Kia Sorento BL (2003-2009)

Worst car ever – I bought this car almost 2 years ago, only had 105,000k's on the clock, full service history, ran nice for the first 6 months, I did buy a warranty and they did fix the front brakes and the fuel sender unit, but when the engine started leaking oil and running very hot there was no warranty to cover the things that were wrong anymore, replaced the… Read more

tappet cover gaskets and the valve seals and the top tank overflow bottle and then the rear engine seal, radiator, hoses and plugs and leads, computer had to be reset 4 times until they got it right, now a month later it started stalling for no reason, complete electric stall, the car yard where it bought it from cant fix it so off to Kia, now it is getting a new crankshaft sensor and a cam shaft sensor!!!!!! WHAT NEXT I ASK !!!!!!!!!!!.

Total cost to me so far, just under $7500 on top of what I paid for it but to add insult to injury I went to trade it in on a almost $30,000.00 car and was told my trade value was only $4500.00 to $5000.00, I paid $16000.00 not 2 years ago.

Not a happy camper.

This was going to be the car to tow my van around Australia in my retirement.

Don't think this will happen now. When i first got it i loved it for it comfort and power, leather and wood finish, looked brand new when I got it 20ltrs per hundred around town

Brilliant car with all the capability needed – Have owned a 2009 (manufactured 2007) Sorento diesel Auto from new. Have done 105k Km. At least 75k of it towing a 2200kg caravan all over Australia. It has been superb. Absolutely nothing has gone wrong. I do change the oil every 5000km though, and check it over very thoroughly often. It has towed in 45 degree heat across the Nullabor, and 5… Read more ·  1

degree cold in Canberra and the temp gauge stays in exactly the same spot. The fuel consumption whilst towing is exceptional. We get about 650km on one tank (79) liters whilst towing! We don't travel at more than 100kph except if absolutely necessary. I have had to overtake a greyhound bus at up to 120kph and flew past it with plenty of power to spare.

The gearbox is fabulous, and seems to know exactly what gear is needed all the time under all driving conditions.

We have done some extreme 4 x 4 trips and even extracted a Landcruiser V8 Troop Carrier in the Bungle Bungles, much to his disgust.

There is not a single rattle in the car.

The only negatives I can think of are:

The last 10 liters in the fuel tank take ages of stop start to fill up. Very annoying if other people are waiting for diesel.

Ride can be quite bumpy, but usually because of the higher pressures needed for towing.

Paint is a little soft and easily scratched. But I use a good wax every 3 months and generally the scratches come out well.

My wife has put her feet up on the dashboard and scratched the plastic. Nothing that Armorall protectorant can't disguise.

The Kia towbar was sold to us by the salesman, and I specified that I would be using the weight distribution hitch, but the bar arrived with a sticker on that specified that a WDH could not be used. After a great deal of huffing and puffing, Kia produced a document saying it could be used provided the requirements of the Hayman Reece bars are adhered to. Ie no reversing, or sharp corners or humps. So we disconnect the bars on entry to caravan parks and only reconnect them when outside the park.

Wonderful car which I hope still has a lot of life left.

I've owned Mercedes, Volkswagen, Toyota Landcruiser, amongst many other cars. This is the best by far.

2007 3.8 sorento auto – Use this car for family transport super smooth quiet powerful very nice ride if you dont overinflate the tyres handles well for an high riding vehicle. Looks good (get lots of comments) passengers remark on comfort and qiietness. Smoothest shifting 5sp auto transmission. A bit thirsty. Just dont leadfoot it and drive it gently it has so much… Read more

torque you need very little throttle input to keep it rolling lastly i do regular servicing with quality oils and parts (all oils changed ) very good value 2nd hand still looks new better than the shitbox merc ml i had before. Note if u want an economical commuter in city traff ic buy a kia rio or similar

Great 4WD and tow vehicle – Great car have done around 100,000km towing 2,2 ton van. I wish they still made them, I'd buy a new one. Had three issues so far (one my fault):- 1. oil feed to the turbo-inlet is faulty so small oil leak evident - I had this replaced twice, third time its gone, now I'll just let it go, doesn't seem to affect performance. 2. not concentrating… Read more

going up long steep climb into Warrumbungles NP. Car slogged away at slow speed and I think I overheated auto gearbox. My fault, but has been running rough ever since. If car was newer I'd fit a temperature gauge/alarm to gearbox.

3. Two trips over corrugations all the way up Cape York and back necessitated new shocks and springs. Fitted air lifters as well - wish I'd done this when I first got it.

Other than that no problems.

Adrian

Great suv – Towed a 2500kg van everywhere never missed a beat change oil plus filter every 7500 deisel allways Serviced to the book ,other than service items brakes shocks never had a problem now done 220,000klm best vehicle I’ve ever owned , 9liters to 100ks country driver 13 ligers towing van pulls like steam trian  Show details

Timing Chain issue – I loved this car this one was my second Sorento, first one I owned overseas and came to Sydney I bought the exact model and in the same colour from a dealer in 2014. Logbook shows the car was religously serviced. It had about 176,000kms on the odometer. With me I also serviced and changed oil every 6 months (I have all the invocie to prove… Read more

this), done by a profesional mechanic, in fact last service was last November only. Driving only used on the road.

4 days ago, 254,000 kms in the odo, while driving under 50kms around a roundabout, the engine dies, as if I lost compression, it felt like something snapped.

Turns out the timing chain broke or snapped!

Why? Kia tell us why would this happen? The car is now worthless!

Confirmation of Sorento timing chain problems – My 2008 EX 2.5L Diesel Sorento started to run rough and noisy at about 160,000kms. Timing chain proved to be worn and slack and needed replacement, in spite of the manual telling me that the chain would never have to be replaced for the lifetime of the motor. Would that mean that this model Sorento is only supposed to last for 160,000 ks only? Lucky I had it checked in time and avoided major problems!!  Show details

Terrible customer service – I had a warranty claim when my MY08 Sorento diesel developed an engine problem. I was left without a vehicle for two months and the dealer and Kia Australia were unwilling to offer any replacement vehicle. To add insult to injury they did not even extend the warranty for the two months that they had the car. I would never buy another Kia. Great car Let down by lousy Australian customer service and servicing Show details

nice cheap practical 4wd – 314000kms 3.8 196kw V6 .. plenty of power great for towing ( hardly feel the weight) & a proper 4WD with high & low range and a factory lsd comfy car. only downside is handling is a bit skiterish. .. jan 2024 now up to 390000kms... Show details

Retirement vehicle – 2008 my wife and I had returned from travelling Australia with a caravan over 5years, I had a good job driving trucks in Wangara WA. While travelling I had bought a GU Patrol DX in Darwin at an auction and while it was ok it was basic wind down windows etc, the Kia dealer offered a good trade on a LX diesel I test drove and was drawn by the 2.8… Read more

ton towing capacity, I had the initial service done then priced the following service costs so had it serviced by a registered mechanic, I replaced the front brake pads at 60,000 k's previous Patrols I had owned did 100,000ks, the mechanic used full synthetic Penrite oil, the diffs were changed perthe warranty requirements during the 5years we owned it did everything i asked of it towing our 18ft van to QLD then down the middle and across the Great Central Rd from The Alice to Leonora.i had the last service done by Kia The 5 year warranty ran out, and one mth later the computer started giving problems it went back to Kia 3 times I had to pay their argument was as I didn't have it serviced by them they wouldn't cover it. The problem was intermittent it would work well for a few days then tow truck eventually I bit the bullet and swapped it for a 02 Nissan patrol 4.5 petrol auto. I would never own another Kia or Hyundai

The Perfect Car for 3+ kids – Whilst many of the 7 seater cars i test drove were quite heavy in the stearing, the sorento felt just like a medium size sedan. It has quite a luxury feel inside with the leather seating and trims. The main winner for me as a family of 5 with 3 small children is that i can fit 3 car seats across the middle seat with ease. Whilst the two extra… Read more

seats in the back row are fantastic when taking other kids with me to after school activities with the seats laid flat the boot capacity is amazing. We can pack everything we need plus the kitchen sink when going away.

Spectacular Sorento BL Diesel – Got to fully agree with Jack and his endorsement of the Sorento diesel. I have had my 2008 EXL auto from brand new. I've towed a 2200kg van around Oz for over 100,000km across the Nullabor return 4 times, from the Snowys minus 5C to 45C in Cape Tribulation and Mt Isa. Temp gauge never varies by more than a 1/4 of a notch. Only problem so far… Read more

after 160, 000km was a couple of loose bolts on the turbo, fixed in 10 mins. Only upgraded the shockies to Bilsteins after 10, 000km to minimise cornering roll. I'm one very very happy Sorento owner.

Timing chain failure after 5years and 16 days and 95,000 kms – Without warning the timing chain on our MY08 Kia Sorento 2.5L diesel failed, causing catastrophic damage to the motor. The incident occurred on the 16th day past expiry of the new car warranty. Kia Australia and the dealership we bought it from (our second new car in succession from that dealership)) don't want to know, and are saying it was… Read more

caused by inferior oil. We've had the vehicle serviced at authorized service centers according to vehicle specifications, so that is a lie. Repairs cost $8,800.00. It was the third significant mechanical failure since we purchased it. For previous repairs we've had to wait for long periods of time for small parts to be forwarded from Kia Australia or from Korea (to WA). They haven't heard of air mail. Has anyone else had similar issues with the timing chain or combustion chamber, or know anything about the US class action against Kia for camshaft problems?

Find Out Why My Kia Sorento is Awesome – We purchased a secondhand Kia Sorrento from 2004 (only 7 years), the car had full service history, we had some minor problems with the electronics from the get go but other than that a great car! Would not hesitate to recommend. Even a second hand one. All the best! The color.. Nothing Show reply

Fantastic towcar, powerful and a true statement of what the Koreans can do! – Bought my Sorento second hand in 2011 after purchasing a caravan. Had read up about the Sorento and started to really like it. I drive manuals and finding a good quality used manual with low kilometres was hard, but got it in the end. Only one issue with it since purchased which was the crank angle sensor at 125670kms. 100000km service at Brian… Read more

Hilton Kia cost a wopping $1500 but I was willing to pay it because I love my car. Fitted to my car is the standard 5 speed manual which is painfully notchy especially between 1st, 2nd and 3rd, but is short in the throw and easy to use. I live on a sloping block and you have to pull the handbrake up as far as you possibly can for it to hold the car in place, first gear is what normally holds it in place, put your foot on the clutch and it starts to roll when youre about to start it.

Ive really changed my family and friends thought of Kia as a brand when I took them for a drive in my car. They were the ones who thought I was an idiot for looking at a Kia, but have come to like it! My car did not come with the optional leather and sunroof package, which in a way im glad of as I would have become OCD trying to keep everything clean and presentable. Overall love my Sorento and will keep it until the day it gives up which I suspect will be a long time away. Basically don't talk a brand down based on what you've heard. Kia's are fantastic cars that now days are genuine competitors to the Japanese in terms of reliability, safety, features, quality etc. Just love my car and despite a few setbacks it deserves nothing less than the 5 stars I give it! Great sounding engine, off road ability, great as an affordable tow car, nice interior smallish boot, notchy 5 speed manual, servicing costs at Kia, weak hand brake

Good – Good car except for the engine failure. Am looking to upgrade to the new diesel model. Can't blame the engine failure on the car. Great 4x4 We have owned Toyota's, Jackaroo's and a Rodeo. It is by far the most comfortable vehicle for the long drives out here in the west. The car (2003BL Model) has now done 132,000K without any problem till April… Read more

this year when the engine let go. Investigation revealed the screws holding the No 6 butterfly on the inlet manifold had vibrated loose and fallen into the engine. The cause of this vibration appears to be the blind bush holding the butterfly rod into the manifold failing (disingergrating). The wear on each port was measured, with zero wear on NO1 port progressing to .77mm wear on No6 port next to the failed bush.My opinion is that the amount of wear means the bush must have failed during the warrantry period and was not picked up in any of the services 9All Kia). Kia, however have washed their hands of it and won't even detail why. This may be a fault to look for as this model moves into it's middle age.

Excellent – Tremendous value - possibly the nicest, smoothest and most functional car I will ever drive. I am spoiled on it, nothing else I have ever driven comes close - my next car will also be a Sorento if at all feasible. Very smooth ride with power to spare. Great looks and fantastic features - tremendous value for money. Feels inside like some sort of… Read more

Cadillac - nice steering wheel. Moonroof is great. Steering and ease of driving is out of this world. Acceleration, handling and smoothness has to be experienced to be believed. I have the EX. Fuel economy is not fantastic - I get 16 mpg consistently in town, no real long journeys yet.

Good – 2005 Kia Sorento BL EX 3.5L auto. Its my wife's daily driver. She loves it. She is only 5' tall but finds the Kia much better handling and to see out of than our previous Pajero. Overall, we are happy enough with it to already contemplate our next replacement vehicle to be a Sorento again. This one only has 50,000km on it so will keep it for a… Read more

while longer yet. Next one will be a turbo diesel as well. Good vehicle Mr Kia. I like lots of things about the Sorento. Engine power, four wheel drive ability, ease of drivability, turning circle, reasonable fuel economy for four wheel drive vehicle. I like its general looks and road presence. Quality of build is much better than previous Korean vehicles. Suspension replaced with Old Man Emu Nitrocharger shocks. Improved ride out of sight, both on and off the road. Nothing else I don't like about the vehicle.

Good – Really good SUV in my view, has all the features I was after. A lot of people have disregarded Kia as a good car brand as of late, but I don't think this is really true. I think they've really got their act together this time. It has great looks, really like the design of the body. Awesome interior as well, really feels more expensive than it… Read more

really is I think. Great power, with pretty decent fuel economy - I have the latest 2.2 litre diesel model. Nothing yet, performs great =]

Excellent – This is the last of the model. What a pity Kia doesn't continue a model with good suspension and low range manual gearbox. Not sure what I will get when this one wears out. Have done 180,000 km in 3 years and the only problem was a rear windscreen wiper motor replaced on warranty. The Koreans have it together. Look out Toyota! Excellent 2.5L… Read more ·  1

Diesel Motor, heaps of torque and good fuel economy. Drives well, much better to steer than the Hyundai. Lots of room. Just a joy to drive on and off road. With Bilstein suspension it rides and drives like a Mercedes. Low range works well. Goes anywhere. Terrible suspension. I had after market shocks and springs installed when new. Had to get after market cruise too.

Good – Overall a great value for money SUV... Looks fantastic, handles very well, goes anywhwere, if you wnat a go anywhere vehicle that can handle it all, get this as great value for money Looks great, very roomy, great motor,very quiet Drivers eat a little small and not comfy. Bumpy ride even on main roads when you hit a pothole

Excellent – I bought my 05 EX, Black 5 speed auto in Nov 05. After having 2 Landcruisers, a 60Series GL and an 80Series GXL I was actually in the market for the new Prado. I like Toyota's and have had an excellent run with them. I also looked at the Ford Territory and smaller new Suzuki Grand Vitara. I was able to look at and drive all 3 at the same… Read more

dealership, which was a real bonus. After driving the Prado and Territory I had decided on Prado, then thought the Suzuki might be worth a look but the demo was out. My wife and I waited for about an hour (not impressed) for it to arrive and where offered a drive in their demo Sorento. I have always loved the look of them but was never going to buy Korean. We went for a drive, then drove the Suzuki, then had a chat about which was the most impressive. The KIA won hands down. What a revelation. Quite, comfortable, smooth as, excellent motor and awesome gearbox, great looks, just enough features with ABS,cruise etc to only tick the towbar option. I went to another dealer, Zupps in Brisbane and got an excellent deal on my Cruiser. I had misgivings about the spongy/giggly ride so it went off to ARB at Nudgee and had a complete suspension upgrade with Old Man Emu shocks, springs etc. You notice the difference the moment you drive off the gutter. Absolutely fantastic, better than any Cruiser/Prado I have been in, slight lift at both ends by 40mm and of course better articulation and ground clearance. Around $1500 drive in-drive out. Worth every cent. I also got an ARB Nudge bar fitted and stuck a nice big pair of IPH 9000XDS spots on it as the standard high beam is not really up to par. Overall, I love my car. If you had asked me 5 years ago if I would ever buy a Korean built car, I would have laughed at you. Not any more. So far I average around 13klm per litre, which is about 5 less than my last Cruiser, it also has more rear passenger legroom than the 80Series and isn't as claustrophobic as the Prado inside. Value for money, quality of finish, driveability, appearence, performance, makes me smile everytime I drive it. Suspension leaves a lot to be desired in standard trim both on and off road. I was also a bit dissapointed with the headlight high-beam, below par at high speeds at night. Both can and have been fixed.

Wonderfully Surprised by value of Kia! – Went looking for a Toyota 4WD, ended up test-driving a 2yo Kia Sorento and LOVED it! We have a 2005 EX "Australian Open" Edition - absolutely amazing! So comfortable, so reliable, off road is great, towing is perfect (a Jayco 18' caravan), so easy to drive, feels solid and safe on road, perfect family car. This is the best car we have owned. My… Read more

husband rarely gets to drive it anymore - I have claimed it as "my" car (wife)!! Hubby actually had to get another car yesterday as he doesn't often get to drive "my" car!! ha, ha!! Anyway, we are both very happy that we accidentally came to buy a Kia Sorento - would buy another one in a heartbeat! This car is amazing! I (the wife) have claimed this car as my own off my husband! It is easy to drive - it feels solid, is reliable, is comfortable, has a great turning circle, is easy to park, has great air-con. I just love it! Poor re-sale (a shame!), is a bit thirsty around town (but this does not really bother us as the rest of the car's features more than make up for it)

Good – Bought this vehicle new in 2004 (pre triptronic auto). Driven Melbourne to Perth, Perth to Karajini return, Perth to Exmouth return, aside from this mainly city driving. Some offroad corrugations and sand driving but not too demanding on vehicle and driver ability. Best milage out of 80 litre tank was 570 km on the run to Melbourne to Perth in… Read more

2004. Since then lucky to get 500 km before low fuel indicator light comes on. Great power and overtaking ability in this vehicle. Aside from fuel consumption, low resale value, high servicing costs after warranty, lack of boot space for camping family would seriously consider purchasing diesel version of this vehicle. Particularly with 5 year warranty and 5 Year Kia Roadside Assistance program. 1. Great power and acceleration,

2. Capable 4wd vehicle in sand,

3. Good value for money in initial purchase price but pay for this later in resale value $17,000 if I'm lucky.

4. Good looking vehicle

5. Ride and handling no problems even on corrugations 1. Fuel economy - get 16 litres per 100 km

2. Service / repair costs after warranty period just cost me $500 for 85,000 service + $500 front wheel bearing + $175 new battery and on top of this (will cost me $1500 mandatory timing belt change at 92,000 km service

3. Lack of Vehicle Recovery Points - design of front and rear fenders makes it difficult to fit vehicle recovery points for snatching or winch recovery. This significantly undermines it's 4wd capabilities as everybody gets bogged at some point. Only opportunity therefore is to dig / rock your way out.

4. Lack of boot space - miss the boot space of my old Pajero. Really need a roof box or trailer to take a family camping with all the toys.

5. Low Range - is not low enough for good engine braking down hills / tends to run away down hill on steep slopes

6. Inability to convert to LPG - have been advised the Kia Sorrento does not convert well to LPG. Although notice to posters here have converted. Would like to hear their experience.

7. Don't buy black car, shows all scratches and impossible to keep looking clean.

8. Should be fitted with AT tyres (got 3 punctures on Karajini corrugations)

Excellent – Done 20k now and it just keeps getting better, everything just works the way it's supposed to. Nothing loose, nothing broken, had a Kia towbar fitted which is totally different to earlier models. Fits much more discreetly under the back of the car and doesn't rob as much ground clearance, and you don't lose any towing capacity. Updating earlier… Read more

post - fuel economy (8 - 9 lt/100klm), comfort, easy to drive long distances, ESP works (tight corner on loose gravel...oops), MP3 compatible stereo. Diesel pulls like a train, no smoke, no smell, and doesn't hunt back through the gears on hills just goes up and over. Service interval for diesel is 7k (but only for oil changes), b****y cost of diesel has blown out.

Good – Having owned previously, a Pagero and previous to that Toyota 4WD's, I am satisfied that the Sorento is equal to any of these and in fact better in value, I am very pleased that I chose this vehicle and feel it has more to offer than Hyundai or any of the others of a similar nature. Value for the money, very roomy and luxurious, a pleasure to… Read more

drive, I own a 2003 Kia Sorento and my wife has a new Kia Cerato, well finished with many standard options that are normally extra's on other makes!! No bad reports

Excellent – Love this car, probably the best I will ever own, have had nothing to do with dealerships as I get it serviced by others, no niggling problems, excellent value for money, feels like it will last a very long time. Engine is very quiet & unassuming, dont get a fright when you put your foot down, wow it really gets going!! Cant beat that 5 speed auto… Read more

with overdrive. Good handling, good power, feels very safe to drive. Am happy with the build quality & finish. Have done 20 000km so far & no problems at all My fuel consumption is much better than most but still expensive to run at 12.5 litres/100km - am a careful driver

Excellent – A great 4WD and would recomend it to anyone looking for a mid size 4WD, with the comfort of all modern features and auto locking hubs so you dont have to get out and lock wheels before going offroad I like the room it offers great 4wd for the price I paid goes great on and off road does exactly what I need it to do Uses to much fuel, parts are hard to find

OK – Bought the Sorento new in 2004 to take to Moreton and Fraser islands for family holidays... Performed well above average on both islands... In fact went everywhere and then some including places where some more popular brands came unstuck... Have had a number of minor warranty issues... Back seat belts are constantly becoming twisted inside the… Read more

interior trim... Have had two replaced in 2.5 years.... Centre interior light failing intermittently... Air conditioning knobs had to be replaced... Rear axle bearing and seal had to be replaced and hand brake has been adjusted a few times... Having said that for the money it's been a great car.... Not sure about its longevity... Have doubts it will hold up as well as a Toyota or Nissan in 10 years or so... But for the money it's pretty good.... Good looks... All the bells and whistles for an affordable price.. Plenty of room... Good on sand... Poor handling on bitumen... Build quality (finish) not quite up to scratch, rear seat belts twisting inside rollers...

Good – Our 2003 model has only done 45k and so far no mechanical problems but have had the radio replaced twice. We take regular trips up the beach and find the vehicle handles everything with ease and even surprised some other brand owners with one short cross country trip over a rugged bush track they thought would stop us. Overall we have been very… Read more

happy with the vehicle, except for the fuel economy. Great looks, comfort, all the bells and whistles Fuel economy

Good – Only mechanical problem I have had was the power steering unit, but I think poor maintenance from the dealer was responsible for that. Tow a coromal 545 van with a tare of 1400 and apart from the economy it is perfect. Run between Melbourne and Canberra regularly and get 10.2 consistently and about 13 around town. It is a 4 speed auto, wish I… Read more

waited and got the 5 speed. Sold my Avalon to get this and it is a much better car. I you are looking for a good, comfortable, well handling and powerful vehicle to tow a van with I highly recommend the Kia, or maybe wait until the diesel arrives if your a diesel fan. Value for money, comfort, handling Lousy radio - replaced 2, poor headlights - fitted narva 50+ and this resolved the problem and of course the suspension I will fit an Old Man Emu upgrade.

Excellent – Absolutely brilliant looks great smooth quite and heaps of power so if u are looking for a suv this is the one for you I have the global circuit with the 3.8 absolutely great car I drove the awd Territory 6 speed auto however the Sorento quicker quieter cheaper The front shockers a little soft and the only other thing idont like is the indicator… Read more

switch is too loud should have had elec seats and 17s also had a few probs with oxygen sensor prob fixed with new replacement

Good – Great car to drive and getting used to firm ride. Have 7000kms on car and have had it off road once (beach & sand hills) very capable especially in low range. I traded a 03 honda CRV (pretend 4WD) which towed a 1200kg boat not happily. The Kia pulls it with ease. Longevity is unknown quantity but I have been advised to ensure strict adherence to… Read more

service intervals to avoid any issues with Kia Warranty. Impressed with solid feel of vehicle, ground clearance, acceleration (3.8 litre) leather seats, 4wd on demand, rear wheel drive, general finish Ride quality, fuel economy (12.8 ltrs 100kms)