KIA Sorento 2.5 CRDi XE 5dr Auto

[Gagakev]

Any veiws on the above tow car folks?
2009 model with 32k on the clock
Ive looked at the Santa Fe, BM x5, Disco, another Shogun, but cant make up my mind.
Current Shogun Sport needs a fair bit spent on it approx £1200,00, cambelt, water pump, 2 new rocker cover gaskets, mot due,
and a squeak from the rear which I cant find, oh and you can have a cold shower from the sunroof!!
Any Veiws Dusty Dog??

 

[Sproket]

Kev..... If i remember Sir Roger has a BMW X5 ...... DustyDog has the Kia Sorento..... Lady Mel had a Santa Fe but changed to a New type Freelander..... so some good reviews should come your way soon .....

 

[otherclive]

I had an 04 Sorento XS auto which we kept until 2011 and it was the best car we have ever owned as well as a fine tow car. It never had anything go wrong not even a light bulb and servicing costs were reasonable. The one you are looking at will have the higher power engine but otherwise most things are the same. Make sure that the back axle area has been seen by a Kia dealer. It is susceptible to corrosion and although there is not a recall Kia are doing any work required to fix it. Make sure it has a FSH and if you buy it pay for all fluids/lubs to be cahnged at your own garage. Mine is happy for me to supply the lubs which cuts teh cost down quite a lot. As an aside the Sorrie makes a fine off road car which we used quite often on Salisbury Plain and mid Wales in group treks.

My wife still gives me 'rocks' for selling the Kia as she will not drive the XC70, says its too wide. This from someone who drove Discos, Sorento, Mondeos and Saab 9000s!! So I suspect the XC70 will be on its way soon, but as most cars able to tow a van are quite wide, and our town has very narrow streets its replacment would be an issue. The Pajero might be bought back into towing use.

 

[HenryB1]

I have a 58 September Sorento XS Auto that I have had from new. Now has 27K on clock. Best towcar I have had. Previous 4 x 4s Discovery (if anything could fall off or break it did), Nissan Terrano, great towcar but underpowered. Before those I towed with a variety of cars including Volvo estates and BMWs. As other Clive has said make sure it has a full service history and that Back axle and suports have been checked by a Kia dealer. They are doing a rework programme at no cost to owner to prevent rusting on these models. I had mine done at Kia a few months ago, it took about 2 hours.

 

[Gagakev]

The one I'm looking at has FSH
Question 1; Does the rear axle etc give a bigger cuase for concern at a later date or is it a reliable fix
Question 2; Looking at theSorrie tow weight at 3500kg and looking at the Santa Fe tow weight at 2000kg they both have a 2.5L engine
I'm guessing it is all to do with the torque/BHP etc is that correct?
If my sums are right the Santa Fe would be dead on the 85% recommendation with a 1700kg van so would the Santa Fe struggle more on hills etc?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Dustydog]

Kev
Do not go for the entry level XE. Big mistake imo. It is a totally different car to the the XS and XT. Why?
The latter have 4x4 with torque on demand. Basically runs with rear wheel drive but front drive comes in automatically when required. Limited slip diff is standard as is self levelling suspension, leather heated seats cruise control and many other extras.
I had mine new in july 2005. 123k miles later still going strong on original clutch engine. Better mpg than your shogun.built to tow. Half my sorries mileage has been towing. A bit long in the tooth by modern standards but without doubt a very willing workhorse , well kitted out and comfortable.
have a look at uk sorento web. Haven't got the link today.

 

[GeorgeandAde]

Gagakev.
I had the XT 2.5 Automatic late 2007 model.
Excellent towcar but found the fuel consumption to be rather dissapointing.
22-25 around town.
Plus the road tax for the automatic was about £495 per annum.
Have now gone for the Honda CRV.
Sorrento was a really great car but found it a little expensive for me to run all year round.

 

[otherclive]

The difference in tow weights between the Kia and SantaFe comes down to the ladder chassis on the Kia and its got a low ratio gearbox which the SantaFe doesn't have. This gives you an extra set of gears which effectively multiplies the engines towing torque but road speed is reduced accordingly.

 

[Gagakev]

Kev
Do not go for the entry level XE. Big mistake imo. It is a totally different car to the the XS and XT. Why?
The latter have 4x4 with torque on demand. Basically runs with rear wheel drive but front drive comes in automatically when required. Limited slip diff is standard as is self levelling suspension, leather heated seats cruise control and many other extras.
I had mine new in july 2005. 123k miles later still going strong on original clutch engine. Better mpg than your shogun.built to tow. Half my sorries mileage has been towing. A bit long in the tooth by modern standards but without doubt a very willing workhorse , well kitted out and comfortable.
have a look at uk sorento web. Haven't got the link today.

Thanks for the tip Dusty, good job I was late home from work today and didnt have time to look at it, went three miles to local garage to look at Santa Fe but they sold it yesterday, so phoned another dealer to look at a BM X5 but they said I couldnt look at it as it was out on loan ?????? If it's for sale why put more miles on the clock ??? wont be looking at that one!!!

 

[Gagakev]

The difference in tow weights between the Kia and SantaFe comes down to the ladder chassis on the Kia and its got a low ratio gearbox which the SantaFe doesn't have. This gives you an extra set of gears which effectively multiplies the engines towing torque but road speed is reduced accordingly.

Thanks for explaining that in good old english otherclive, so would expect the Sorrie to perform better, cheers

See by your signature you have the xc70 saw a xc90 today but had to walk away £5k above my budget ha ha

 

[Gagakev]

Gagakev.
I had the XT 2.5 Automatic late 2007 model.
Excellent towcar but found the fuel consumption to be rather dissapointing.
22-25 around town.
Plus the road tax for the automatic was about £495 per annum.
Have now gone for the Honda CRV.
Sorrento was a really great car but found it a little expensive for me to run all year round.

Hii georgeandade thanks for your reply, that means I would get nearly TWICE the milage I currently get with my Shogun.(Petrol 3.0L)
Road tax would double but would proberbly save the differance on fuel, not that we do a lot of miles a year (approx 4k to 5k) but it all counts.

 

[otherclive]

The difference in tow weights between the Kia and SantaFe comes down to the ladder chassis on the Kia and its got a low ratio gearbox which the SantaFe doesn't have. This gives you an extra set of gears which effectively multiplies the engines towing torque but road speed is reduced accordingly.

Thanks for explaining that in good old english otherclive, so would expect the Sorrie to perform better, cheers

See by your signature you have the xc70 saw a xc90 today but had to walk away £5k above my budget ha ha

the Kia isn't as refined on the road as the SantaFe as its chassis and power train is designed for a different job. But saying that we never had any problems on the road as you adjust your driving style accordingly. Regarding practical caravan tow loads both Kia and SantaFe will haul most UK caravans without any problems re tow weight MTPLM. When we bought our Kia the equivalent SantaFe was the original model which we didn't like and wasn't anywhere near the Sorrie capability. But with hindsight we would not have opted for the SantaFe over the Sorrie as our need was for something able to go off road down French mountain tracks and the Kia was a proper off roader like your Shogun.

 

[Gagakev]

What is the nose weight of the Sorrie please?
Currently have 105kg on the Shogun so would like the next vehicle to be 100kg

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Kev
Kia say 112kgs.
All Sories by now should have been checked for corrosion on the rear axle FOC. Mine was done last year. A quick wire brush. Spray of black paint and like new.
http://kiasorento.proboards.com/
Look at the Sorie owners site. Eveything you will ever need to know.

 

[Mel]

Hi Kev. we had a Sante Fe. Never had a Sorrie. Perfectly happy with the Sante Fe. Towed our 1500kg van with no problem. Did wallow a bit. However, OH is happier with the Freelander 2 we replaced it with.
mel

 

[Gagakev]

Hi Kev. we had a Sante Fe. Never had a Sorrie. Perfectly happy with the Sante Fe. Towed our 1500kg van with no problem. Did wallow a bit. However, OH is happier with the Freelander 2 we replaced it with.
mel

Thanks Mel, I had a high top Pajero once that used to "wallow" felt quite sea sick at times (smily icon thing).
Still searching!!!!!

 

[Gagakev]

Well folks thanks for all your replies and sorry if I'm about to dissapoint you now.
Put a deposit down today on a ....................................................Shogun!!!!
Went for the Shogun 3.2 Di Equippe 2007, Diesel, Auto, 3500 kg towing, 135 kg nose weight. (I know the van is 100kg)
The reason I went for this was I looked at the Disco, Bmw x5, Volvo XC90 etc (no Kia's local to me at present) and for value for money
ie; lower milage and about two years newer. It is also 100mm wider than present sport, I thought it was better the devil you know
The present sport has done us proud over the last 6 years, with minimal outlay,(except yesterday when the OH couldnt close the sunroof and I had to leave work early to sort it) road tax is higher but should save that in fuel, (here's hoping).

 

[otherclive]

Good choice Kev. I went on a trip to mid Wales back in November and a Kiwi and his family turned up in one like yours and similar reg. He'd fitted some Arbil under guards and its off rooad capabilty was great. Much to everyone's surprise he put it through the Strata Florida Bomb Hole (see Youtube lots of clips) and apart from some grinding of his guards and towbar she came through as well as the tour leaders much modified Disco1. Great cars, and reliable too! Must say though that I have never put the Pajero through the Bomb Hole....too much respect for mechanical things. But a Defender and Troooper I was with went through, and both finished the weekend being recovered home due to suspension damage. See linked blog to tour photos Daves show a Disco going down the Bomb Hole..
http://www.4x4adventuretours.co.uk/blog.html

 

[GeorgeandAde]

Good luck with your choice Gagakev.