KIA Sorento; Dedicated Discussion, Owner/ Fan Club Thread

[Taimur92]

am not sure if the engine update is coming to Pakistan in addition to cosmetic updates in the recent facelift. But if it does, it should be a good change, and I believe it will take care of the underpowered complaints many people have with Fortuner.

I drive a sigma4 on a regular basis. It's not underpowered at all. Infact, the low range torque is quite fun. It's 0-100 time is around 10s, which is not fast by any standards but is adequate. The updated engine is confirmed coming in both hilux and Fortuner facelifts. That should bring the 0-100 time to 9.6 to 9.8 secs.

Toyota has pulled the plug on 4.0 v6 Fortuner and Prado in not just Australia but in Japan and Europe as well due to the stricter emission control. They still offer it in the middle east since the Arabs don't have such strict emission standards.

Saw an Australian review of a Sorento 3.3 v6 and its 0-100 numbers were 8.5 secs. Ours is not the same engine but has similar power and torque figures so the acceleration time would probably be similar. Sorento is faster because of the lower kerb weight and higher bhp, Fortuner would have a stronger pull under load and initial acceleration though due to the higher low-end torque usually typical of diesels.

For a city and highway driver - Sorento will always be a more comfortable choice. Fortuner is not a direct competitor, its a properly equipped offroader. A camry-based Highlander/Kluger is better suited for this purpose.

[an_average_car_user]

Toyota has pulled the plug on 4.0 v6 Fortuner and Prado in not just Australia but in Japan and Europe as well due to the stricter emission control.

With 4.0 v6 gone in most sources of import to Pakistan, I believe 2.8 1GD is better Prado (and Fortuner) than the 2.7 petrol.

And yes Fortuner is the car Sorento will be compared with, despite not being in the same category, Fortuner and Sorento are the only options our market has in brand new, 7 seat SUV, around 7-10 million price range. Both are fit for most needs (except proper off-roader where Fortuner excels).

[firewolf]

Agree but Carnival is not everyone's cup of tea. It is almost 14 inches longer than sorento and has less ground clearance. I can commute daily with in a city on Sorento but Carnival would be a nuisance but that's my opinion. Generation aside, Sorento is much better option for a mid size family.

[darthvader]

Sorento is also front wheel drive, while Fortuner is rear wheel drive with the option of 4-high. In slightly loose surface, Sorento won’t have a chance.

[Nabeel_Ali]

Off-roading Fortuner
On-roading Sorento

Enough said

[Baleno1300]

All unhappy souls,

Which other 3.5L V6 comes for this price?

For those who doubt its OFF-road capability..

[Nabeel_Ali]

This has AWD.
I wish our one had too. It would have been the complete package.

[darthvader]

Sorento has zero off-road capabilities. Those comparing it with Fortuner don't know what its capable of.

[darthvader]

Fortuner is okay on-road and kick-ass off-road. Sorento is good on-road and useless off-road. Even if you take 1-2 trips up North or need good ground clearance, Fortuner at just 5 lac more is a significantly better and better value for money option. That thing will last you a lifetime.

[Nabeel_Ali]

no doubt its a kick ass offroader but it depends on the personal preference... for longer journeys many people also want a comfortable tourer that can take up north without any back aches in this case sorento offers more value considering also the fact that it has so many other features; 6 airbags, e brake, autohold, wireless charging, third row seats that can fold completely flat, dual side electric seats with lumbar support (which fortuner needs this badly), panoramic sunroof vs nothing, smart auto tail gate vs just regular auto tail gate etc.

if one wants extreme offroading only than consider fortuner else sorento will do rest of the stuff better.

[Nabeel_Ali]

Personally I am disappointed from the pricing... in this price sorento should have been the forth generation as for me in this price on old gen doesn't cut it. Really waiting for the facelift of Fortuner ... lets see what indus has to offer and how much price bump they give us.

[an_average_car_user]

This is because Sorento is not designed this way. It is not meant to be the kind of offroader Fortuner is.

But for northern areas where roads go (which covers a lot of places), Sorento, even the 2WD will reach easily, just like Alto and Corolla and City. For proper offroading, Sorento should not even be considered. AWD is for intermediate stuff, not capable of handling what a proper off-roader can handle.

For most of the people who will be in the market for Sorento and Fortuner, offroading doesn't apply, so buying a Sorento will not put them at a disadvantage.

[firewolf]

Exactly. Following is a quote from someone else that sums it up pretty nicely;

"Sorento is not a genuine off-roader since it’s a mid-sized crossover & not a ladder-frame chassis SUV. So the ride height and overall drive quality is more suited for in-city driving and offers far more comfort, features, and better handling capabilities than Toyota Fortuner. However when it comes to true off-roading, Fortuner will have an edge but it sure lacks quality urban driving characteristics when compared to Sorento."

[usman19854]

[automakerz]

In entire Forum hardly 25%(i might be on higher side) people go for off-roading type of stuff. rest every one used the car with care. There is a Shashka in sitting in Fortuner rather then sitting in Sorento. Toyota is known as reliable/dheet car as we sees lots of corollas in interior parts rather then city and civic. Fortuner is Build for Offroading and other didnt.

All above are my observations.

[hussain182]

Its not just about off roading where the Fortuner would be better. Most roads outside of the big cities are worse than your so called ‘ off road’ conditions. Potholes, bumps, gravel, mud, you name it. Fortuner, Hilux etc although not the most confortable are tough enough to stand the abuse not for years but decades.

[usman19854]

Most of the buying base is urban though, people who drive in decent areas of Lahore, isloo, karachi and travel between these via a modern motorway network. If my use case is this, I'd prefer the more comfortable offering.

[khurem]

Fortuner, Hilux etc although not the most confortable are tough enough to stand the abuse not for years but decades.

Don't know about Hilux as haven't experienced that personally, but Fortuner is worst in all such roads. In fact one of the worst ones as your back will just give up from the uncomfortable drive. Sorento or any sedan for that matter would be a lot better.

[hussain182]

Yaar i would say there is quite a significant rural/small town customer base as well. SUVs are also huge part of the political scene. In fact SUVs sales are tied to election cycle too. Lol

[hussain182]

I agree theyre not comfortable. Although if youre willing to splurge you can get some really sick aftermarket suspension parts which make a huge diff. I have ARB suspension parts on my Hilux. But as i said they can handle years of abuse that other more comfort oriented cars wont be able to.