-seat Sorento SUV.

It's not hard to see why the company is so successful. The cars have always offered great value for money and the back up of that industry-leading warranty is the icing on the cake.

Kias are no longer bargain basement, with all models now offering styling as good as anything on the market, build quality hard to differentiate from more expensive brands, excellent engines and a still attractive price.

The flagship Sorento is now in its third generation and is longer, wider and roomier than its predecessors.

It starts at £28,795 and is a stylish as you will find on the market, featuring intelligent all-wheel drive, 17-inch alloy wheels, electric windows and folding door mirrors, air con, reversing sensors, Bluetooth with voice recognition and cruise control.

Kia says the new car is part of a concerted effort to move into the premium car sector. It looks good, for an SUV, with a sleeker profile, lower roof, neat light clusters with daytime running lights and stylish alloy wheels.

There's no doubt that the style and substance of the interior is up there, mostly, challenging the best, with classy upholstery and high quality soft touch finish throughout.

The instrument cluster features white-on-black graphics and a seven-inch display which controls major functions such as sat nav, connectivity and infotainment.

Piano black trim finishes it all off nicely. All are well equipped and feature a comprehensive list of safety kit. Some goodies are a first for the Sorento including advanced cruise control, blind spot detection, lane departure warning surround view monitoring.

There will be no confusion over which engine to choose either, with the single 197bhp 2.2-litre turbo diesel and four trim levels, the KX-1, KX-2, KX-3 and KX-4. On this model, the leather upholstery, although making the cabin a bit darker, is another quality addition giving that executive feel Kia are looking for that could appeal to business users looking a multi-purpose vehicle.

As with any seven seater, the interior is huge and roomy. Large glass areas allows light to flood into the cabin, mitigating the darker upholstery. Five occupants can sit in comfort, while the rearmost two seats would really only suit children for longer journeys.

Both fold away into the boot floor opening up good stowage space, while the second row also fold to allow extra space. Overall, boot space has been increased by 90 litres.

It's a highly versatile vehicle which will appeal to private and business users.

The EU6-compliant 2.2-litre CRDi diesel engine features a NOx trap, while CO2 emissions are a claimed 161g/km. Economy is decent with stop/go technology. But the claimed 46.3mpg proved nearer 36mpg on the test run, while the engine itself is punchy and refined.

It is capable of hitting 60mph from a standing start in just nine seconds. This is great in a straight line, but accelerating into corners means there is body roll, but you would expect that from a vehicle of this size.

The ride is on the soft side, but comfortable for all occupants, while good soundproofing keeps road and engine noise at bay. The large door mirrors to allows for some wind noise, which in truth is barely audible.

The latest Sorento is a big leap forward offering a comprehensive list of kit for the money, good looks, high quality interior and huge practicality.