Test drive Kia Sorento 2002 - 2006 SUV

In the best possible way

The fact that Sorrento does not indulge in the weather, thanks to the once popular song, everyone knows. But aware of what is the new SUV Kia Sorento, so far a little. The car resembles the Lexus RX 300, but imitating the best is not shameful.

Sorento appeared last year, but for some reason the boom of deliveries came in this spring. Official dealers offer modifications with any of the three engines installed on this SUV and in two possible trim levels.

I really wanted to try out the car from the 195-horsepower V-shaped six. But we considered that it would be wrong: since Kia marketers are promoting a new model in place of the outdated Sportage, its price should be appropriate, so we take a car with a lower engine of 2.4 liters. Its cost is from $ 31,500 to $ 33,000, depending on the equipment.

Outside, the new KIA is surrounded by a plastic body kit, and a good protection of the body panels from scratches and chips. Another detail that we paid attention to is the protection of the crankcase. And although the thickness of the armor is small, this is already something. In addition, it is installed at the factory.

We look under the car. A powerful frame, a minimum protruding beyond its limits of elements and a quite tolerable clearance of 203 mm of such sorento from below. The suspension, resting on screw springs and equipped with reptile stability stabilizers, is independent in front. A whole beam of the bridge was installed behind (actually, on the model developed in the new millennium, we hoped to find a completely independent suspension).

The salon, efficiently worked out and finished with good materials, made a pleasant impression. Beige velor seats and door casing harmonize with a black central console and wooden inserts.

In the driver’s place, you learn almost instantly: the seal adjustment algorithm is traditional, the instrument shield is visible, the steering wheel is optimal in section and shape. The central console is equally accessible to understanding: an audio compartment, just below the clock, under which buttons are. Here out of six possible there were only one, heating the rear window. Instead of others, there were plugs of a hint that the equipment was more expensive (for example, we had no heating seats).

Under the keys are the control unit of the climate installation and after it a small closing glove compartment and an ashtray. The main glove box is, as usual, on the right, opposite the front passenger. Every little thing can be thrown into the armrest and in a niche on the beard of the central console. There are cup holders right there.

Putting the front seats in a suitable position, we move back. There is no less space here. Of course, your legs, as in front, will not stretch, but landing is convenient. It will not be difficult to spend a long time on the road together. The third will not become superfluous, but it will not feel one hundred percent comfort.

The volume of the trunk is quite decent 440 liters to the level of glasses. The folded rear seats are able to increase the cargo compartment almost three times. You can get into it both through the door and through its raised glass. It is only a pity that the pantry opens either from the place of the driver or from the key fob. An additional button on the door would not cost a lot of costs, and the user would be more convenient.

With such a light steering wheel, this thought came to mind on the highway, barely set off. The steering wheel seemed too supple even for the Korean machine. When parking in the city or maneuvering on a bad road, such a property is an undoubted plus, but at speed ... However, as soon as the pace of movement increased, the fears were dispelled. The steering wheel in proportion to the speed is poured with heaviness, remaining quite sharp (the rack mechanism affects).

Despite the fact that the front and rear brakes are disk, their effectiveness, more precisely, the predicability left much to be desired. The pedal was painfully cotton. Gradually, you get used to such work and begin to dose the effort correctly, but in the first minutes we almost flew a couple of times.

The dimensions of the car make others think before leaving his way. And although Ford Expedition is far from the dimensions, it is much more than the same Sportage and 400 kg heavier.

Alas, with an equipped mass of 1865 kg, a 139-horsepower engine does not cope very well. Of course, the SUV is not likened to the tractor, it is quite decently kept in the traffic flow and sometimes ahead of the opponents, starting from the intersection, but there is an integrity in all this. The feeling as if there are hundreds of two kilograms on the fragment of a ballast. The hand reaches for the backstage to stick the gear lower. By the way, they are turned on clearly and softly. The only thing that was puzzled: the reverse move has no protection. The handle to the right and back is neither its fiery nor flags. Togo and look, jump from the fifth to the position of R.

While they got to the off -road, they noted that our doubts about the suspension are in vain. The car decently clings to the asphalt coating and adequately responds to minor irregularities. Only in protracted turns, a series of deep potholes made Sorento slightly change the trajectory of movement of the rear bridge. However, light adjustment by the steering wheel returned the car to the true path.

Here is the final part of the route sand dunes. From the first meters of the way along the sand, the car requested the connection of the front axle. It is necessary to mean, especially since it is not difficult to do this: without reducing speed, you translate the handle to the right of the steering wheel from position 2HI to 4Hi. Sorento seemed to be replaced by no trembling or shameful instillation in the sand out of the blue, it goes easily and at ease. The main thing is not to rise above the second gear, otherwise the engine worsens, and the car rises, which is extremely undesirable in the sand. It is necessary to go on the further path with the help of a lowering, in an interference. The fact is that the first gear is very short, and the wheels on the sand turn out.

Of course, Sorento, despite the external, is far from Lexus. But the car turned out not bad. If you are more than a prestigious cartoon on the grille of the radiator, but a combination of practicality, price and quality, this model is for you.

Technical characteristics Kia Sorento

All -metal body., On the frame
Number of places, people. 5
Equipped mass, kg 1865
Full mass, kg 2455
Dimensions (length/width/height), mm 4567/1857/1730
Base, mm 2710
Engine:
- Type 4-cylinder, in-line, dohc
- working volume, cm3 2351
- Power, L.S. at MIN-1 139/5500
- Torque, NM at MIN-1 192/2500
- Power supply system
Mechanical transmission, 5-speed
Tire size 245/70r16
Wheel suspension:
- The front is independent
- The rear dependent
Brakes:
- front disk, ventilated
- rear disc
Steering gear-rake, with gur
Price, $ 33,000

Text: Oleg Kalaushin
 
 

Source: Magazine 5 wheel [06/2003]