Motty gives his verdict on the Kia Sorento KX-2 as a towcar...It may not be the verdict you expect... Do you agree?
This may not be very popular...Kia Sorento
- Thread starter NigelDonnelly
- Start date
Yes, totally. With a big twin axle caravan and no self levelling suspension it is perhaps the most unstable car I've ever towed with! Hyundai Santa Fe with SLS was excellent so as Motty says, tick the SLS option box.
- Nov 11, 2009
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Whilst the old Sorento was not up there with Defender it won the 4x4 magazine off roader of the year, and if you see the Youtube videos from the Greek or Israeli clubs you get an idea of what it is capable of. I used to take mine out on Salisbury Plain with a 4x4 club and only once did it get stuck when it could not pull itself sideways out of deepening ruts. Had to be towed out by a lightweight LR.
Martin24 said:
I think the surprise is due to the fact that you expect a new car to better than the one it replaces. Having towed with the car a lot, I agree completely with Motty's verdict. Just think it may be unpopular with some caravanners...
- Sep 4, 2011
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Whe they first launched it the Kia salesman asked if i wanted a test drive as we are good customers ,we have 6 Kias in family .I declined and told him i will keep my Sorento Auto,as i could see on brouchure it was never going to match the old one as a tow car.
- Jun 20, 2005
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I think Kia lost the plot. They failed to take into account exactly who are the Sorento customers. A quick look around any site reveals the high number of Sorentos being used as tugs.
Since the introduction of the new softie I've noticed that the old Sorentos are actually appreciating in value
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I've had mine from new and at 102k she still goes very well and does what she was designed for.
Sorry Kia I think you shot yourselves in foot here.
Since the introduction of the new softie I've noticed that the old Sorentos are actually appreciating in value
I've had mine from new and at 102k she still goes very well and does what she was designed for.
Sorry Kia I think you shot yourselves in foot here.
I think Kia realised that there are more 4x4 owners world wide that don't tow than there are owners that do.
Having owned all three version of the Sorento, I agree the old style facelift model is the best for towing, but at a very hefty price as far as running cost are concerned. The new model servicing is half the price and so is the vehicle duty and as far as fuel consumption is concerned, the new model is in a totally different class. I get better figures towing a 1600Kg van than I used to get solo in my facelift model.
So I don't think Kia has shot itself in the foot, I think they have just pitched for a different and bigger market.
Steve W
Having owned all three version of the Sorento, I agree the old style facelift model is the best for towing, but at a very hefty price as far as running cost are concerned. The new model servicing is half the price and so is the vehicle duty and as far as fuel consumption is concerned, the new model is in a totally different class. I get better figures towing a 1600Kg van than I used to get solo in my facelift model.
So I don't think Kia has shot itself in the foot, I think they have just pitched for a different and bigger market.
Steve W
- Sep 4, 2011
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My actual words to Kia salesman that Kia hsd shot themselves in the foot, as regard the towing capabilities of Sorento.They already had a market for non towing customers or people wanting a smaller tow vehicle,it is named Sportage.
- Nov 11, 2009
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But the Sportage has limited people and luggage capacity so Kia wanted a vehicle that could take families and as their surveys concluded most towers did not need the rugged off-road capability and 3500kg tow load of the old Sorento. What is most noticeable though is when the old Sorento first came out it quickly became a 'regular' sight on sites, but not so the new Sorento, it was not competitively priced unlike the old model. The Santa Fe was considerably cheaper and just, if not more flexible. But there is now more competition from X-Trail, Outlander, Freelander 2, Tiguan etc so for most vanners there is a good choice of 4wd vehicles, it's only those at the higher weight end that have been limited. But even so 2000kg with 100kg noseweight still fits lots of weightier vans.
- Mar 14, 2005
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I'm puzzled by a statements Motty makes.
His statement which under the circumstances seems very difficult to verify:-
"Owners with cars fitted with SLS,------ say the Sorento is much better with this option"
This is a brand new model! How plausible is it that any significant number of owners will be on their second purchase to be able to compare the two versions!
Journalistic licence?
His statement which under the circumstances seems very difficult to verify:-
"Owners with cars fitted with SLS,------ say the Sorento is much better with this option"
This is a brand new model! How plausible is it that any significant number of owners will be on their second purchase to be able to compare the two versions!
Journalistic licence?
There is no such thing as journalistic licence, which appears to be a euphamistic term for making things upProf John L said:
This shape of Sorento launched in 2010 and there are plenty in the hands of caravanners already. Motty's comments are based on the many conversations he (and I) have had with fans of the new Sorento who say that their one tows flawlessly. Usually, the common link in these cases is that the happiest owners have self-levelling suspension.
Having towed extensively with the car used in the test, down to the Loire Valley and back as well as plenty of UK towing adventures, I completely concur with Motty's findings.
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