NOW in its fourth generation the Kia Sorento is a large first-class family SUV that offers stacks of kit and space.

The Sorento has been a serious player in the large SUV market since it arrived back in 2002 offering seven seats at a price much lower than the opposition were charging for fewer seats and less space.

It has evolved over the years and this Mk4 version is now much more up-market and rivals many more expensive machines with premium badges.

The Sorento is not designed to take you where a Land Rover could go but with its intelligent four-wheel-drive system it does have some off-road ability and will cope with some rough stuff, towing, snow, mud and ice.

It is a big lump with the usual Kia face but it is handsome and can carry seven people in comfort along with luggage, making it ideal for larger families or for lifestyle needs.

There are a number of engine options but my car was the hybrid with a 1.49kWh battery that works alongside the petrol 1.6-litre engine to drive down emissions and boost performance.

The Edition is the only trim level available and it has lots of kit including 19-inch black alloy wheels, a power tailgate, panoramic sunroof, front and rear leather heated seats, a 360 degree camera and a top end Bose sound system.

The front grille, mirror caps, side window trim and roof rails are all finished in black to enhance the Sorento's appearance.

The comfortable cabin is well designed and compares well with more expensive opposition. It features a 12.3-inch digital display and all the controls and relevant displays are easily read. There is a lot of black but the soft-touch materials do lift things.

The large touch screen is clear and easy to operate on the move.

It corners well for a car of this size and the 1.6-litre, four-cylinder engine is smooth and fairly quiet even though it is working hard to move this big SUV. It can still reach 62mph in nine seconds and has a top speed of over 100mph.

The Sorento cruises nicely at motorway speeds and it is also handy on country roads and its electronic aids help it out in town.

The space it offers is truly impressive and it is surprisinglyeconomical for such a big car with a combined figure of 38.2 mpg and I managed more than 40mpg on one longer run.

It comes with all the latest driver aids and safety systems and as usual it is backed by Kia's award-winning seven-year warranty.