Kia Sorento... good car ?

[Stefanel1]

I really know nothing about this make, they sold only 2000 cars in France last year so we don't see a lot of Kia here.
But the husband of my sister just bought this car (a Sorento full options diesel) in order to replace its Alfa 166 V6 Turbo ! I can't understand its choice !
Though is it a good SUV compared to the Patrol, X Trail, etc. ?

[edonis]

I'm quite familiar with Kias, having lived in Korea. Kia's have always been known for being utterly dull, the handling is not much better than what Toyota's were back in the early eighties, but with a so low sticker price, that its almost worth considering.

For what Sorento is concerned, this is a mid-size SUV at a compact price. Onroad, it feels like the steering wheel isn't much connected to the wheels at all, but the handling is OK. Off-road, the Sorento is good, though. Maybe one of few SUV's which you actually can take off the highway! Quality isn't at a german level, ofcoarse, but is by all means decent enough. Enough leg and seating for five + cargo. Sorento has a lot of safety kit delivered as standard, but I'm not sure how the outcome of crash tests have been. So as a verdict, you get more car for your money with this than for example the X-trail, Rav4, etc. However, they're far better on the road than the Sorento, and the materials used in those are probably better than the Sorento. But then comes the price-factor in, and this is where the Sorento scores high. I even like the looks of this car far better than what of the Xtrail and even Merc ML!

Hope this has been useful =)

[Stefanel1]

I agree with your analysis I'll maybe try it when he'll receive it... but it's far less exciting than an Alfa V6 !

[Jimster]

For a 166 Turbo????? YOU'VE GOT TO BE JOKING ME!!!!!! If he wanted an SUV the sort of money I'm guessing he has- could at least have got him a Landcruiser Prado

[Stefanel1]

I wouldn't have made this choice but that's the life ....
I was thinking to buy this 166 as he would have sold it to me at a very good price, about the same price as my 156.... V6, leather, GPS, etc. more ! but my insurance doesn't want, and if I find an insurance which could insure me, it would cost at least 3 000 €.... so I'll keep my 156 that I love and the next car could be a 156 or a 166 2.5 V6, or even a 406 Coupé V6 We'll see next year !

[fteam2002]

I recently bought a 05 sorento.Love it.The vehicle drives itself.Would highly recomend.