Anyone got a KIA Sorrento? Any good?

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PercyMum

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Hi All

My THIRD Discovery has just exploded despite careful servicing and very little towing. I now hate Land Rovers and am never having another!! :mad:

Anyway, the KIA Sorrento looks really nice, big kerb weights, lots of toys, good mpg and cheap! There must be a catch... Does anyone have one? Are they nice and worth looking at? Do they tow well?

Thanks! :)
 
Yep very pleased with my Sorrento. The towing weight is really good but is less on the new model so you need to consider this if buying new. We bought a 2 year old Sorrento a year ago which has a max tow weight of 3000kgs and did a lot of research before we decided what to buy. Also wanted a manual because prefer to tow with a manual and they are very hard to find. (We were lucky and found one previously owned by Kia -probably an ex demo car -which was immaculate and only had 6000 on the clock). It tows really well and we have had no problems. I have seen lots of comments where people say you can't beat a Discovery but the Sorrento gives good mpg and I believe the manual is a lower insurance group. I have had a couple of people turn their nose up because it's a Kia but I think its a really nice car. It drives more like a Landrover and is a real workhorse. Ours is affectionately known as 'The Beast' and has certainly been very reliable.
 
We changed to the Sorrento after the disco blew up on the motorway towing two horses, total nightmare.
Its an 03 plate, and up until this year there has been no problems at all. The starter motor was replaced a few months ago, but this may be a standard Kia issue as our Carens is now doing the same and is the same age.
Hope this helps...:)
 
yes! I bought mine in sept. Got an 05 plate sorento sport with only 45k mileage. I would recommend the sport cuz its got fab power. Been amazing in snow too! Good at towing.
 
i don't have any personal experience of the Sorrento but most people seem very pleased with it and you do get a lot for your money. Plus, you get as standard a 5 year warranty as opposed to the normal 3 with most manufacturers. You may also want to look at the Hyundai Santa Fe as it is a similar price and again you get a lot for your money. I do not know how the towing capacity compares though but again you get a longer warranty and in general they do not seem to suffer too many regular issues (unlike the Discoveries and Freelanders)
 
hadfos said:
Can i ask what age the disco's were and Why they Blew up? x
Click to expand...

Admittedly they were all slightly elderly, but all had lowish mileage, FSH and weren't thrashed! Blew up probably a bit of an exaggeration really; first one's clutch kept going, second really did blow up (head gasket went and cracked the head) and the recent ones transfer box has gone and ballsed up a load of other stuff. £3500 to fix! It's not just that, they constantly had niggles. The only other cars I had were a VW Golf estate and a 4Trak. Neither ever had even the teeniest problem! It's a shame because I am a secret Land Rover snob:rolleyes:

But I so glad there seems lots of positives on the KIA. I really like the look of them! So excited! :D
 
I have a kia sorento and also love and recommend it. Fab car! Tows well, loads of space and gadget, smooth refined drive and not tooooo hefty on fuel. Ours is a '53 XS.
 
We are on our second Sorrento, we have had both from new and love them, we tow our Equi Trek with ease. Our mechanic reckons there isn't a better 4 x4 on the Market for the money.
 
Hello

I have one and love it. Mine is a 55 plate XS Manual, and it's just brilliant. I bought it Nov 2007, have done 60,000 miles in it and nothing has yet gone wrong (famous last words...). Towing it tows like a dream - my one niggle is that I'd say the gear ratios are set out better for towing than normal driving, and yet we do more normal driving than towing, I'd argue. But at least the horse gets a smooth ride. Suspension is (very) firm in the older ones - a reflection of how sturdily it is built.

I'm now looking to replace mine with a newer one and am not sure whether to go for the newer lighter less capable 4x4 model but with 7-year warranty, or the same model as mine but newer. Decisions decisions!
 
What voted best towing vechical by one of the Horse mags - cant mind which one, but they did a review on all 4x4 and that came out tops..!

I know a few people with them and they all love them
 
I have the auto which is fab and so easy to drive and no problem hauling an ifor over ditches on dodgy verges !

Very sold and built on a proper chassis

The downsides:
My auto is thirsty, although could be related to a heavy right foot and short driving distances

The tyres - depending on the rims, you don't have a huge choice - I would like some more mud / winter tyre choice!
 
Another thumbs up for the sorento from me!

OK so it looks a bit cheap/plasticy, but it tows well enough (i have the auto, can tow 2.8 tons) and has stacks of room in the back, its a really big car.

I would say the best car i've ever towed with was a 4 litre petrol grand cherokee tho....but wouldn't want the running cost, that was mega thirsty!
 
yes, just bought one two weeks ago for towing,

its fantastic has much more of a car feel than my old discovery.

towing weight is great at 2800kg and my dad says its so nice compared to a dscovery to drive

road tax is 200 cheaper than a discovery aswell

the boot is huuuuuuuuge and fits my dads three bikes in with back seats down,

its very comfy too perfect tow car

oh yes we managed to find a manual with only 56000 miles on a 54 plated and we are very pleased as manuals are hard to find! auto would tow fine but my dad prefers manual
 
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Yay! I'm so excited that everyone seems to thik they are good! have booked a test drive tomorrow. I think I want an XS manual - about an 06 plate I reckon. I can't afford a new one, and it sounds like the old ones are better for towing anyway? I have a lorry and its fab but I like to have the option to tow (haven't got a lorry test)- only time I needed the lorry in an emergency it blinkin well broke down! :rolleyes: Horse needed rushing to hospital and I was stuck with a trailer but no tow car. Never again!!!

Although now I am being really girly and wondering about colours :D
 
We have two , dads was bought brand new and shared by my mum for towing its a few years old now but has no problems and still tows hay and straw around the countryside!

Mum liked it so much she has just bought her own so we are independent for towing the horsebox. Its the new shape model 60 plate and is veryyy nice! (im jealous!) it tows really well and when not towing is very nippy around town etc.

I would reccomend them!

Also mum test drove all the 4x4 including landerovers audis etc and this was by far the best value for money and gave the best drive!
 
i hope you like it after the test drive!!!!

they really are a nice car

out of a ......

L Reg Discovery and 54 plate discovery we like the sorento by far the best

its my grandad who has the 54 discovery and he went along with my dad when we went to pick it up and he wishes he had got a sorento now!!

It had won towing car of the year too,

most second hand ones have towbars too which is a bonus

ours can be switched from two wheel drive to four wheel drive with the flick of a button and you dont even have to stop !!

this is good as when not towing its much more economical

hope you fine one:D
 
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