KIA Sorento; Dedicated Discussion, Owner/ Fan Club Thread

[wasiqshahab94]

Stopped for having tinted windows. So much for "We are Unstoppable" lol.

[faakhir19]

Sorento is expected to be launched in the first week of December

[faakhir19]

At Packages Mall Lahore

[Nabs]

In the U.S. there is only $3,000 price difference between base model of Sorento and Sportage (480,000 rs). But considering our government imposes hefty taxes on bigger engines, the price difference will be much higher here.

[khurem]

The new Sorento model is really nice and I would buy in case it is being launched here. Any chance that KIA will launch it perhaps in some months time on booking after initial imported CBUs have been sold off?

[asifkidwai1]

They will launch 3rd gen with rather comparative pricing and once it will gain market in a yr or 2 like carnival they will then introduce 4th gen with insane price tag like they did with carnival.... looks more like this way to me

[hussain182]

Carnival is a CBU so they dont have to so anything to change the model. They just import whatever generation is being produced.

In case of Sorento, i doubt they’ll make such a significant investment so soon after investing in local assembly.

[hussain182]

Dont think theyre selling CBUs. Its gonna be CKD and 3rd gen. No chance whatsoever of 4th gen.

[khurem]

Price tag of Carnival doesn't look insane to me considering its a CBU and has higher engine power attracting higher duties. It's the price of Sorento actually which isn't making sense as it is going to be locally assembled, lower duties on lesser engine power CKDs and is of a previous generation. All these 3 factors should mean that its price should be far lower but I have heard it to be around Rs 8 mln.

[fazalwahab11375]

Well although carnival is 3.5LV6 and CBU, it attracts ONLY 68% duties because of 11 seats configuration and imported under commerical scheme. All vehicles under commercial heading have much lower custom duties and that is why one can import a Hiace, otherwise it would have been way way more.

Keep in mind the Carnival was introduced [ the discontinued gen] at mid 4 million and top varaint also near 5 Million.

Import a 8 seater or any other seats configuration below 11 means over 400% in duties with 3.5L engine. Sorento will be below Carnival as far as price but not significantly.

[wasiqshahab94]

https://www.dawn.com/news/1594448

Now confirmed. Sorento coming with 3.5 v6 in 3 trims.

[fazalwahab11375]

And 3rd generation.. us baray main nahi bataya aap ney.. lol

[salik990]

3 trims in 3.5 V6 engine mean there's going to be fwd, awd and fully loaded awd.

[Nabeel_Ali]

As much as I was wanting the new 4th gen to come but well we will get 3rd gen... really anticipating to see the SUV in person. The big plus point of Sorento will be that 3.3 V6. I hope lucky group doesn’t price it too high. If priced sensibly it will sell because there is no competition in SUV category; Fortuner is dead and only Prado sells around 10 million mark.

[fazalwahab11375]

I expect it to be priced between 7.5 to 8.5 Million.

[hussain182]

Fortuner is dead

How exactly is the fortuner ‘dead’?

[Nabeel_Ali]

Sales are zero. It’s been quite a while since I saw a zero meter Fortuner.

[Nabeel_Ali]

i hope the V6 one stays below 8 million mark

[hussain182]

There was 10-15 lakh ‘own’ last time i checked.
Maybe sales numbers were low during covid and before that because of devaluation etc. But that was for all cars not just Fortuner. As soon as sales picked up Fortuner is selling again.

If they really price Sorento in the 7.5-8.5m segment as @fazalwahab11375 is saying, I dont see many people choosing it over the Fortuner, even the lower variants of Fortuner. The fortuner although not perfect is still a proper rugged SUV while the 3rd gen sorento looks more like a van. And then theres the badge. If Kia had made a proper effort and launched the 4th gen maybe people would compare it to the Fortuner. But an older outdated sorento will just not compete, even if priced a bit lower.

[Nabeel_Ali]

Own is because production is zero. Dealerships aren't taking any bookings and whatever is left in the market or at dealerships has skyrocketed. Its not because of the consumer demand. Indus is only producing Yaris nothing else.

And I think they will keep the price below 8 million in the start atleast. The only zero meter seven seater with a big V6 engine will sell. And there are few buyers who actually buy fortuner for being a proper 4x4 suv; most people used to buy it because of its price, being the only zero meter option and bigger looks. Since the devaluation people have shifted to used prados again.
So there is a good slot left in 7-8 million mark which there is a chance that 3rd gen sorento will fill though i am also not much of fan either due to its shape ( I hope it looks better in real).
And regarding brand name; things are not the same as they used to be two years back, people are really liking KIA and paying more over civic/corolla to get sportage (I know they don't compete with each other but do compete in terms of options available)
KIA Lucky guys are really smart, they are definitely bringing this after extensive market research so just like Sportage, Sorento has a chance to be successful.