Kia Sorento road tests and consumer car reviews

Kia Sorento XSE 2.5 Diesel 2005

I bought one of these three years ago for pulling a catering trailer and uphill, few cars were overtaking whilst I was pulling a fully loaded trailer putting all the bog standard Focuses and 307s to shame. It boasts plenty of torque and even offroad capabilities surplus to that what Land Rovers can provide. As a road car, it looks great on the outside, comfy on the inside with semi-sports seating. It doesn’t handle corners well and isn’t quick off the mark, just massive torque for the bhp. It is very economical and handles the bio fuel just fine. The manual gearbox is very wide so isn’t good for people with short arms, like my wife. The interior is pleasant with a decent stereo sound quality, however the satnav is very dated providing only arrows and a voice. There is also the annoying drawback that you can not play a CD whilst the satnav is in operation! Cruise control is limited and you can’t accelerate whilst it is on and there is no button to decrease speed. Also getting in the thing isn’t the best experience and you can expect multiple bumps to the head until you get used to it unless you measure less than 5ft. The 18" wheels make the difference on looks and modern luxuries make it a better alternative to other budget 4x4s. Although there is no seven year warranty on this model, it is easy to see why KIA have confidence in their product. Not being a badge snob meant I could afford to get the economy Honda Sport Saloon and the Jag 400bhp to play with. Spend less for more...

Responses to this review

Not sure about what cruise control you are talking but with the stock Kia cruise control of my XS, you will find three switches on the right hand side of the steering wheel. Flick the middle one to cancel, top one to resume/accelerate and bottom one to set/decrease. You might have an aftermarket one? Hope this helps - B Walstra from Sussex

Kia Sorento kx2 manual 2011

Yes I too do tend to crack my head getting in. Just have to remember to push seat back when getting out and readjust on entry. I have had, over the years, for me and my wife an early sportage, two Carens and two Sedonas, all have been good cars but this new Kx2 really is the mutts. Drives handles and performs to the highest standards. Good look to all who are waiting for the white ones! Regards.

Kia Sorento KX2 with SLS 2008

2nd Sorrie I’ve owned and it’s great. Tows my caravan of 1495kgs with ease and gets the whole tribe and the dog in the back also with 4 bikes mounted on the bike rack - unstopable. Also went great and gave no problems in the snow.

Kia Sorento 2010

One of the poorest cars I have owned, ride is awful build quality is poor and it is a pile of junk in the snow. Wessex Garages in Newport are the best dealers by far. Avoid it, it is trying to be something it is not.

Kia Sorento 2007

I bought a Kia Sorento from Westover Kia Ferndown, 554 Wimborne Road, East Ferndown on 11 Jun 10 and I am quite happy with car. I am however unhappy that over 2 months later Westover have failed to provide me with keys to the Thule roof rack bars. They acknowledged that the keys should have been provided but seem incapapable of getting the replacements. This is no big deal but it does show how little importance Westover place on post-sales customer care.

Responses to this review

Not very helpful to give a 1 star review just because you have an issue with a dealer about some keys! It detracts from the overall review of the vehicle, which is mis-leading. Very silly - Nick Jones from Herefordshire

Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDI KX2 Manual 4WD 2010

In today’s global motoring market, discerning customers, more and more, are demanding vehicles for all seasons, all climes and all conditions. From the sunny bliss of the Mediterranean coast to the chilly harshness of the Siberian Tundra, canny manufacturers have cottoned on to the way forward - and that is to offer increased versatility without sacrificing fundamental principles. So it is that with Kia’s imposing and yet seductive Sorento, customers are blessed with comfort, style, good economy and a dash of brio in a vehicle that combines the DNA of the off-roader with the sophisticated utility of a town and motorway cruiser. When it comes to the four wheel drive market, many macho vehicles are decidedly dodgy on the environmental front and little is guaranteed to enrage the environmentalist as much as the prospect of Mr. and Mrs. Suburbia pulverising our green and pleasant land to a pulp in their ’rufty tufty’ 4x4 with its mud-splattering power. Oh dear. Sensitivity to matters of green concern are not on the agenda where many off-roaders are concerned and those that make like they are from McAlpines aren’t viewed in an awfully favourable light by the green lobby. Gung-ho off-roaders driven by brash uncaring capitalists quite simply court ill feeling, because the environmental issue is of increasing importance to the residents of Acacia avenue. So which manufacturer gets things right? Well Kia do with the new Sorento which now focuses more on family use rather the traditional country lifestyle. The result is a five or seven-seater with urban sophistication, top levels of quality and equipment and MPV-like space and versatility. Kia themselves make no apology for it not being quite as rough ’n’ tough as before. You can even have a Sorento with two-wheel drive only. Quite why escapes me because a vehicle of this size and dynamic can only benefit from 4WD in safety terms. (To my mind if you look as if you can go off road, then you should be capable of doing so). New diesel and petrol engines, new six speed transmissions and the choice of front or four-wheel drive mean there is a Sorento to suit all types of use. With prices starting at £20,495 rising to £29,795, there are seven models powered by the new 2.2 diesel and one 2.4 five seat, front wheel drive petrol model. There are four trim options, each offering a generous specification including a top level sound system and everything to make travelling a luxury experience. It is, of course, established that few people in Britain need the ability to cross Siberia or the Sahara. What most want is the visibility and security that comes from a high stance, an ability to keep going through modest floods, snow or a rutted car park and the feel good factor offered by having a high status vehicle that shouts ’interesting lifestyle’ from the driveway. That’s just where the new Sorento fits: perfectly. It’s difficult to find a box that this vehicle - with its unrivalled seven year, 100 thousand-mile warranty - doesn’t tick. It has presence, comfort, performance, economy, good smooth ride characteristics on normal roads allied to an off-road capability that is only slightly compromised now that the Sorento has a monocoque chassis instead of its former ladder frame arrangement. Comfort has not been sacrificed to utility, but utility is available in bucket loads as and when required. Safety too has been enhanced and airbags abound as well as Electronic Stability Control and other electronic salvation devices. It has a full five star Euro NCAP rating. Underway, the diesel Sorento tested was lively, smooth and good handling. A top speed of near 120 mph., plus all the torque you’re likely to need - and economy of nearly 43mpg overall - makes this Sorento something of a bargain at the price. For the school run the Sorento offers high visibility, peerless safety and a solid sense of security. For the motorway journey one is never intimidated by other less considerate road users because the Kia’s dignified, stylish presence is not one to suffer fools gladly. Performance is there when needed and even the most tedious journey can be transformed by the prescient alchemy of clever design. Kia need no lessons from Mr. Punch in knowing ’That’s the way to do it’. And the range is priced so competitively that you don’t need to be beaten over the head with a stick to see that this car represents super value for money. And while it might not be an Italian job, you can take me back to this Sorento anytime. For the amateur crooner, this 4x4 cruiser gives you an interior so well insulated from the nastiness of the modern world that in the event of being stuck in a traffic jam, it will double as a practice room for a rendition of your best ’Volare’.

Kia Sorento 2010

Have you tried getting into the Sorento without hitting your head? I am not tall only 5ft 4, but there is just not enough height in the cabin, my wife who is taller had an even bigger problem.

Responses to this review

If your that short please stay in the shire and shave your feet.

Kia Sorento 2.5 XE 2009

The car is okay, however the manufacturer and the dealer (Perrys of Preston), are useless in all aspects of customer care. I had a crash in August 2009, and it took Kia 3 1/2 months to be able to supply a 6 inch metal plate which held the front differential onto the chassis. In early January 2010, the car kept blowing its fuses and I got charged by the main dealer, because they could not replicate the fault. This is the first time I have ever been charged for something like this, but then again I am used to Ford/Honda and Skoda customer service levels, not a small company trying to make claims they are wonderful. My first and last Kia. Look elsewhere.

Kia Sorento 3.5 v6 petrol 2004

We`ve had Mercedes,BMW.Volvo etc., etc. Our Kia wipes the floor with them all. My dad laughed at this far eastern VAN WITH WINDOWS.....guess what? He’s now got one. He thought he was a Jag/BMW man but loves his Sorento. No wonder our car industry has had it. We need to look hard & long at manufacturers like Hyundai/Kia. The Sorento is the only car my wife & I would have again. Try one!!

Responses to this review

I do wish Kia dealers would desist from posting - Bill Smith from England

Kia Sorento XT Auto Diesel 2007

Initially I was pleased with the overall value. Quality is very good as is standard equipment. Sadly the ride doesn’t come up to my expectations. On poor road surfaces and twisty B roads the suspension seems poorly damped. There is a lot of pitching and pattering of the wheels. On cart tracks it was horrendous. Perhaps a longer wheelbase or tuned suspension is needed. Overall quite pleased but had to sell because of the ride. I did mention it to the Kia Dealer but was told it was normal. Apart from that I guess it would be ideal for a caravan owner.

Kia Sorento Diesel 2008

I have had my car for 1 week, unfortunately it has just cost me 90 green backs to fill the tank from the dealer. Apart for that compared to my previous 56 plate gas guzzling Mitsubishi Shogun Sport and a nice 400 green backs to put it on the road, this looks the part especially with "owners road tax" of 210, and delivers 168 BHP and approx 40 to the gallon, it is looking as though my decision to buy this was a good one, It’s a pity that the car didn’t come with alarm as standard, the load area had been nearer for short people, oh and a bigger glove box, but as this is all, I suggest you get yourselves to a local dealer and take one of the deals Kia are offering at the moment.

Kia Sorento XE 2006

Once again as a private KIA SORENTO buyer and hard working taxpayer (purchased and “almost” paid for I am glad to say) one of the very few things I like in life is a decent vehicle. KIA (who?) until I decided to get a test drive in one. Quite simply, the best vehicle I have ever had (and continue to have) currently (so much so I have recently purchased a KIA RIO ICE DIESEL as my daily workhorse). Why do I have a KIA SORENTO DIESEL? Is it the style, engine, gearbox, interior, paintwork quality, insurance cost, general design, economy, tow car aptitude, presence, radio system, alloys, bullet proof mechanics, steering, heating, A/C...etc etc etc ?...the answer is all YES. I only wish I had the wherewithal to get the latest 57 version but hey ho maybe one day!! On the down side, NOTHING!!! I cannot fault it after 2 years. OK it’s not done a lot of miles but the mechanics I understand are Merc designed engine, Bosch diesel injection system with Borg Warner transmission; you cannot go wrong. The only down side is the yearly car tax disc cost of £215 (absolute daylight robbery) but that is down solely to Mr Honeybunny (Sorry, I should say our respected Chancellor Mr Darling) and our trusted and respected Mr G.Brown Esq of London. It is just a good honest vehicle for a hard working and long suffering taxpayer individuals who have, perhaps like me, worked everyday since I was 16. (now 50) to get a bit of driving pleasure. Do NOT hesitate if you are thinking of purchasing this vehicle. Shame we, as a once proud Nation, cannot produce such a good vehicle at this quality and price that hard working law abiding people can reasonably afford (for how long I do not know given the extortionate cost of diesel fuel) to run and be proud of!!!

Kia Sorento Rio Ice Diesel CRDi 2007

OK being used to a KIA Sorento, for value for money and a tow car for my hols, I decided to take the plunge again with a new KIA RIO ICE Diesel for my daily work horse...and why not, the Sorento is perfect...what reason the KIA RIO ICE Diesel is not...and what a surprise when I took it for a test drive. The engine is just fab and being nearly 6’4’ the head room is excellent. OK, it’s a pretty basic car but when you add A/C and central locking and a vehicle which can pound the motorway mile after mile hour after hour and still give you 50 plus to the gallon (don’t know where they get the 60) it is good if not fab value for money. Like every car there is a niggly bit or 2 why o why do you have to put the key in the door for central locking and it s not remote, and why o why when you turn it to defrost do you have to switch off the AC. Apart from that buy one....you will not be disappointed. The general value for money is excellent and if you take time you will get a discount from the so called non negotiable price. I did not but my trade in made up the deficit. By the way, the plain white non metallic (as I have) is so clean and the paint finish is quite simply fab. Summary, traffic jams and motorway working within the limits of course you will find it difficult to get less than 50 MPG whatever the conditions and at nearly £5 a gallon that we pay to our friendly and respected Mr Brown you should seriously consider it. Shame this nation has to go elsewhere to get a decent product.

Kia Sorento 2.5 CRDi XS 5dr 2006

Cracking 4x4. Makes more expensive competitors look like overpriced posers. This really is the first 4x4 you should look at if you want to pay for a car that never goes wrong and has real off road capability rather than paying through the nose for a badge name and some shiny chrome. Brilliant!