2004 Kia Sorento consumer reviews

I bought this car on impulse because I was tired of sliding dowhill backwards in my former AWD vehicle. I live on top of a mountain and need a 4WD vehicle to get home in the winter and even with 4WD we sometimes have to walk home. The Sorento performs only slightly better than an AWD on snowy or icy roads. It will loose traction and you will be sliding down the hillside. My neighbors larger 4WDs are more succesful on our hillside. The Sorento will also spin easily in rainy conditions so I am always careful to watch my speed especially on corner.

This car had too many issues to list them all. Mostly was the brake issues. Then there is the 12 mpg. Stay away from this one!

I had submitted a review 2.5 years ago(see above) and I thought I would give it an update. My '04 Sorento has now clocked just over 180,000 Miles and is still going strong. I am still very pleased with my Sorento and I drive it essentially every day on business and have averaged about 45,000 miles per year so far. The car still rides very comfortably and has not developed any annoying squeaks or rattles. The interior has held up as well if not better than my previous Acura and better than my previous Volvo. Maintainence has been about average and I have replaced the timing belt twice at 80K miles and 160K miles. If you are considering the '04 Sorento be sure that the 2 recalls (crankshaft pulley bolt and the intake manifold butterfly valve) have been done or plan on having them done. The recall fixes these two areas, but if not performed the failure of either can lead to more severe problems. I have also replaced the coolant expansion tank with a new and improved model (part is $25 at the dealer) and a failed oxygen sensor. I would consider this normal for a car with this type of mileage. I change the oil every 5-6K miles and have not noticed any increase in oil consumption even with 180,000 miles. I measure my mileage and fuel for reimbursement purposes and I average between 20-21 miles per gallon with mostly highway driving which is slightly better than the 19 MPG that is listed. Not great, but considering that this car is nearly as heavy as a Volvo XC90 SUV it is understandable. All and all, I highly recommend the Sorento. Of the many cars I have owned, I have found the Sorento to be one of, if not the most enjoyable. It is a safe and secure vehicle. Even with the mileage that it has, I would not think twice about jumping in it and driving across country. I plan on driving it for, hopefully, another 180K miles.

i bought mine in may, it had the ingine light on twice i one month ,got the fuel temp sensor changed . since then thats it.i love when i got to merge with traffic and it answers to the call ,full of power , you got to own one.you wont be disappointed.

love my sorento!!I bought my car new and have never had a problem with it! It is comfortable and I believe it to be a very safe car, considering that I was rear-ended by a semi truck at 35 mph and no one was seriously hurt. I would recommend this car .

I own a 2004 Kia Sorrento and it has its issues. The heat only works on the drivers side. I was told this was a manufacturing issue by the dealer. I have had a series of engine issues. I would stay away from this one.

After much research, I kept coming back to the Kia Sorento for it's value and features. So far, I have been very pleased with my purchase. The car seems very well built and tightly put together. The ride is very comfortable and reassuring to drive, though it is, perhaps, is not a precise as an automobile on low profile tires. I have the EX model with leather and the interior finish is well above average. I drive approximately 40,000 miles per year and normally put 250K miles on a typicaly vehicle. I bought this Sorento used with 50K miles and based on my experience so far, I have every reason to expect that 250k can easily be obtained.

The only problem I have had are the headlights and tail lights. Have changed them like 6 times in almost 3 years that I've owned my kia

The 04 Sorento is wonderful, based upon the contruction of the Lexus series, you feel right at home in the cabin. It is roomy and comfortable with a quality stereo unlike many other manufactures. Everythign is easy to get to, although the stereo is a little bit of a reach for someone tall that has to sit back from the wheel a ways like me. The quality and beauty of this is why I bought it. The ride quality is astounding. I travel on bad roads alot and it feels liek I am riding in a much more pricey car. Hands down, Kia has made a wonderful package for this. I will definately consider Kia for my wife's vehicle as well.

The seats are firm yet comfortable. Actually, they feel like they could have come out of one of Mercedes-Benz' European or Brazilian models. You don't sink into them, but they are very supportive. The driver's seat is especially comfortable. It is ideally positioned to give the driver a good view of the surroundings. Visibility in all directions is excellent. The rear seats are positioned high, theatre style. People seated back there can see out almost as well as the driver. With 10,000 miles on the clock, the whole automobile still feels very tight. No rattles or scuttle shake were detected even over washboard gravel roads. This indicates the body of the Sorento is very stiff, which is rare in a vehicle - especially an SUV - in this price category. Body stiffness is very important, critical even, since without it body panels won't line up properly and handling will be badly compromised. The Sorento is sold in North America with a 3.5L, 24 valve, DOHC V-6 engine that develops 192 hp and 217 lb-ft of torque. A smooth 5-speed manual is standard. A 4-speed auto is optional. Regular power steering on the LX feels over boosted. Speed sensitive power steering is available on the EX. The Sorento uses the fully boxed ladder type frame from a Kia light truck model not sold in North America - Kia is one of the largest makers of light trucks in the Far East. With 9 cross members in the frame, it has a sturdy feel. The ride is very nice not to soft but not harsh by any means either. To put its ride into better perspective, I can say it's quite different from a 2004 Honda CR-V, which I had tested the previous week. Compared with the more refined CR-V, the 4,360 lb Sorento 4WD feels more ready for the heavy lifting. It feels willing and able to toss a line to the 3,750 lb CR-V to tow it through the really rough stuff. Like the CR-V, the Sorento has an exceptionally tight turning radius (36.4 ft). My Sorento, an LX with 4WD, had the 5-speed manual. I enjoyed using this tranny. Disc brakes on all 4 wheels are standard as are side impact air bags. The Sorento carries the NHTSA 5-star safety rating.