Used test: Ford Edge vs Kia Sorento

The Contenders

Ford Edge 2.0 TDCI 210 Titanium auto

List price when new: £34,495

Price today: £20,000*

Available from: 2016-present

Ford’s biggest SUV offers plenty of space and is nice to drive, but there’s no seven-seat option.

Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi KX-2 auto

List price when new: £33,700

Price today: £18,000*

Available from: 2015-present

Not only is the Kia cheaper than the Ford, but with seven seats it’s also more practical.

*Price is based on a 2016 model with average mileage and full service history, correct at time of writing

For many people, an SUV isn’t a vehicle they want to buy, but something they need. Fortunately, whether you have a family to ferry around, want to tow a trailer or caravan or need the all-weather traction of four-wheel drive, one of these big bruisers from Ford or Kia should tick all the boxes.

The Ford Edge is the biggest SUV the company has sold in the UK for years, and it’s a spacious five-seater that’s based on the same platform as the Ford Mondeo family car rather than some primitive American truck.

Our other contender is the Kia Sorento which is one of our favourite seven-seat SUVs. It’s a little cheaper than the Edge, yet it has the advantage of two extra seats. And if you buy a 2016 example like this one using Kia’s approved used scheme, the warranty is topped back up to seven years.

What are they like to drive? 

Given the rather large proportions of these cars, it’s just as well that both are fitted with gutsy diesel engines. True, the Edge has a smaller unit, but it actually has more power than the Sorento’s. The Sorento is quicker from 0-60mph, but the Edge accelerates more briskly if you put your foot down once the car is on the move.

The Edge’s dual-clutch gearbox helps here, shifting quicker than the Sorento’s conventional automatic. However, both change gears smoothly, with the Sorento particularly impressive in this regard.

If towing capacity is a priority, it’s worth noting that the Edge can haul 200kg more than its rival. That said, the Sorento’s 2000kg capacity is still enough to tow a large caravan.

There’s a bigger gap when it comes to handling, with the Edge’s steering being more precise than the Sorento’s, helping you place the front of the car easily in corners. What’s more, the vagueness of the Sorento’s steering means that you have to make small corrections to keep it in the centre of your lane, especially on the motorway.

Adding to the Edge’s advantage is the fact that it rolls less when it’s cornering, helping it feel keener to change direction. That’s not to say the Sorento is too sloppy, however; it still resists roll well for such a big car and can be hustled through a series of bends briskly enough.

The Kia Sorento feels softer in corners, so you might expect it to be the more comfortable car. However, the Ford Edge stays more controlled over bumps, and it copes better with poorly repaired roads, despite its wheels being an inch larger in diameter.

Throw in the fact that the Edge is a quieter cruiser, due in part to a noise cancellation system that works in much the same way as high-end headphones, and it's undoubtedly nicer to drive.

Next: What are they like inside? >

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