All the articles of the new Sorento looks really good. 
 

And apparently hybrid/plug in models available as well only add to the appeal. 
 

7 year warranty and a more useable third row could make this the best 7seat SUV and take the Kodiaq’s crown 

What we like is very personal and subjective and I'd always advise a test drive before committing to another car.

Previous to my Kodiaq I had a new 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe. When I picked it up in Kent I drove it home to Somerset  I thought it was the bees knees. I owned it for 3 years and continued to like it and then I bought the Kodiaq. 

I cant really put a finger on the reasons, other than the Kodiaq is what I'd describe as Germanic, but I enjoy driving the Kodiaq so much l more than I did the Hyundai.

My point is I guess, is that what you see on paper doesn't always translate to a good driving experience.

 

I'm not decrying Korean cars, I had a couple of Kias as well, both of which were good and they're getting better all the time.

1 hour ago, ghellers said:

7 year warranty and a more useable third row could make this the best 7seat SUV and take the Kodiaq’s crown 

 

Had to raise an eyebrow when reading that - what crown? 

 

All the 7 seat comparisons I've seen already place the Sorrento ahead of the Kodiaq - and given that it's much longer, wider and taller, that's hardly a surprise. In any case, isn't it the Peugeot 5008 that usually holds the crown in this price range? I'd argue the SEAT Tarraco offers better value for money than a Kodiaq.   As olderman1 says, it's all subjective and down to personal choice.

 

 

 

 

 

2 minutes ago, Scot5 said:

 

Had to raise an eyebrow when reading that - what crown? 

 

All the 7 seat comparisons I've seen already place the Sorrento ahead of the Kodiaq - and given that it's much longer, wider and taller, that's hardly a surprise. In any case, isn't it the Peugeot 5008 that usually holds the crown in this price range? I'd argue the SEAT Tarraco offers better value for money than a Kodiaq.   As olderman1 says, it's all subjective and down to personal choice.

 

 

 

 

 

Tarraco definitely offers better value but all reviews I’ve seen either state Kodiaq is better than the Sorento or has a higher overall rating. 
 

Given how new the Tarraco is, I reckon a lot of those rankings/reviews would place the Tarraco higher now but it’s so close between that and the Kodiaq that it’s fairly irrelevant. 
 

My thoughts on those 2 are discussed in another thread. 
 

However certainly from what I’ve read recently, the Kodiaq certainly seems the king of 7seat SUVs (car wow/top gear magazine/Parkers/honest John/motorway.co.uk)

No idea if the New KIa Sorento is being built in Slovaki or the Czech plant but Hyundai are likely the best manufacturer is Czechia and might use as many European manufactured parts and materials as Skoda do.

Hyundai Motor Europe is headquartered in Russelsheim Germany and has a R&D centre in Frankfurt which is maybe why demistiing / heating and other stuff can suit European conditions which sadly the VW Group somehow get badly wrong on various vehicles from a German Owned manufacturer.

 

PS

7 seats is not much use if you then need a trailer to be able to get the luggage for them with you.

Edited 15 June, 20205 yr by Roottootemblowinootsoot

3 hours ago, ghellers said:

Tarraco definitely offers better value but all reviews I’ve seen either state Kodiaq is better than the Sorento or has a higher overall rating. 
 

Given how new the Tarraco is, I reckon a lot of those rankings/reviews would place the Tarraco higher now but it’s so close between that and the Kodiaq that it’s fairly irrelevant. 
 

My thoughts on those 2 are discussed in another thread. 
 

However certainly from what I’ve read recently, the Kodiaq certainly seems the king of 7seat SUVs (car wow/top gear magazine/Parkers/honest John/motorway.co.uk)

 

Perhaps it's your phraseology that's confusing.

 

I refer to the Kodiaq as well as a few of it's rivals as a 5+2 - to describe it as a 7 seater is more a sales marketing exercise than anything. It's certainly NOT king of 7 seaters by any stretch of the imagination, in fact it may well be one of the worst 7 seaters on the market ( I cannot think of any with less rear leg room or indeed worse access to those seats).

 

The articles you refer to are judging it as an SUV, not a 7 seater.  If you're judging it as an SUV then it's usually the engines that let the side down for the Koreans. No matter how much they try, they always seem to manage to produce engines from a decade ago. And I'd even include their hybrids in that - the combustion engine side never seems very efficient. The reason I'd never have one is they all remind me of the cheap rental cars I'd pick up at USA airports in the mid 90's - bland interiors.

Edited 14 June, 20205 yr by Guest

Hybrid or not, if it's diesel they're already on the back foot.

 

When I bought my Kodiaq it was the only 7-seater SUV available with a petrol engine.

 

Let's hope KIA have fixed their achilles heel.

My brother retired last year after 40 years in the motor industry working for Bosch as a UK Director and attending Board Meetings at HQ in Germany so you must admit he is well informed on car systems and reliability issues in the manufacturing of motor vehicles. Having a generous company car budget his last 3 business vehicles which clocked up on average 30,000 miles per year over 4 years were 2 Audi's (popular with his Boss) and a Jaguar (the patriotic choice). He could have kept his A6 going into retirement but decided to use some of his retirement bonus on a new car with a generous kit level, good reliability record and a 7 year warranty at a good value price. He bought a Kia Sorento.

What Car seems to have presenter / motoring journalists with short memories or many just can not make up their minds after the first video, 

then filming and making the video below that.

They really need to look again at the various cars boot space when the cars have all 7 seats available or even just 6 seats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 15 June, 20205 yr by Roottootemblowinootsoot

They are all very American right now these big 4x4s.

Edited 15 June, 20205 yr by Aspman

I had a previous model Sorento petrol V6 as a hire car in the US last October, it suited US roads (big with soft suspension) but not sure I'd want to drive one in the UK especially in the tiny West Country lanes.

@PetrolDave  They are a popular vehicle for those that go to Ploughing Competitions for towing tractors on transporters to events.

Maybe they do not have those events in the West Country, or tractors or other farm machinery.

I'm all for soft suspension, car manufacturers have been obsessed with handling for too long. Hard suspension, big wheels and low profile tyres do nothing for me. My commute isn't influenced by whether I can take a corner 10% faster, it's all about absorbing rough surfaces, potholes, excess standing water and doing it quietly and fuss free with minimal cabin intrusion.

 

If getting this means my car rolls an extra 2 degrees on a 60mph B road, laps the Nurburgring a bit slower and results in me losing a game of Top Trumps to a photocopier salesman in his Audi A6 then bring it on. 

15 hours ago, Roottootemblowinootsoot said:

@PetrolDave  They are a popular vehicle for those that go to Ploughing Competitions for towing tractors on transporters to events.

Maybe they do not have those events in the West Country, or tractors or other farm machinery.

There were certainly many other Sorentos in the parking lot when we went to the Freyburg Fair and some great tractor pulling competitions which me & my mate spent many hours watching!

 

In the West Country tractors are the new "company car" - lunchtimes in my small town see lots of tractors parked outside the Spar buying their lunch 😄

Even with Blue Badges.

Lol taking the tractor to Tesco. I had a mate who used to drive to school at 16 in a massive John Deere.

On 16/06/2020 at 11:13, Roottootemblowinootsoot said:

Even with Blue Badges.

Shocking parking between those 3 vehicles if they are parked in the disabled spaces perhaps they need their eyes testing.

It is me in the orange one parked askew to the post. and the others really could not see the parking markings.

The Tractor was actually clearing the snow, but i thought it amusing.