Kia Sorento

hciaffa

All the accessories I mention in my post897 (mudflaps, hood bug/stone deflector, window vent shades and cargo tray) are Kia parts. Right now there are no after market parts such as these because the Sorento is to new. Heck When I called my insurance company to drop the Forester and add the Sorento the rep had go looking for info because it had not been posted yet. I am nno crazy about the bug deflector that Kia offers but until one is offered by companies like Vent shade it'll do. The sales man said he was going to look into step rails and see if they are ready to be sold yet.

lok888

There is a second TV commericals with Joe Isuzu. Is he not doing any commericals for Isuzu?

mikesf

In Canada, the LX comes with:
ABS
4WD
Mags (Alloy Wheels)
Fog Lamps
Roof rack

Cheers!

surfmaster

Howdy All

I've been lurking here a month or so and am racking my brain on whether to jump at a buying a EX (Canadian version) or to wait a year or two and see what the reliability is, depreciation, etc. The Sorento fits our needs well (tow ability, some off-road camping, frame, TOD, looks, and value), but I can't seem to sign on the line. Have done 3 test drives, many talks with dealer, called up other buyers, even talked with head office wrt Warranty, dealer service, etc. Still, something is holding me back....

Is it Kia's past quality? their financial woes? new model year unknowns? Kia's less than stellar reviews in term's of quality and resale value (early Sportage, Sephia, etc)??? Sparse dealer support?

I guess I am not convinced that in 4-5 years there will be a lot of market value to the vehicle, and that it will likely have numerous, if perhaps minor, problems. Yes it has a great warranty but any lack in design now is with the vehicle forever. I am not trying to flame anyone elses decision or the Sorento (I do like it..) But there is some serious risks to resolve in purchasing one, again, based on both the "first year model" issue and the Kia "reliability" issue (perhaps more a "too good to be true at this price" issue).

Any thoughts?? Its a great package, I just need a little convincing BEYOND the obvious price advantage. Maybe I just don't have a good read on Kia yet, but I've read everything I can find.

Sorry for the ramble - I won't do it again (.....tonight)

anonymous02

Anybody know what size wheels and tires come on the Sorento?

What is the ground clearance? Approach and departure?

breakover?
wheelbase?

towing capacity?

fickle

Why buy something you're not TOTALLY happy with? (Unless you really need the car.) If you can, I'd wait to see what the quality is, if the price will drop, etc. The initial "new car buzz" will dissipate in a few months and then anytime you have noises or problems, you'll kick yourself for buying "too soon." What's the harm in waiting?

300silverbulit

just reading about the vehicle you want in the town hall instead of driving it!

schip1

Wheels: 7JJx16
Tires: P245/70R16, Michelin Cross Terrain
Ground Clearance: 8.2 inches
Approach: 28.4 degrees
Departure: 26.7 degrees
Breakover: ??
Wheelbase: 106.7 inches
Towing: 3,500 lbs.

schip1

I agree with fickle's comments. You shouldn't make such a major investment with your serious concerns. I don't think there's anything anyone can say here, that you haven't read about or thought about already, to convince you one way or another. It seems to me, you're looking for a Lexus at a KIA price....don't think that's going to happen....and if it did, everyone would be sold out!

"...I am not convinced that in 4-5 years there will be a lot of market value to the vehicle..." I don't recall anyone here or in any publication, claiming that the Sorento will hold its value better than average.

"But there are some serious risks to resolve in purchasing one, again, based on both the "first year model" issue and the Kia "reliability" issue..." Well, if the risks are so serious, then buy something else, anything else. Ask yourself this question: how long are you willing to wait for it to no longer be a "first year model"? My guess is that whether you say 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years, when time is up, you'll still be sitting on the fence. Reliability? Do you want to wait until Consumer Reports issues its first survey or do you want to wait 10 years? By then, you won't have to worry about your "too good to be true at this price" concern, because KIA prices will no longer be bargains.

surfmaster

Thanks - I agree, wait for the buzz to die. The only thing is that we can't wait to replace our present vehicle - looking to buy within the next few weeks. I will likely get the Sorento EX- as I said, it meets what we need at a great price. But as you know, there is a (perceived) risk to a first year model, compounded by the shorter (relative to others) track record of Kia. So I guess my only question is "Is the perceived Kia "first year model issue" greater or the same as any other maufacs. perceived "first year model" issue? I dunno...

Besides, is anyone ever "totally" happy with the vehicle they decide on? A vehicle decision is almost ALWAYS a compromise....

jon1102

#903 Just to let you know that is not Joe Isuzu in the Kia Commercial.

surfmaster

No, not really sitting on a fence - see my time frame I mentioned above. And no, I don't want a Lexus at a Kia price, I like the Sorento, as I said. But a great price is only one of the many factors we must reason and compromise on. Low price vs quality? A tradeoff many if not all carmakers play with daily. I want to believe that Kia has found a way to give "Lexus-like" quality at a more realistic price, but I don't quite yet believe it. So when I gamble on the first year issue, is a Sorento likely to have less first year risk than other carmakers? Has Kia built in the quality now so they can raise the price in later model years as you and others here suggest? Or does anyone know??
Rhetorical at best, but good for some neighbourly, er...neighborly, fence chat....

lok888

I feel the same way like surfmaster and agree with fickle. I drove it. I saw many positive post and the awards. I still concern the Kia's past quality and past resale value. Kia came to US in 1994. They built Ford Festive between 1988 to 1992. I don't know its name until the Sportage came out. Kia became more popular with its 10 yr/100000 miles warranty. They don't have any vehicles with 10 or more years old (unlike Corolla, Accord, Civic). Maybe I am too young to remember when Honda and other Japanese cars first came to US. Did people feel the same way like Kia and Hyundai now? What if Ford owns Kia now? However, Sedona should be a good model for Kia. It is one year old. Let's see someone is running a long-term test.

loyalone

Thanks for the info again mikesf. I was on kia's canadian site - www.kia.ca and the specs are different than what you describe. It shows abs, the fog lights, and the side curtain airbag as not being part of the standard equipment. What gives?

anonymous02

...according to some. Some here (need cites, please) state that the Sorento has been available overseas before this year.

???

Anyone have some concrete proof to back this up?

Edmunds hosts?

mikesf

Loyalone, go to the Canadian website and download the brochure (pdf format). In it (last page) you'll see the correct specs. Whoever made that specs table is WAY OFF!!! For example, in it the LX gets body side moulding and the EX and EX Luxury don't. I'm going to inform KIA Canada to get a grip.

lok888

Looked at the Canadian site. There is no side curtain airbag or heated side mirror for the LX. I like the bumper guard (gray or beige). I don't know we have that in US. Still no running boards except Korean version. Korean has few more color too. It costs $29795 in Canadian dollars. It has only 5 years warranty on everything for Canada.

lok888

Canadian also has the side curtain airbag and heated mirror on all models. The site must be wrong. The brochure (print online) indicates these items for all models. The 1-year/20000 km Extra Care warranty also covers the light bulbs, wiper blades fuses, brake pads, etc. Maybe it is an option to buy. BTW, how is the Kia warranty apply when US cars travel in Canadian? Am I able to got tow, gas and logging reimburse?

stever

I don't know about KIA USA's policy. Most all the others (Nissan USA, Honda, etc.) don't honour the warranty on Canadian cars shipped to the states.

Gray Area; What You Need to Know About Canadian Cars in the U.S.



The Sedona sells under Carnival name overseas and has been available a year or two ahead of the Sedona's introduction in the States. I believe that the Sorento is new worldwide. No cites ;-)

Steve, Host

loyalone

Mikesf, you are right, thanks again. My wife called to tell me that she parked beside a black LX this morning and checked it out. She loved the look of the all black with the windows all tinted. She said she prefers that over the two tone EX models. If the only thing you give up is the full time AWD, the LX looks like the better value

lok888

steve - I properly asked this question not quite well. I was wondering if someone know if we can get the warranty coverage when U.S. cars travel and break down in Canada, Mexico or outside US. And not buying cars from Canada. Is the factory still apply? I just looked at the Kia warranty in Canada is 5 years on everything, basic, powertrain and roadside assistant.

stever

Ah, I misunderstood and leapt to conclusions. Sorry.

Even sorrier, I'm afraid, 'cause I don't know the answer.... Anyone?

Steve, Host
(same answer to your Rover question too)

lok888

I just got an answer from Kia. The warranty is only active in the U.S. If you leave the country, the warranty wouldn't be in effect. However, if you need to have repair work done or need to get towed, they suggest you have all the receipts and call the Consumer Assistance Center. They can give you an address to submit the receipts for reimbursement consideration. I am sure they will consider it if the repair work done by non-Kia facilities. BTW, it took only few hours for the Kia to respond me by email regarding the warranty coverage. I don't know if any cars can do the same for car travels outside the U.S..

lok888

Not long ago, either Motor Trend or Car and Driver has a column about the roadside assistant. Can anyone refresh my memory on this? I think they ran a test with Toyota and some other car company which offer the roadside assistant (option or some came with the car) to see how fast they can respond and how well they can resolve the problem. Any comments from current Kia owners?

saber86

The road side service is nothing more than having a free membership to an auto club like AAA. Most manufactures will give you complimentary road side service during the basic bumper to bumper warranty. I know this first hand because when i was in college I worked as a dispatcher for AAA. Basically road side service is tow, tire change(must have good spare), lock out assistance, battery boost, and simple winchouts.

The people who are answering the phones are basically your college students and are not some highly trained technician as some people think. I used to answer for porsche, jaguar, toyota, and few others.

The people they dispatch are your basic local tow truck driver and you may see the same people come out if you owned different vehicles because they maybe contracted with different auto clubs. This is why it is good idea to read your owners manual and know how to get the spare tire down because the person who is coming may not know a thing about how to get the spare down on a sorento as an example.

I, along with others in my unit used to get a real good laugh when porsche owners thought we were some highly trained technician and had this great knowledge of their cars. Our source of technical knowledge did not go beyond reading the owners manual. *L*

stever

The next question, since I've never had AAA or anything like it is: Will the tow driver get there any faster if dispatched by AAA than if I just call one out myself?

(I have a hide-a-key, jumper cables and am too well acquainted with my spare tire!)

Steve, Host

carspy01

Buying decision: Well, nobody thought in the beginning that Ford might mess up the Focus, which was available in Europe 1 1/2 years earlier, and is a great vehicle (European versions!!!). Well, I guess we are at recall number 13, aren't we?
Same for the Escape. Hype was there, positive reviews - it did not live up to expectations, but is a top-seller. Will you have the same problems with the Sorento? I do NOT think so because of several reasons, which would definitely fill some more pages. However, Kia was at the bottom because of quality issues, needed to turn 180 degrees, they learned, they applied an integrated process under Hyundai lead, learned, learned, learned, and made it work. Was Ford ever in this situation? You know the answer.

The US warranty is an US warranty, applicable and valid here only.

The Sorento was available introduced in Korea first, then Japan, and other Asian countries in the first quarter of 2002. Europe followed with the 2.4l Common Rail Diesel version in July 2002. Depending on your use of a solar calculator UNDER a blanket.... well, it's still not a year old...

anonymous02

...that we will have a diesel version over here in 8 months (same time frame)?

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE???

saber86

Steve_Host

Well it depends on the situation. The time of the day, weather, geographic location, and etc etc. Generally I find the towers tend to respond faster to customers who call them directly because they can charge them full retail rates versus auto club calls which are paid on pre determined contracted rates. The contracted rates are usually much lower because the auto clubs get big discount because of volume of calls they give.

It was not unusual for customers to call manufactures road side service and also call AAA to see who would get there first. They didn't realize they are often calling the same company and towers would tell us they just received a same call under AAA few mins ago. Most towers are honest and they will cancel the duplicate call, but there are some dishonest towers who don't say anything and get paid twice for same call.

stever

Thanks! I think my car insurance reimburses $50 (big whoop) for towing, but I've not had to tow a car for decades now (touch wood!).

Steve, Host

hciaffa

We picked up our Sorento EX w/luxury and we are off and running. So far my first impression of driving has been very good. A solid vehicle with many little amenties not mentioned in the brochure or even that the sales people now of. I assembled the Sorento mudflaps and it adds a little flare to the Sorento. Lots of heads turning at the mall when we parked and one person came up to me and asked "I didn't know the Lexus came in green". I will be busy this weekend helping my daughter move and the wife will surely critique her Sorento. So far for me the front leather seats are a little stiff but I 'm sure they will break in. But I noticed that they are wide and give good support, also we had three adults in the back seat. Plenty of leg/knee/head room as well as that they didn't feel as they were shoe horned in the back seat. As I went over the exterior I noticed the fit and finish are relly good given the rap that Korean auto manufactures have gotten. Eveything is tight and well put together. No transmission slippage as mentioned in other posts but there is some wind noise around the door seals. and the locking remote works just fine at about 25-30 feet away. Got to run, so I will give a report on Monday.

jsal74

be buying a Sorento! Hi all... I was up till 2 am last night reading *all* the posts on this board. Great stuff, and lots of help in helping me make my decision. I test drove an EX about three days ago and needed a bit more info on it before I took the plunge. Although, I did love it as soon as I saw it. I test drove a Silver/Gray EX w/o Lux package. Im 6'1" 225 lbs and I was more than comfortable in it. MSRP was $22,725 and dealer was definately willing to go below it.(Im in Richmond, VA)
A couple of questions:
I am looking to buy within a month or two, should I wait to get crash ratings first?

Has anyone financed with peoplefirst.com? Good or bad experiences?

Kia has all sorts of special financing for all their models except the Sorento, has anyone heard if they might be coming up with something?

Sorry so long and a bit off subject, but thanks for all the info... and I look forward to getting one soon!

J

djasonw

Well... I wish I could have driven it (did not want to waste the salesman's time). I mainly wanted to see the interior and look at the quality. I was AMAZED at how well put together this vehicle is!! I happen to own an Audi allroad and would consider the KIA as a second car. The price for what you get is UNBELIEVABLE and the warranty is icing on the cake. After my friend and I looked at the Sorento we looked at the Volvo XC90 and some Mercedes models. Let me tell ya.... the Sorento is up there with them!!!! BRAVO to KIA for a job well done. Good luck to all. I'll be checking in periodically!

jon1102

I am definitely going to buy a Sorento as well. I live in Richmond, Va too and have been talking to Jeff at Pence Kia. I'm interested in an EX with Luxury Pkg and possibly 4X4. I haven't totally decided if I want to do something now or wait till the 2nd year because of the notorious first year problems and to also see what Kia changes and improves on the 2nd year. Also, kind of concerned about the resale value. What dealer are you going to? Please let me know what kind of deal you get.

dirk1970

I have an LX Sorento in Canada but haven't noticed a front wiper deicer as mentioned in the spec's. Side mirror and rear deicer work great allthough. Noticed mikesf has the same Sorento as myself, what kind of mileage do you get? I'm getting approximately 550Km per 75 liters highwayand 400Km per 75 liters city.

jsal74

Hey... good to hear that others in Richmond are interested in the Sorento. I also went to Pence, and so far I have had a good experience. I made it clear that I was not buying on the spot, and they still spent about an hour with me. I spoke with Tom over there(the Internet salesperson). He was very helpful, as well as the Finance guy.(We threw some preliminary #'s around) Tom was willing to let me take it by myself for awhile, although I declined because I wanted the wife to try it out also, and she was not available. I get the feeling that I can beat MSRP, and that they will not be adding crazy ADM fees. As far as resale goes, I see myself holding on to this truck for awhile, so I am not too worried about this, although I would strongly recommend gap insurance. I am going to wait at least a month before I purchase b/c I think KIA might come up with something after the holidays... who knows? Maybe not, but I am willing to sit on it. I would also like to see some type of crash ratings, but feel that if it is built as well as the Sedona, then I can feel comfortable purchasing this truck.
I'll keep you posted

-J

brebh

Picked up my loaded EX silver and gray last night. I got the extended 10yr 100k bumper to bumper for $895. I figured a few bucs a month over the 10 yrs was worth it.
Anyway, The Sorento is very impressive so far. The only gripe I have is the shift lever does not indicate what gear your in, have to get used to looking at the dash. The leather feels great and the stereo rocks! If anyone has any specific questions drop me an email brebh1@aol.com.

steve_on

Did you get a KIA one or an after market?

Extending to 10 years sounds like a good thing to buy.

carspy01

#929: No, no Diesel planned for Northamerica yet.
#933: Of course, you can wait to get crash ratings. However, I think they are not scheduled for the next 5 months or so. Check the NHTSA and IIHS websites. However, Kia did internal tests, and as far as I know, expect 5 star front and side ratings. One of the reasons will be the heavy structure of the truck frame, etc.

schip1

hciaffa: I know what you mean about finding all those little extras. In previous posts, I've mentioned being tickled pink each time I find something new. I haven't noticed any wind noise. Which door(s) is the noise coming from? Are the mud flaps a KIA accessory? I agree with you totally about the fit and finish and the keyless remote (25-30 feet sounds about right). About the closest I've come to discovering a 'flaw' is a slight wrinkle in the leather of the driver's seat, where the seat meets the back cushion.

jsal74: I sort of recall reading somewhere that the Sorento is expected to receive a 5-star crash rating. Safety is important to our family also, but I figure with full side airbag curtains in the front AND back, and 4,200 lbs, we'll be ok. Good luck with your future purchase!

djasonw: your comments scored a bulls-eye! It is AMAZING and it is UNBELIEVABLE! It almost doesn't seem right to get so many features and of such high quality, for under $25,000. I keep thinking the dealer or KIA is going to send me a bill for 'balance due'

dirk1970: I don't know anything about the Canadian versions, but here in the US, the button for the electric front wiper deicer is to the right of the hazard/warning button and to the left of the heater for the passenger seat.

We have had our Sorento for almost 4 weeks now...1,500 miles on it already Last fill-up was 19.90 mpg (8.46 Km/liter, I think) . I gotta take it on a longer trip to get over the 20 mpg barrier!

Happy motoring, everyone!

steve_on

I'm looking hard at a Sorento, EX 4 x 4 without the Luxary package. The 6 disk radio would be nice, the heated seats in So Calf. are a bit useless, so that leaves the "auto headlights". What exactly does that gizmo do?

schip1

Steve, there is a photo-sensor on the dash, which turns on/off the headlights as needed. Additionally, they turn off or on, when the engine is off or on.

Don't forget.....the luxury package also includes auto climate control, TOD AWD, leather seats (which can be ordered separately, of course), chrome accents, and wood grain/leather steering wheel (just like the RX300).

Now, is all this worth an extra $1,830? Your call! Hope this helps.

stockey

It also comes with the luxury package.

porsche4me

My wife, who is no car nut but likes luxury vehicles, was considering trading in her Acura for either the Lexus RX300 or a used Mercedes E-class. Upon seeing the Sorento commercial for the first time, her comment was that she really liked the way the Sorento looks. In the end, when Kia displayed its name, her jaw just about dropped. Not surprisingly, in the end, we won't be getting one just because it is a Kia. Maybe if Kia keeps improving their image with more vehicles like the Sorento, next time our decision might swing the other way.

schip1

Stockey, thanks for the input, but for the USA versions, sunroofs come standard with the EX trim.

fopjustice

What's the difference between regular air conditioning and automatic climate control?

beach15

While with regular air conditioning, you turn it on and turn it off manually when you want, with automatic air conditioning, it's like the climate controls in most homes. Set it to a temperature you like and put the air on, and it will run as needed to keep things at that temperature.

Both of our last two vehicles have had automatic climate control, but I've never noticed much of a difference. If you're one to set a temperature and leave it there, it's probably for you. But, just not a dire need.

tnel332

I haven't driven on yet. Was going to today but someone busted out one of my car windows and I spent the time allotted ( I was very busy today..haha)cleaning up the mess. All I want in a car is ABS and AWD. Do I have to get the EX with the lux package to get AWD or TOD as they call it? Sounds like I do but I'm hoping.....

schip1

The KIA Auto Climate Control (ACC) is a bit more sophisticated than most home units. With most home units, you need to manually switch from A/C to heat and vice versa. Most home units also do not have variable speed fans or directional vents. With the KIA ACC, once you set the temperature, it will automatically switch between A/C, heat, or ambient as needed. It will also adjust the fan speed and the vents (floor or dash or both or defrost) as needed. On our Infiniti's ACC, once you touch one of the controls, it cancels the ACC and you're back to manual everything. With the KIA's ACC, changing one control only affects that setting. The ACC still runs. For example, if you set ACC at 72 degrees, but you want more air blowing at you, you can increase fan speed, but the ACC will still maintain 72 degrees.

I do agree with beach15. ACC is certainly not a necessity. I think it's more marketing and hype as a 'luxury' feature. After all, 72 degrees feels different in the morning than it does at lunch time, so I find I'm always fiddling with the settings anyway

beach15, I read your comments about all the rattles in your Chrysler 300M. If you haven't test driven a Sorento yet, give it a whirl. Everything is unbelievably tight! Of course, we've only had ours for a month....so time will tell!

mikesf

Schip1 is correct. The front de-icer is activated by the button to the right of the Hazard warning light. If you look at your windshield you'll see black dots running along the edge and under the rear view mirror.

As for my mileage it's not as good as yours. I seem to be zipping around town a little faster than I should be. I took my Sorento up to 160 Km/h (100 miles per hour) on the highway the other day without a problem. :-)

Congrats to all the new Sorento owners out there as well!

I'm still getting lots of people asking me to look at the SUV. I even cranked up the sensitivity of my car alarm (with a pager) to catch them when they're checking out the Sorento when I'm not around.
http://www.compustar.org

I caught one guy tapping my bumper with his hand to check out the vehicle's construction. Set off the 2nd stage car alarm and was walking away when I approached him. I, of course, showed him the Sorento but I wish people would just go to a KIA showroom and check them out there.

I bet they even kick the tire.

sigh...

Cheers!