Kia Sorento SUV (2003 - 2009) 2.5 CRDi XS 5d Auto (5 Speed) (2005/05) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

I like the driving height and debadged gives me enormous fun watching people trying to figure out what make it is.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

They think it looks good and understated big.

Would you buy this car again and why?

No I would not buy it again. It is a full chassis 4x4 and is very heavy. This is reflected in the mpg which these days is frankly poor - around 26mpg overall. It is also a hard ride underfoot (again the chassis weight and suspension set up is hard). It also suffers from transfer box judder and Kia are aware of this but deny problems! and whilst this is not an issue at the moment, I can see them ahead. Also servicing is simply too far away - it is awkward and time consuming.

What are you likely to buy next?

Not a full off-roader like the Sorento - I simply don't need that degree of capability. I prefer comfort of a soft roader style, practicality and better comfort and ride and much better mpg. Looking at the Volve XC70 4x4 as a compromise.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Franchise

Did you buy this car new?

Yes

What price did you pay?

£19,000

When did you buy the car?

January 2006

Did you get a good deal and why?

Reasonable deal - pre-reg car - good price and seemed to do the job I wanted. Also got reasonable amount for my old car - pleased overall. Also a new model was somewhere in the offing, though they themselves were not quite sure when as they had large stocks of the current model.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Replacing old Hyundai Santa Fe.

What was the dealer like?

Quite helpful - saleswise, but rather far for servicing - a point I did not fully appreciate until afterwards. Not pushy in the least and very attentive during my time there.

What's it like to drive?

Very, very noisy when cold, but warms up quickly and then it's OK - reasonably quiet. Good turn of speed on big roads and excellent cruise control. Plenty power for a heavy motor and in auto is very easy indeed to drive. Comfortable too.

What's it like to park?

Actually very easy to park for a deceptively big car

Have you had any problems with the car?

Nothing gone wrong at all.

What's most practical about your car?

Big, heavy and goes almost anywhere, reasonable rear space - good luggage cover.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

Excellent cruise controls.