anyone see the new kia sorento and sportage on the streets yet ?
08-17-10, 08:53 AM
#16
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how does the sorento compare to the rx350 in size ?
I checked out both the Sorento and Sportage at the dealership when my brother and I recently went shopping for a new Kia Soul. I test-drove a 6-speed automatic LX AWD Sportage, but did not drive the Sorento. I did so mostly for my own reference/curiosity, so I didn't write up a long, formal review of it....there wasn't much CL interest, and I did not have any specific review requests. But I did look both over exensively, and took the Sportage for a pretty good test-drive.
The Sorento was slightly larger, roomier inside, and had a nicer-trimmed interior (the Sportage, IMO, was rather plain-Jane inside, even in high-trim versions). Both seemed fairly well-built, with good assembly quality and fit/finish. I generally liked the Sportage's road manners, with a smooth comfortable ride, firm (but artificial-feeling) steering effort, and, something not often found in this low-priced vehicle class...a butter-smooth in-line four and 6-speed automatic. But road noise was not well-supressed, and the weight/drag of the AWD and automatic took its toll on acceleration.
The Sorento was slightly larger, roomier inside, and had a nicer-trimmed interior (the Sportage, IMO, was rather plain-Jane inside, even in high-trim versions). Both seemed fairly well-built, with good assembly quality and fit/finish. I generally liked the Sportage's road manners, with a smooth comfortable ride, firm (but artificial-feeling) steering effort, and, something not often found in this low-priced vehicle class...a butter-smooth in-line four and 6-speed automatic. But road noise was not well-supressed, and the weight/drag of the AWD and automatic took its toll on acceleration.
08-17-10, 12:52 PM
#17
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I like the new design and have seen one on the road. You can clearly see the new design philosophy that they are implementing with the new Sonata and this new little SUV. They are still doing well and are right on track
08-17-10, 01:37 PM
#18
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I just checked them out at the dealer as well, the sorento is pretty substantial in size......looks like 25k out the door with rear view sensor and 3rd row seating and 22.5 out the door for base, the base is well equipped and does not feel like a stripped down highlander base.
at first the venza would still be my choice but a base venza is going for about 27to 28 out the door vs 22.5 out the door for the sorento.
at first the venza would still be my choice but a base venza is going for about 27to 28 out the door vs 22.5 out the door for the sorento.
08-17-10, 02:00 PM
#21
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haha ya it is!
I wish kia took the sportage design and applied it to the midsize line up...or maybe they will apply it to their full size model...the sportage is pretty radical and original.
I wish kia took the sportage design and applied it to the midsize line up...or maybe they will apply it to their full size model...the sportage is pretty radical and original.
08-17-10, 02:06 PM
#22
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Hopefully my name is not pedobear
, lol.
Because I'm probably the only one here that thinks the current CRV is reasonably attractive (not to mention the smoothest 4-banger and most refined chassis in this cheap mini-CUV class).
, lol.Because I'm probably the only one here that thinks the current CRV is reasonably attractive (not to mention the smoothest 4-banger and most refined chassis in this cheap mini-CUV class).
08-17-10, 02:21 PM
#24
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yea some people will notice the original radical design theme, it's there and very aparent.....and some simply won't.
and this isn't even about kia, it's more about peter schreyer...how a designer can single handedly turn a econo company around. that says a lot. but then again only some will realize the value to this.
people have opinions just like yours.
and this isn't even about kia, it's more about peter schreyer...how a designer can single handedly turn a econo company around. that says a lot. but then again only some will realize the value to this.
people have opinions just like yours.
Last edited by mikemareen; 08-17-10 at 02:25 PM.
08-18-10, 07:17 PM
#26
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I didn't take exact measurements, but it seems to be more or less the same size....both are mid-sized, car-based SUVs. Both also seemd to have more or less the same interior room, though the RX had a slightly more-raked rear roofline that impacted some cargo area....the new Sorento's was a little more square, conservative, and space-efficient.
As far as value goes, the Sorento is not bad for the price, but, of course, cannot compare with the RX's rich wood-trimmed interior....the Sorento uses cheaper-looking wood-plastic, and, IMO, not a very good looking one at that.
I did not test-drive a Sorento, but given the impressive smoothness of the 4-cylinder, 6-speed automatic in the smaller, cheaper Sportage, I would imagine the Sorento's drivetrain to stack up pretty well against the RX's, though, of course, no one beats Lexus in silky smoothness and refinement.
As far as value goes, the Sorento is not bad for the price, but, of course, cannot compare with the RX's rich wood-trimmed interior....the Sorento uses cheaper-looking wood-plastic, and, IMO, not a very good looking one at that.
I did not test-drive a Sorento, but given the impressive smoothness of the 4-cylinder, 6-speed automatic in the smaller, cheaper Sportage, I would imagine the Sorento's drivetrain to stack up pretty well against the RX's, though, of course, no one beats Lexus in silky smoothness and refinement.
Last edited by mmarshall; 08-18-10 at 07:21 PM.
08-18-10, 10:47 PM
#28
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A great improvement over their predecessors. But I am not liking Kia's tumbly and tacky grille framing.
Other picks- The floating foglight has been copied about 100 times now. The rear pillar on the Sportage is huge and makes the whole body look smaller than it really is. Can't be good for visiblilty either. Ooooo... and the Sportage front bumper/face looks like one of those mad Hawaiian face mask voodoo things.
Alas, I've thought this since I first layed eyes on the new Sorrento- the back lights look like copies of the current Lexus LX. Not a bad thing in any sense, but I wonder if anyone else felt the resemblence.
Other picks- The floating foglight has been copied about 100 times now. The rear pillar on the Sportage is huge and makes the whole body look smaller than it really is. Can't be good for visiblilty either. Ooooo... and the Sportage front bumper/face looks like one of those mad Hawaiian face mask voodoo things.
Alas, I've thought this since I first layed eyes on the new Sorrento- the back lights look like copies of the current Lexus LX. Not a bad thing in any sense, but I wonder if anyone else felt the resemblence.
Last edited by Fizzboy7; 08-18-10 at 11:33 PM.
08-19-10, 08:49 AM
#29
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I just saw the new sportage with the horizontal daytime led's and it's very impressive. the styling is something you see on a audi-bmw, it's very apparent.
the designer hit the spot with the design but of course KIA had to screw it all up by deciding the design to be in the compact suv range. What a buncha idiots! the current sportage in mid-size range would totally shake up the midsize econo-luxury market that the highlander-rx350 has tight command of....buncha idiots at kia seriously.
they shoulda threw the sorento design as the compact and the sportage design as the midsize...I bet peter schreyer is thinking the same as well.
the designer hit the spot with the design but of course KIA had to screw it all up by deciding the design to be in the compact suv range. What a buncha idiots! the current sportage in mid-size range would totally shake up the midsize econo-luxury market that the highlander-rx350 has tight command of....buncha idiots at kia seriously.
they shoulda threw the sorento design as the compact and the sportage design as the midsize...I bet peter schreyer is thinking the same as well.
A great improvement over their predecessors. But I am not liking Kia's tumbly and tacky grille framing.
Other picks- The floating foglight has been copied about 100 times now. The rear pillar on the Sportage is huge and makes the whole body look smaller than it really is. Can't be good for visiblilty either. Ooooo... and the Sportage front bumper/face looks like one of those mad Hawaiian face mask voodoo things.
Alas, I've thought this since I first layed eyes on the new Sorrento- the back lights look like copies of the current Lexus LX. Not a bad thing in any sense, but I wonder if anyone else felt the resemblence.
Other picks- The floating foglight has been copied about 100 times now. The rear pillar on the Sportage is huge and makes the whole body look smaller than it really is. Can't be good for visiblilty either. Ooooo... and the Sportage front bumper/face looks like one of those mad Hawaiian face mask voodoo things.
Alas, I've thought this since I first layed eyes on the new Sorrento- the back lights look like copies of the current Lexus LX. Not a bad thing in any sense, but I wonder if anyone else felt the resemblence.
08-19-10, 01:46 PM
#30
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I just saw the new sportage with the horizontal daytime led's and it's very impressive. the styling is something you see on a audi-bmw, it's very apparent.
the designer hit the spot with the design but of course KIA had to screw it all up by deciding the design to be in the compact suv range. What a buncha idiots! the current sportage in mid-size range would totally shake up the midsize econo-luxury market that the highlander-rx350 has tight command of....buncha idiots at kia seriously.
they shoulda threw the sorento design as the compact and the sportage design as the midsize...I bet peter schreyer is thinking the same as well.
the designer hit the spot with the design but of course KIA had to screw it all up by deciding the design to be in the compact suv range. What a buncha idiots! the current sportage in mid-size range would totally shake up the midsize econo-luxury market that the highlander-rx350 has tight command of....buncha idiots at kia seriously.
they shoulda threw the sorento design as the compact and the sportage design as the midsize...I bet peter schreyer is thinking the same as well.