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Comments
P.S. Got to stop this ( First time responding to one of these forums. Goodbye )
Until this paradigm changes (and we get better diesel in the US), we will not have much of a choice in oil-burner over here.
-mike
I highly recommend it. Kia is really going all out on this one.
Cheers!
I got to the dealer and many people were waiting to test drive it.
I tried it out and loved it. He quoted me a good price for my 99 CRV and I bought it. I paid sticker price which was what I expected. Another dealer had added 2k to the sticker price.
I should have my Gold Sorento by noon today.
Just my thoughts.
Anyone know how much they'll be running 2 years used? I want to know, since I may be in the market by then, for my first SUV. It's amazing how much you can save, just by waiting. I'll tell you this also, I'm driving it into the ground.
And Paisan, yeah, of course I'm using it the right way, you know, mud and dirt, hauling, etc. Oh, and the back woods fishing trips. Can't relieve stress better than fishing. It makes you forget EVERYTHING.
OK, this is going to sound silly, but I want to criticize the Porsche Cayenne. With the rear seats folded, it only has 62 Cubic Feet of Cargo Space. Even the lowly Sorento makes 66 Cubic Feet. What's wrong here? 4 More cubic feet might slow the Cayenne down or something? Give me a break.
I have to say right off that I have ambivalent feelings about the Sorento. Duckfuz in message #292 was quite thorough in his/her assessment of it. But what I can add is that while the overall first impression is good, the driving experience average, and some details were definitely thoughtful, some details failed to impress.
My salesperson let me drive the Sorento onto the freeway for a short run with some bumpy pavement. Acceleration to freeway speeds and for passing was just fine with more-than-adequate power; but I noticed from standstill that my tester had a touchy accelerator pedal. The Sorento lunged if I didn't depress the pedal gently. Over rough roads, the Sorento has a pitchy, busy ride with audible but not too-objectionable noise: typical truck ride (well, the Sorento is a truck, right?) Over smooth roads the Sorento rides fine- luxury car smooth. Steering wasn't that precise with the recirculating-ball mechanism- but not as bad as some GM SUVs I could name. Braking was again average; it was too light to feel any force or modulation as you depressed the brake pedal. Overall, you're always aware of the heft of the Sorento as the driving dynamics change- the Sorento is carrying quite a bit of weight, especially with the 4X4 system. Speaking of which, I didn't get a chance to try it out. The engine bay was well-organized and detailed- there wasn't the usual morass of wires and hoses snaking everywhere because of the upscale touch of the engine cover. And a definite nice touch are the gas struts instead a prop rod for supporting the hood.
The Sorento does look larger than you expect when you see it in reality. Kia managed to give it an upscale look combining some of the lines of the Lexus RX300 with the proportions of the Mercedes ML320. While the Sorento does look rather derivative, it manages to look muscular without having pseudo-truck macho forms. Yes, like others, I was impressed with the rear sunburst lamps and the aesthetic proportions of the front grille-headlamps. With the EX luxury package the Sorento gets chromed door handles that has a nice feel and action; the doors close with a nice weight. And my tester's pewter gray metallic paint of the main body color actually is a good color because it almost matches the solid gray of the lower body cladding (for those of you wanting a monochromatic body scheme for an EX model other than black, here it is). But I did notice a lot of orange-peel in the rather thin paint and the panel gaps were not up to Honda-Toyota standards (but definitely not as bad as GM). An example was the hood-fender fit: the seam line wasn't even when it curved.
When you sit inside, it isn't as roomy as you'd expect, judging by the exterior. I'm an average-sized guy (5'10", 160lbs., slim frame) and the interior felt like a smaller mid-sized car. Room up front was fine, but room in back was tight to my taste- the bottom seat was a little low with barely adequate kneeroom and almost no toe space under the front seats. The driving position was fine and seats comfortably firm, but the bottom cushion was a little short for my support and the electric seat controls difficult to scrounge for. Nice touch was the front headrests on the EX model seats articulate forward for better head support, but on our tester, neither my salesperson or I could lock them in any one position except vertical. The lumbar support lever felt flimsy with its exposed screw and wiggled so much that I thought it would fall off.
The leather on the seats was thin and stiff (just as you expect for the price) but smooth; surprisingly the vinyl used on the sides was more textured and did not even match. There was a lot of low-gloss plastiwood used for trim for a more upscale look, but that was a mistake because it really looks and feels fake. On the interior door handle, you can see clearly the flash partings and the handle has the wood doing strange three-dimensional forms. The EX luxury package comes with a half-wood, half-leather steering wheel that feels cheap where you touch the plastiwood. I would've liked the all-leather-covered steering wheel much better. Like the "wood", the satin-finished chrome trim was plastic, but was more realistically convincing.
On a more positive note, the chrome sill plates and courtesy lights are a nice touch. The dashboard gauges are clear and legible, but they're basic white-on-black and plain looking. The controls were nicely laid out, especially the sunroof controls with the rubber-lined sunglasses holder. The audio control panel was nice and high, but the controls weren't intuitively laid out. Like most of the button controls in the interior, the plastic felt insubstantial. I couldn't judge the audio quality because I was too busy focusing on other things on my short test drive. The automatic climate control worked fine (however it was an overcast day when I drove), but I noticed that there was a lot of fiddling that could be done for a supposedly automatic system. Nice touches are the pull-out drawer underneath the passenger seat and a small shelf in the glovebox, but the plastic of the glovebox itself felt hard, cheap, and flimsy. I thought since the your knees could possibly contact the front of the glovebox that it would be padded.
The cargo bay is smaller than I would like to see in an SUV the size of the Sorento. It was a production to get the 60/40 back seats folded down. Lift out the rear headrests while pushing in the release buttons; toss the headrests into the cargo bay; yank hard, REALLY HARD, on the nylon straps of the bottom cushions (I don't know how durable they wiil be after so many yankings) to swing the bottom cushions up vertically; fold the back cushions down by lifting on a lever located on top (this was a tight fit wedging them down against the vertical bottom seat cushions); and then finally inserting in a certain direction the headrests into the metal posts located in the bottom of the seat cushions. The load foor is flat, although not noticeably large in any direction. I'm not sure that I could fit my mountain bike in, even diagonally, without having to take off the front wheel. Although there is a divided tray underneath the carpeted cargo floor lid for more storage, the tray is really shallow, only 2"-3" in height. Great for bungee cords and all that. I should mention that a first aid kit was in a holder on the left wall of the cargo bay and the hydraulic jack stashed accessibly behind
All-in-all, the Sorento is like a Las Vegas smorgasbord- lots of different food but of mediocre quality. But that's how Kia got the price so low, right? Although there is that outstanding warranty and roadside assistance program, and I'm sure the durability of the major systems like the engine or transmission wiil be fine, I do wonder about the longevity of interior trim pieces and minor controls and systems. Overall, I wasn't bowled over by the Sorento, but one of the reasons why I nit-picked (and I admit I did) over a lot of details is because I'm a longtime Honda owner who's always been impressed by quality details. As an aside though, not impressed enough with the Honda Pilot EX to fork over $30000.
Like a few other people on this forum, I'm going to wait for some that other new truck-based SUV to emerge before settling on one to purchase: the 2003 Toyota 4Runner. Although I'm sure that in the features for the price comparision the 4Runner will come up short, quality-wise, it will be ahead of the Sorento. Whether the 4Runner will prove to be $4000 better is debatable.
I have to say I was very impressed with the outside. I could not find any flaws. I was very surprised at the one I saw. Fit & finish of the exterior was second to none. The interior looked quite nice as well ( as well as I could see ).
It was ruby with beige body clad & beige interior. I'll have to go back to see the interior and drive it. A few weeks ago I drove the Honda Pilot and was not impressed at all. The interior was very nice. But that's it. The exterior looked old and boring. I couldn't find a square inch on the Pilot that looked contemporary, but the interior was very contemporary. The Sorento was very so much nicer looking.
The Pilot was like pilotiing a boat. Very floaty and imprecise. Not enjoyable to drive. I expected more. Especially at $34,000. I'm very curious to see how the Sorento drives.
The one I saw was a 4x2 with Sunroof,ABS & spoiler for $24,200 ( dealer added $995.00ADM to that). It was a heck of a lot of very good looking SUV for that price.
-mike
I traded my car in and negotiated a couple of things that cost the dealer little but are of benefit to me. In this kind of blended transaction, the bottom line is: if you subtract the NADA value of my trade, subtract the dealer loaner car contract, and the service coupon book (oil changes, etc.) from the total, how much did you pay for the vehicle. Using that logic, I paid about $400 under MSRP. I would like to do my usual deal of within $500 of invoice, but I was really interested in getting the car, now.
They were willing to show me the KIA invoice, so I had a choice of how much I was paying vs. how much I wanted the vehicle. Incidently, the invoice was about $1200 below MSRP. The manager said the invoice will drop over the next few months as the suppliers to KIA adjust their prices downward.
My impressions after driving about 100 miles are: the vehicle is very well put together and looks nice. The real test will be the long term reliability. I usually keep a car about 5 years, so I guess I can keep the rest of you posted. After driving cars and only occasionally a friends pickup, I am use to a more cushioned ride; but, I think I'll adjust quickly to feeling the bumps a bit.
There is good torque in the 3000 - 3500 RPM range which makes merging onto the freeway easy. The vehicle is a shade over 4000 pounds so even with
the 3.5L engine it isn't a drag racer, but it does seem more energetic than the Santa Fe.
I've had only one real problem, the keyless entry system. I have to stand much closer to the vehicle than my old car. My car's remote would work 25 - 30 feet away. This one requires you to be about 5 feet from the car. I'll check with the service department to see if this normal.
-CharlesM
My wife and I are looking to purchase Sorento but dealers in our area are being greedy with extra useless add on charges. We will wait until all the hooplas are subsided.
Some people said on here that the interior looks rather cheap. I did not find the platic any cheaper than my wifes 02 CR-V.
We did notice one thing. The vehicle had lot of fine scratches. Is this result of poor thin coating of paints or something else?
Also, I notice on the window sticker it said engine is from Korea but Trnasmission is from Japan. Anyone know who makes the transmission for sorento?
Overall, the value in sorento is hard to beat. I know there are other suvs on the market with proven track record such as 4 runner, but is it worth paying extra 6k or more for it?
BTW, the same dealer also sells chrysler/jeep. Compare to grand cherokee, sorento is much better buy and not to mention the much more appealing in styling.
I test drove a EX model, everything but leather. I must say the style and finish is more impressive in person. I, like many of you, was concerned about the interior and ride. Well, I was pretty impressed about the interior and space. Being a KIA, it seems they did their homework. I'm 6'5" @ 210 lbs. Though I would've expected a few more inches of leg room for me, I was satisfied to see that it pretty much averaged with other compact vehicles (not SUV's). I've been in some SUV's and the Sorento has better legroom than others. But being it's for my wife, it's a go for her. The passenger side is roomy for me because of the non-existent pedals. I put the seat all the way back and tested the rear seats. I found it very impressive, legroom and all. Only thing I'm never crazy about (personal opinion) is the buttock area of the rear seats is in a slight sink incline to compensate headroom, though I thought it would've been fine if they evened out the bottom. But because I won't be sitting in the reat seats, it's ok. It's still a tolerable position. Now the test drive....
You can notice the speed-sensitive steering, as it gradually monitors and adjust when taking a curve too abruptly but not accident proof, of course. It takes the bumps like a solid truck without the harshful and impacting discomforts on your body. I found the suspension to be better (maybe cause it's new) absorbing than other trucks which tend to accomodate for smoother rides but lack the solidity. Braking was good and the engine was pretty responsive because of it's torque of course. I must say, KIA's entrance with this SUV is a good one. It has my vote! I'm just waiting until I'm able to negotiate the price alittle, so Nov. to Dec. should be pleasing to my wife.
tidester
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SUVs; Aftermarket & Accessories
-mike
To me, that's more of a conflict. FWIW, If the same keyless entry system is the same one that's used in our Sportage, no that's not normal. I can't remember exact distance, but I do know that our battery is wearing =down, which explains the dwindling distance. I would replace the battery if I were you and see where that gets you. Batteries are crazy when the temperature suddenly changes. Could have ahppened on transport.
I thought you were the one who was hesitant on buying the Sorento. Congrats, and I'm still trying to get an answer to my question: How much does anybody think these Sorentos will be running 3 years from now? I really need to know, so I can narrow my vehicle selection down. (In 2005)
And they all ran out of LOTR coupons weeks ago...bummer!
I would say the rides are totally different. I've always complained about the Troopers torque and low HP to move such a heavy SUV. Though it runs good, but too boxy for me and in addition to the somewhat lazy pickup on the Trooper. The Sorento, of course is lighter, I believe.. but if it isn't or they're just about the same weight. The advantage is that the Sorento seems to have a better pickup off the line.
Without going into every single detail... I would say the Sorento has a better feel and drive overall. You seem to have more control over the vehicle, maybe this is because of the styling of the Sorento as well as the impressive speed sensitive steering and ABS. I'd say the interior space is similar but with a better spaced out dash layout and access convenience. The Sorento being smaller and shorter than the Trooper, has a very well layed out interior and space.
Hope this helps ;-)
I definitely hear yah on the suspension. The trooper is well known to have horrible stock shocks on it and is very floaty in stock form. Definitely need to get my butt into the dealer when they get a Sorento and drive one, should be fun.
-mike
I just want a stripper LX 4x4. Nothing more needed.
The folks behind the counter said all but one of their 7 Sorentos received last Wednesday have sold. Only an Ivy Green LX is left. I have to say, if I were KIA I wouldn't make any more in that color.
I have to say, I feel like a sales rep for KIA. People keep asking to see inside the car. They want to know if the inside is as nice as the outside. I did it last night when I was leaving work and then again this morning as I was leaving the gym.
As for suspensions. I have never been a truck owner before. I have largely driven Chrysler cars. In recent years the Chryslers have had very stiff suspensions that corner well but are punishing on rough pavement. The Sorento's feel is... well different. It isn't cushy like a Cadilac or Buick. You can feel the road when the pavement is uneven. But, the feeling is one of confident handling and the bump is well taken, if that make sense.
It's not anything like the jarring ride of my Chrysler Sebring. So, I'm much happier with the ride than with my old car. I can see if you were a prior owner of a car with a cushy ride you might be turned off by the Sorento. I guess I have to let other folks here comment on the relative ride quality compared to other SUVs and trucks.
As for handling, I am delighted. The steering has a very good feel. And, the turning radius if smaller than my old car. I can U-turn in the middle of the street in my neighborhood without having to back up.
I had previously thought I would buy a Hyundai Santa Fe. I had set a limit on price of $25,000 and really wanted to get a well equipped SUV for that. I was researching the Santa Fe online when I found out about the Sorento. I'm glad I did. The Santa Fe's acceleration is a bit enemic and it doesn't look like Hyundai will increase its engine size anytime soon. The Sorento's engine is just right. The vehicle accelerates well without winding up the RPMs so much.
Gotta go and do some work so I can make my payments,
-CharlesM
It's been a while but I believe it's about right ;-)
The thing I like about the Sorento is that it's an SUV that handles very well and takes the bumps like it should without you having to feel it... much like other rugged SUV's. It's definitely not a Chrysler or Cadillac, but it's not a CRV or RAV4 either. Suspension is much better than you'd expect from a 'truck' :-)
I bet the Sorento rides nicer than the CRV/Rav4 because it's relatively heavy with a frame, and that heaviness helps to smooth out bumps.
-mike
-mike
Steve
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SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
http://images.getauto.com/vehicles/KNDJ/KNDJD733335031905-a.jpg
and this:
http://images.getauto.com/vehicles/KNDJ/KNDJD733535031713-a.jpg
It's interesting how much the color scheme and wheels can change the look of this vehicle. The first one looks ruggedly utilitarian and kind of menacing, while the second looks much more luxurious and upscale. Not sure which look I prefer, but I was shocked by the contrast.
-Andrew L
I saw some ads on TV where they guarantee a minimum of 2 grand for any trade regardless of the value of the trade-in.
First I would like to know whether the 2k trade-in is on top of any existing cashbacks or other incentives, if any.
Second, I would like to know if that would apply to sorento as well.
Second is the one I test drove but in White and Pewter Gray... very nice. Yes, there is a difference between the two... :-)
You do see the small relation between the two, don't you? Trust me, there is at least 1, but you have to find out where it is........................... I know.......do you?
Gee, that Sorento is probably as base as you can get. I know it has 1 option on it, but I don't know what it is. I went to the Joe Myers website. That particular black Sorento is just a couple dollars off of it's base price.
I found several dealers website where they had posted the invoice and msrp. The invoice seems to be around $1500 under msrp. I really do not know how accurate the invoice price is though.
Now, I might end up just leasing it, but still ;-)
I decided to go with a silver model and I'm delighted to say it looks fantastic (everyone tells me that, including strangers).
Cheers!
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/charlie_1950/lst?.dir=/Sorento&.src=ph&.view=
Someone asked about the invoice. I'm at work and can't remember the numbers to the last dollar, but I paid about $24,850 with Spoiler, ABS Brakes and the Luxury Package. The dealer showed me the invoice and it was about $1500 below the sticker price.
Regards,
CharlesM
P.S. Nice house also!
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick