Kia Sorento

1…2021232526…79

Comments

  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    <- isn't an engineer, but I definitely remember an engineering reason why a raised vehicle such as an SUV would get worse milage due to it's less aerodynamic underside! I was hoping that someone jumped in with the engineering reason :)

    -mike
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Most spoilers on cars are just for show, their use would only work at speed >75-80mph and even then only marginally.
  • carspy01carspy01 Member Posts: 137
    For all the new readers and posters in this hall:
    NO, THE SORENTO DOES N O T FLY!!!!
    Aerodynamics class is dismissed. :-)
  • lok888lok888 Member Posts: 1,788
    Well, I agree Sorento don't fly. But it is a good thing to point a better gas mileage on SUVs. Anyway, paisan. Is that mean we won't have any SUVs or raised vehicles with better gas mileage even they put the hybird engine or having some aerodynamics kits?
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    If all other factors remain equal, a vehicle with less underbody air-flow will get better milage. Of course this is at a cost to off-roading so that very marginal gain in milage may or may not be worth it. As an example, when I did a 2" suspension lift on my Trooper, all other factors remained the same, I lost about 1-1.5mpg on the highway.

    -mike
  • lok888lok888 Member Posts: 1,788
    I am sure auto manufactures can make a SUV with better gas mileage, maybe 25 mpg or more. The problem is it will cost more to make one. I don't think anyone will afford a hybird version of CR-V for $30k or even $40K. BTW, I think the RAV4 EV costs $40K. In fact, oil price in U.S. is still cheaper than in the European and Asian countries. As long as the auto maker still making those SUVs with 15 mpg, we will buy it. More Americans are buying SUV as their family cars.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    But let's not get into that. A Diesel 3.0 or 4.0 engine will yield something like 30mpg in a mid-large SUV, hopefully the Rodeo will have it next year!

    -mike
  • schip1schip1 Member Posts: 97
    paisan, when I referred to spoilers as upside-down wings, I wasn't talking about the spoilers on street-legal cars. I meant on race cars! If memory serves me correctly, spoilers were banned from Indy cars years ago, correct?
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    But I know that in GT and road racing circuits they have em. Yeah on street cars they are for the looks :)

    -mike
  • lok888lok888 Member Posts: 1,788
    I am new to diesel engine. One thing I know it runs dirty and need more maintenance (need to warm up in cold weather?). I drove one 1980s Benz with diesel. And I remember I have to wait all the dash lights came off before I can start the engine. I had it hit the gas patel real hard to accelerate even on flat surface road. And diesel has less horsepower but with high in torque. Anyway, there is a 2.5L diesel engine (also 2.5L gas engine) on Sorento in Korea and European countries. I wonder the diesel engine has such good gas mileage. Hope to see Kia will import the Sorento diesel.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Those are old diesels you are thinking of Lok. The new ones are very clean. They require slightly more maintenance, but have a significantly longer life span (300-500K between engine rebuilds) and with TDI (Turbo Diesel Injection) they are very peppy.

    -mike
  • 96_i30_5sp96_i30_5sp Member Posts: 127
    I saw yesterday a sign that there is a Christmas blowout sale on all Isuzu and Kia accessories at McKinzey-Bond Isuzu/Kia in Houston, Tx. There is no info for the sale on their website but here is the contact info: http://www.mckinzeybond.com/parts.html The prices seem to be at least 30% off and Mike (the part manager) said that he'll give free shipping on orders over $50. I'm not related to the dealership, just passing what I feel is a good deal.
  • lok888lok888 Member Posts: 1,788
    Can't see more. Just found a online request form for the vehicles.
  • anonymous02anonymous02 Member Posts: 1,538
    "But it's the truth. Ask any automotive engineer. The air going under the vehicle provide LIFT, which means that you have LESS downforce."

    NOW it is about downforce? These vehicles don't weigh enough for you?
  • anonymous02anonymous02 Member Posts: 1,538
    The more downforce, the better mileage you get? I would think that a lighter vehicle gets better mileage.

    Or is it handling?

    What is it exactly you are trying to say?

    If the underside is the same (pipes, cables, mechanicals), but 4 inches higher up, how is that less aerodynamic? I'll buy that it has less downforce, but not less aerodynamic.
  • anonymous02anonymous02 Member Posts: 1,538
    I'll second that.

    He does a good job and has provided me with lots of useful info. He is the one who pointed me out to the existence of the Sorento!

    :-)
  • anonymous02anonymous02 Member Posts: 1,538
    So, now you're telling me that SUV's are going to start flying?

    Hardee har harr!

    :-O
  • anonymous02anonymous02 Member Posts: 1,538
    I agree that cladding would help aerodynamics. What difference does the height make again?
  • anonymous02anonymous02 Member Posts: 1,538
    Maybe they DO fly!
  • anonymous02anonymous02 Member Posts: 1,538
    Why not make the underbody cladding ALSO act as skid plates? I'd think the extra weight would keep it from needing FAA approval.

    ;-)
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    So, now you're telling me that SUV's are going to start flying?

    I don't think it's much of a problem until you go transsonic! :-)

    tidester, host
  • anonymous02anonymous02 Member Posts: 1,538
    I'd take a diesel any day of the year.

    What is not to like about torque, reliability, and good mileage, plus cheaper fuel?

    (no, they don't smell any more, nor are they loud any more!)
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    I refuse to repsond to your ignorant comments. It's well known that less airflow going under a vehicle will render it's milage higher. I don't know the exact mathematical question, you'd have to ask an engineer, I just know what i've read and PERSONALLY experienced...

    -mike
  • anonymous02anonymous02 Member Posts: 1,538
    I agree that less airflow will make higher mileage. That is not the point. I am asking how a HIGHER vehicle will make less airflow.
  • anonymous02anonymous02 Member Posts: 1,538
    How does being higher in the air make it more air flow? Really. I don't get that. No, really. Like I said, if it's the tires, I can kinda see it being a small amount, but it is the SAME VEHICLE, only higher up!
  • cknslscknsls Member Posts: 7
    It's along the same lines as this:when you drive down the road, sometimes you will see pickups driving with their "tailgate" down. It is well known that this will increase the MPG by 1 to 2 miles per gallon. With the tailgate up, the "tailgate and bed" acts like a dam and boxes in the air creating drag, most cars, trucks, and SUVs have spoilers UNDER THE BODY (or bumpers that have this in their design). This breaks the air, and makes the air flow under the vehicle, away from those areas under the vehicle where air could get trapped, creating drag. It's very simple. Every once in awhile you will see those 4x4 trucks that are raised up several feet, look up at where all the spaces are where there could be trapped air and thus drag.
  • anonymous02anonymous02 Member Posts: 1,538
    You are wrong according to these articles. Apparently, it is NOT so well known. Need more links?


    Are you also wrong about the higher SUV having worse mileage?


    http://www.awtrucks.com/tailgateup.htm


    http://cartalk.cars.com/Columns/Archive/1997/October/05.html


    http://www.fordf150.net/howto/fueleconomy.htm


    http://www.dakota-truck.net/ARCHIVES/9902/3106.html

  • anonymous02anonymous02 Member Posts: 1,538
    I already said that cladding and better aerodynamics would be a help in mileage. What does it matter if the underside is 1" or 15" off the ground?
  • lilac0422lilac0422 Member Posts: 51
    Hello everyone...I have never posted before but I feel compelled to right now. I was gone for a few days and was so excited to come back and see so many messages. However, there are very few about the Sorento. Please save your bickering for another forum and lets get back to sharing great stories of ownership.
  • anonymous02anonymous02 Member Posts: 1,538
    What various tire sizes are available, and with what option packages?

    What brands and models of tires?

    Opinions?
  • schip1schip1 Member Posts: 97
    I agree with lilac0422 completely. One user should not be allowed to ruin things for everyone else. Since I am a Sorento owner and I'm grateful for all the helpful advice received from this forum before our purchase, ordinarily, I wouldn't hesitate to answer the questions asked in #1187. However, I dare not, because I expect that no matter what I say, that person will seize upon it as an opportunity for another outburst.

    17 postings in less than two days is excessive, especially when the tone is so adversarial, laced with sarcasm. Other forums are having similar problems with this same individual (e.g., #9035 in "Chevy Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Oldsmobile Bravada"). I hope Steve and tidester won't allow our Sorento forum to deteriorate into an AOL or IRC chat room.
  • anonymous02anonymous02 Member Posts: 1,538
    I am merely asking a question to which I feel I haven't received a satisfactory answer.

    What is the big problem? If you don't want to read it, hit the "next page" button, or whatever.

    I promise I'll try not to intrude too much. Thanks.
  • anonymous02anonymous02 Member Posts: 1,538
    ...I am merely asking a question to which I feel I haven't received a satisfactory answer. Sorry if I worded it a few different ways to reply to each poster's attempt at answering.


    I promise I'll try not to intrude too much in the future. The Sorento looks like a promising SUV, and I'm very interested in seeing how it progresses. Thanks.
  • mwitt58714mwitt58714 Member Posts: 44
    well people just drove it home tonight,beautiful..... in indigo blue with the grey int. the full monty...loaded my salesperson has to dig me up a owners manual...sound system is great all is well lets see tommorrow 1st snow here in south jersey...wheel mounted audio controls....alot to figure out the wheel also has wood trim around it top n bottom... sittin high up ..solid doors glove compt. has little top shelf in it...need to load my cd player tommorrow.. it also had the bug deflector window guards and mud flaps kia really out did them selves in this suv also the sunburst tail lights are sharp to...well my mid life crisis is over lol already my wife to know when she can drive it...i told her i have to break it in first she said how long will that take .. i said ask me when im done breaking it in...i will keep you folks posted as learn more nice nite to all...
  • diploiddiploid Member Posts: 2,286
    You can delete the message as well...
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    ... the topic reverts to Kia Sorento - PRONTO!

    We've had enough diversion for one day.

    tidester, host
  • mikesfmikesf Member Posts: 84
    Congrats on the newest member of the family.

    Happy trails...

    Cheers!
  • mikesfmikesf Member Posts: 84
    on the Kia Canada website


    http://www.kia.ca/english/showroom/accessories.asp?m=38&t=116


    It looks interesting. I would like to get the bra/mask for the Sorento though.


    Cheers!

  • arkainzeyearkainzeye Member Posts: 473
    i went to a chevy kia, dealer the other day and i wanted to see the new Sonento. and i mentioned about that price on that kia ad's for the sorento, which was around 19K. and he roled his eyes and said that 19k is for a 2 wheel drive striped down. "which i should have known" so a kia with awd. and some other add on's is MORE than a honda crv. and many other proven reliable suv's in it's class. So i looked at this and said Now why would i want this kia again. especially with how their Past track record has been.. and resale value. He then looked at me and said "i know. i know" so far everyone thati have known who has owned a kia, has some sort of horror story to tell me. i have 3 friend that bought the sportage. and 2 of them declared the lemon law on it. and the other one continues to have 4x4 problems and the engine only have 55k miles and that engine sounds like everything is loose in it. also my x-girl friend had kia' 4 door car that came out a few years back. and she has HONESTLY had 3 transmissions and 2 engines.. and kia is fighting her about it the whole way. i asked her why she couldn't claim a lemon law on hers too. and she said it is other parts of the engine and what not breaking down. and that 100k warranty is a joke. because the dealer has to call kia b4 they do any work to Ask them if they are allow to do the repairs. and so far each time it took looker that usual to repair the car because of troubles with being able to get parts.. Now something else i have to mention the shocked me. when i have gone to kia dealerships and they have had more than 1 type of suv in stock. and i would ask ok if you had to pick between the kia and brand X,. which one would YOU pick. and they always choose brand X. example. chevy tracker over kia sportage or sonento they say the kia is much better looking, but has a bad history and UNproven reialabity..
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    The Sedona (same engine) is rated as quite reliable, and for the features you are not going to find another SUV (with a few exceptions) that will be anywhere near it in price. CRV is not in the same class. There is a discussion on here "True SUVs 22-27K with AWD + Low Range" you might want to check it out and see for yourself.

    -mike
  • surfmastersurfmaster Member Posts: 11
    I'm Off! - Picked up our black EX yesterday (Canadian version: TOD, ABS, heated mirrors/wipers, velour/cloth seats, etc). I have spent two intensive months looking and driving. In all, the Sorento came out on top (looks, SUV features, fit and finish, design, warranty, and of course, price). And despite all our shopping around, it was the truck we liked best from the start - just had that Kia thing to overcome.

    Thanks to this board and all posters for very good information - it sure helped my decision.

    SM
  • lok888lok888 Member Posts: 1,788
    I also checked out the Kia Canada website. The bumper guard looks great. I think the running boards is even better. It is an accessories for the Korean Sorento. I don't even see any accessories info on the U.S. website or the brochure. BTW, I ordered the Sorento brochure nearly a month ago. Never got one yet. I tried to download it, but the printing is blur.

    arkainzeye - I have the same question in my mind when looking at this Sorento, the past Kia/Hyundai history and reilablity. The people that I spoke with don't recommend Kia (a lot of break downs). I have never known anyone who owns a Kia. And I have never seen one real bad Kia on the road. The Sorento will be my first Kia. I am sorry to hear about your x-girl's Kia. I also saw one poster mentioned the cheap plastic screws in the Sportage bumper, bad engine & transmission. I mean the 100K warranty will not do much for them, and not to mention the trips and time off that they took for the unscheduled maintenance repair. But others said they enjoy their Kia very much. It makes me hold back a little even after a test drive and some good quote prices. I always wonder why they make this SUV (or any of their cars) with all the goodies and the price is so low. How can they do it when they are making a similar car with same or even better features than the Japanese and European? A plastic screw again? On the other hand, will people feel more confidence when Kia make a $30K, $40K car or it owns by Ford or GM? I am glad these folks enjoy their Sorento. And I believe it has a positive future.

    paisan - Beside Isuzu, are other SUV has the Tourqe-On-Demand system like Sorento (with luxury package)? Is it some kind of trade patent in auto industry? Is the Subaru AWD system the same? Like one wheel slip and it will transfer power to others.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    TOD is a product made by Borg Warner which is an automotive manufacturer who makes differentials and transfer cases. A similar unit that is in the Sorento and Trooper and Axiom was used in the last gen AWD version of the Mountaineer and Explorer, they've since switched over to a viscous coupled unit on the Mountaineer (IIRC) and a less advanced "auto" 4wd in the Explorer. The concept on the TOD system is similar to that used in the 4EAT (Automatic transmission) on the subarus except that the subarus don't have low-range and their torque split initially is 80/20 with a FWD bias v. RWD bias of the TOD system. Both use wet-clutch packs to transfer power along with driveshaft speed sensors and weight shift sensors to determine power shift. Hope this helps.

    -mike
  • doctorautodoctorauto Member Posts: 5
    I've looked at a lot of quality surveys over the years and it seems to me that Jaguars, most Ford products and Chevy SUVs have almost unbelievably low quality ratings. Also, look at the horrific record of the Mercedes SUV! And yet they continue to sell hundreds of thousands of Fords and Chevys and so on. I mean, have ya'll seen the number of recalls on the Ford Focus and yet they sells thousands and thousands of them. I mean, no one says don't ever buy a Ford...although you really shouldn't buy 'em. The worst Kia product does better than the average Ford or Chevy, or god forbid, the Jaguar (ownership by GM or Ford is the kiss of death...look at Fiat, Saab, Jaguar, Isuzu...)

    So it seems to me that Kia is far far better than those vehicles even in Kia's worst days. Now that Kia's instituted a company-wide incentive bonus pay system where work teams (and design engineers) are personally rewarded for high quality scores, we're seeing a radically new company. I'm sort of a Deming (the quality control founding father) follower and if you look at the leaps in technical learning on the part of Kia the statistical curve moves in leaps and bounds instead of in a linear trajectory. This means that quality/tech industrial "learning" goes in rapid movements up not so much in degree but almost in kind. Their increased use of supercomputers and dramatic growth in R&D in general is evidenced by the new Sedona and now this Sorento which are already garnering industry and consumer-wide accolades.

    It's an open secret in this field that the Japanese companies are at the forefront of disseminating false and misleading information through their American lobbying intermediaries to sully the rep of Kia (and Hyundai) precisely bc they are shocked and fearful of the rapid pace of industrial learning on the part of these "upstart" Asian competitors. Kia's ambitions are so grand and their research/sales are so explosive that Toyota/Honda fears Kia rather than any US firm (unfortunately).

    People in just their 40s now remember when Japanese cars were junk (but then back then they really were). Mark my words, Kia/Hyundai will reach their goal of top five global automaker in less than 10 years.
  • loyaloneloyalone Member Posts: 9
    Can I ask what you got your EX for?
  • hciaffahciaffa Member Posts: 454
    As with any car I purchase I tend to be anal in I try to research what I may wish to purchase, stacks of brochures and magazine articls and such. When we decided to trade our 99 Forester in before something went wrong again, believe me this was a car I had no confidence in driving, my wife and I went to test many SUV's and we kept coming back to the Sorento ( being of Italian decent I wonder why they spelled the name with one r instead of two). Anyway I agree with you I remember when I bought my first Honda a NS600 a pre Civic and the Buick dealer made fun of it but it got over 50 mpg's. Then we bought a 75 Civic. Now we can all se what heartburn the Japanese cars have given Detroit and with Hyundia purchasing a major protion of KIA and going and revamping the QA and production they have made a difference. I read not to long ago when some one asked the chairman of GM as to which auto manufacturer they are watching out for he mentioned ( many expected a German or a Japanese car) he replied the Koreans. They are what is keeping him up at night. We really like our Sorento and I am still surprised at the fit and finish of this vehicle and as I work closely with QA in our company I can see what they have done to try to improve a past image.
  • hciaffahciaffa Member Posts: 454
    to mention another fact about the tailgate being up or down some engineering students got the Air Force to set up their wind tunnel and tested the up or down problem. Conclusion was that the difference if any was made it a wash out.
  • hciaffahciaffa Member Posts: 454
    I must be missing something but where did you see the runnning boards or step rail. I looked on that accessories page and I din't see any running boards.

    Aslo the front hood protector if you notice goes down on the sides of the grill the one sold here in the states doesn't cover that part just the upper hood. I know as I have one.
  • lok888lok888 Member Posts: 1,788
    I agree. My brother told me he is having some troubles (didn't tell what's wrong) with his 2000 Ford Focus stationwagon. My sister-in-law's 2000 Honda Odyssey has problem with power sliding doors, bad rear wiper motor and engine & TCS light on. But people are still buying them like crazy and pay MSRP for the Odyssey (02 and 03 Odyssey seem better than 99-01).
    Anyway, still wondering why they can make cars with all the goodies for low price when others cost thousands more? In addition, the 10yr/100000 miles warranty doesn't seem to effect the vehicle cost where you can only find such warranty coverage on luxury cars or an option on some cars. Quality is my concern. Like the guy's ex-girl Kia, the engines & transmission replacement properly cost more than the car original cost. However, Sorento is still on the top of my list. Just hesitate.
  • mwitt58714mwitt58714 Member Posts: 44
    well people snow is falling in ocean county nj my sorento has alot of buttons but i think i will get through it...it has auto/overdrive...the leather padding on the doors is also beautiful...im wondering since i never had a moonroof....ive noticed condensation ! on it....any takers on this one...no bad remarks at all on it ....i will keep u all posted as time rolls along
Sign In or Register to comment.

Helpful Tools

Most popular vehicles

Your Privacy

By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our Visitor Agreement.