kia sorento

Uncle,

I looked seriously at one just over a year ago. I ended up with a Terracan because it is a bit bigger.

The Sorento made the final 6 of a magazine 4wd of the year award if that means anything. It also won a three way comparo with a Pathfinder and something else that I can't remember. They have excellent performance.

I've not seen one used off road, but they should be quite capable. They do have low range. The front end, although IFS, has coil springs, not torsion bars, so a fair bit of lift should be possible.

I reckon they're worth a serious look.

Cheers,

Jim.

Fester2

Most of the running gear is all Mitsubishi stuff, so should not be too bad. I looked at one in detail as well. They go ok, but are a little poorly finished off inside.

Cheers

The eqipment level is fairly comprehensive - they have ABS, push button 4wd, cruise control, quite a bit of power from the V6.

Not a bad jigger at the price, If I were buying now I would probably go the jerrycan diesel but when the Sorento was launched it had no real competition.

Purchased the Sorrento (New) 3 months ago.

I have been extremely happy with it. It's the wife's "Shopping Trolley" and my toy when I do some beach fishing 5-10 times a year. Beach escapades will come towards year end.

Looked at various cars over the last 9 months, summation:
Prado - Quality and 180L Fuel Tanks, $60K on road was too much though.
Pajero - Didn't consider it.
Patrol - Too much $$$, out of our price range.
Tucson - Wife was sold on it until we saw it in the flesh (way too small) and no low range
X-Trail - No Low Range, interior too funky, and have a look how the panels flex easily above the wheel arch
Tribute - No Low range and a little on the small side (interior wise)
Terracan - interior was bland, good size, Diesel was pushing the $50K mark.

Sorrento - getting 12.8 - 13.5L / 100km in the city. Haven't been out on the open road yet. Therfore getting 580 - 630km out of a 80L tank.

For $41K on road was able to get the car in Auto, side steps, Tow Bar, Fitted Sheepskins for $1,000 and a nice dark tint. The factory stereo is a nasty piece, so that was ripped out as well and put in a nice $1,000 head unit.

The biggest prob is the suspension. Car gets bent way out of shape too easily on normal everday, butumen. It jumps, shudders, skips etc.. Need to spend about $2K - $3K here. A larger fuel tank would have been nice as well.

All in all, very happy and even with the suspensions mods in the future, car comes to $45K on road, which is miles better than our favourite the Prado (maybe in 10 years?), which, with a few mods, would have been pushing the $65K mark.

thanks all,--they sound ok but think I'll save my bikkies and go back to toyota!!