I am considering replacing our BMW 330d with a 2004 Kia Sorento, the reason for this is simple, we have moved house and now have to travel a mile or so down a dirt track to access the house, our 330d is getting abused over the mud and bumps not to mention dragging the doors through the hedges if we meet a car coming the other way! So before the BMW gets destroyed I am considering swapping it for a 2004 Kia Sorento, it is not expensive and I know it is not as refined as the BMW but for travelling up and down the lane to the house and local journeys I think it is a good option as the reviews I have read look promising.

 

 I am unsure if the Sorento I am going to look at has the 4 or 5 speed auto box, I do know it is not the one with TOD that winds the transfer box up causing issues.

 

 I would like to know if you have had a Kia or experience of the Sorento and what your real life experience has been, is the 4 speed auto a no go area or are they ok?

 I look forward to your replies, I go to test drive it tomorrow and hopefully release the BMW from its current life being abused on a green lane!

Drove a couple back in the day, the autos were fairly sluggish and heavy going IMO.

 

If it were my money, for a cheap 4x4, I'd go with a maverick or a C-RV, just mind out for rust on them both.

 

Realistically though, unless I really, really needed 4wd, I'd get a decent sized van, they'll stand the terrain at least as well as any 4x4. But then I'm not arsed what the neighbours think, so that wouldn't work for everyone.

We had a Sorento, but a 2007 which was the "facelift" version with different styling and the ToD you mention (although we had no issues). We had it from 6 months/3000 miles (October 2007 iirc) old until about April 2015. It had done about 60k when we sold it.

 

Personally i thought it was a great car, but the 2004 is (i think) a 138bhp versus our which was (again i think) 165bhp. The newer was def 5 speed (actually i think it may technically have been a 4 speed auto with overdrive). I think the earlier model may have had some sort of self leveling suspension at the back that could be problematic.

 

Plenty of information / opinions here: http://kiasorento.proboards.com

 

Hope this helps

 

Steve

@StevesTruck - when you say sluggish, do you mean the auto was slow to change, or the car was just slow? Certainly that wasn't the case in ours. It was quick off the mark (for a 4x4) and towed like a train. We had a 1000kg trailer with 45 bales of hay in (conservatively another 700kg) and you were hard pressed to know it was there

Thanks for the info, I would consider a van but as the BMW is a second car and only does limited mileage, driven mostly by the wifi is difficult to find her something she is happy with, it has to be automatic too, she doesn't do gears!

 We have had Pajero's in the past and these were reliable but definitely nothing special, I was hoping the Kia will be a modern version of an old Pajero.

 

 I will go tomorrow with an open mind and give it a drive, see how it goes, who knows it may well come home with me.

 

  Forgot to mention, it won't go far either, the BMW does about 3,000 miles per year. Kia would only do short journeys or at most tow my track car to the track, it would also have to be happy to go to the woods and get loaded with wood after I have cut it down, this also is not so good with a 3 BMW as ground clearance and traction are not designed for lugging wood about!

Edited 2 January, 201610 yr by James I

@James

 

see http://kiasorento.proboards.com/thread/1364/2003-2006-kia-sorento-story

 

 

Sorento was the first car to make use of Kia's modern 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine incorporating Bosch technology. This new common-rail unit has been designed for effortless driveability, exceptional smoothness, minimal vibration and low noise characteristics. It develops 138bhp at 3800 rpm and a muscular 343lb ft of torque from 1850 to 2500rpm, making it ideal for off-road work with either the five-speed manual gearbox or the sports H-matic five-speed automatic.

Read more: http://kiasorento.proboards.com/thread/1364/2003-2006-kia-sorento-story#ixzz3w75FSa2f

Can't you park at then end of the lane and walk?

If you don't need the size the Sportage is a cracking motor. The last SEAT dealer I worked at was also a Kia dealer and we got very few issues on the whole and Kia UK were great to deal with.

Can't you park at then end of the lane and walk?

 

 Matt, I will introduce you to my wife and you can suggest she walks the length of the lane with her shopping, stand back!   

 

If you don't need the size the Sportage is a cracking motor. The last SEAT dealer I worked at was also a Kia dealer and we got very few issues on the whole and Kia UK were great to deal with.

 

 I have read reviews and they all seem ok. the odd horror story on the Kia forum but there are lots more horror stories on the BMW forums and I bought one of the them that hasn't been too bad tbh.

My sister has just bought a 15 plate 2.0 4x4 Sportage and it's a lovely drive. Given the need I would certainly consider one.

 Matt, I will introduce you to my wife and you can suggest she walks the length of the lane with her shopping, stand back!   

 

Maybe not then, mine moans about walking to the front door from the back driveway lol. 

Matt, I will introduce you to my wife and you can suggest she walks the length of the lane with her shopping, stand back!

.

Dont tesco do delivery? Thats the shopping issue dealt with

Our neighbour was running a sorento to tow the boat himself and friends have for going fishing (polish family, and friends) he never seemed to have any bother with it.. it was a 2004 diesel, manual though..

Would a freelander 2 not suffice James? A bit less of a bus than the Sorento Automatic!

Good suspension for a rough lane too!

Edited 2 January, 201610 yr by vRS Joe

Skoda Yeti DSG?

A Suzuki Grand Vitara will do the job perfectly and plenty to chose from.

Would a freelander 2 not suffice James? A bit less of a bus than the Sorento Automatic!

Good suspension for a rough lane too!

 

 Freelander would suffice Joe, but the two I have looked at so far have been tatty and for more than I want to pay.

Skoda Yeti DSG?

 

 Yeti DSG, as much as I liked my Yeti I would not buy a diesel because of DPF (only low mileage second car) and the petrol choices are poor for 4x4 dsg. For example, speaking with the man at VW about a Tiguan, I mentioned the DPF issues and short journeys, he told me this does not happened with new diesel cars as they have a fan that cleans the DPF  :wonder:   I walked away!

A Suzuki Grand Vitara will do the job perfectly and plenty to chose from.

 

 Suzuki and Rav 4 have also been looked at but not pursued, I am off to look at the Kia today, so if it is not for me I will keep looking, Thanks for the comments.

Or a Toyota Land Cruiser. Good luck on looking at the Kia today James.

The Sorrento is a nice car, I've only driven one once and I liked it. I seem to remember it getting decent reviews when it first launched too

Good luck!

Just got back from Kia test drive, it was very good, car was lively enough, quite refined and for the money it is tidy, just two marks on the body work, small scratches.

 

 The deal has been done and the BMW is now on the drive awaiting the swap next weekend, I know the Kia will not pick up like a 330d nor will it give tha massive shove in the back you get with the 330d but it will not get stuck when we go logging with the trailer on, nor will it matter if we get in it with muddy boots etc, it is a cheap tractor that will tick a few boxes whilst we live in our rural retreat.

 

 I will get a thread up on it when I get it next week.

 

 Good Bye BMW, we have had lots of fun.

 

It has tried my patience at times  https://www.flickr.com/photos/swivelonit/albums/72157644862102130

 

And has been a loyal servant at other times  towing the trailer to track days with the Golf.

Edited 3 January, 201610 yr by James I

Park the BMW at the end of the lane and buy a quad bike for in between

Can't you park at then end of the lane and walk?

 

 

 Matt, I will introduce you to my wife and you can suggest she walks the length of the lane with her shopping, stand back!   

 

 

 

 

Buy her this, she can put the shopping in the bucket

 

Deal is done now Auric Goldfinger (who happens to be on the TV now!)   As much as I would want a John Deere I am not sure the missus would like it, has to be automatic if she is to operate it.  

Deal is done now Auric Goldfinger (who happens to be on the TV now!) As much as I would want a John Deere I am not sure the missus would like it, has to be automatic if she is to operate it.

Andy was on the telly box???

Howd i miss that?

Andy was on the telly box???

Howd i miss that?

 

Goldfinger, 007, James Bond, his namesake was on the tele not Briskoda Auric Goldfinger

Brother in law has had two, hes got a double axled caravan so they are good for towing, first one gearbox went kaput, but he never serviced it, the second was faultless until he left his keys in it before xmas complete with xmas presents in it and it got nicked and wrapped round a tree, the pillock!