Overview & Reviews

The Sorento is an all-new SUV from Kia. Larger and more powerful than the pint-size Sportage (which is expected to return for 2004 after a 2003 hiatus, by the way), the Sorento straddles the emerging middle ground between small SUVs and midsize SUVs. And it does so while offering interested buyers true off-road ability. Key competitors are the Ford Escape, the Honda CR-V, the Jeep Liberty, the Nissan Xterra and the Toyota Highlander.

• Great value, class-leading warranty coverage, long list of standard features, solid construction, true off-road capability.

• Engine needs more power, subpar fuel economy, seat upholstery could stand improvement.

User Reviews:

Showing 261 through 270 of 321.00

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  Kia doesnt honor warranty - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By mikes - January 24 - 5:50 pm

  Had a 2003 Kia Sorento for 5 years. Initially had an issue with a leaking gasket that was fixed under warranty. 5 years later, the catalytic converter has failed and Kia wont cover even though it is within the warranty window. Kia immediately looks for fine print excuses to not honor the warranty. We are stuck with about $5000 in repairs to transfer case, catalytic converter, spark plugs, belts etc. Basically, left with a cheap throw away car.

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  KIA SORENTO - GREAT BUT NOT FILLING - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By DRJOHN - January 24 - 10:00 am

  JUST CAME OFF A 5000 MILE vacation trip THRU THE ROCKIES. NO OFF ROAD TRAvel. The KIA SUV handles like a dream, rides like a dream, and it is very quiet. I road in a Mercedes c320 wagon recently and it was noisy and it road very hard like a pick-up truck. I wouldnt trade even up. At $ 20,000, 10 year/100,000 mile warranty (best in the business) its a steal. We used to have a Suzuki SUV V6. Cute car, but it would have had to struggle up those mountains on this trip and it road much harder. The KIA SUV is truely a Luxury machine. Its quick too! BEST VALUE ON THE MARKET. BELONGS IN THE TOP 10 OF SUVs. I got 20 mpg, but IT weighs 4000#s.

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  Expensive replacement parts great car - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By gwynnat - January 17 - 12:56 pm

  Weve owned this car for over a year and have been pretty happy with it. Its got 104050 miles on it. The downside is the cost and availability of parts. The major parts (and some not so major like shocks) are only available through the factory or a dealer and are considerably more expensive than typical replacement parts. On this model year two different water pumps were produced and they are not interchangeable. We didnt find this out until it was at our mechanics to get the timing belt and water pump replaced. Just the parts cost about $500. Also, the coolant reservoir has a tendency to crack/split and costs about $150 to replace.

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  Best Valued SUV Sorento - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By MIKE M - January 17 - 10:00 am

  I researched SUVs for 6 months and test drove all of them: Sorento, Sante Fe, Suzuki, Trailblazer, Explorer, Montero, 4Runner, Durango. After overcoming the KIA concerns and test driving I was sold. This is a solidly built, excellent handling and riding SUV. It met my needs for a midsize with towing capabilities and all the amenities at a very affordable price. I drive both city and highway and it performs excellent in either situation. With the excellent warranty you cant go wrong.

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  Cold blooded comments - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By totief - December 24 - 4:53 pm

  I bought my Sorento in September, 2003. Before that, I owned a Vitara V6. Much less roomy but reliable. Sorento is what it looks: a fine SUV. Plenty of room for five adults, and its drive is very smooth and comfortable. Speaking of room, I travelled in the back seat of a Grand Cherokee Overland (costs 81,000 euros) and Im happy I own the Sorento (costs 40.000 euros in Greece). Cruising even with 100 mph is effortless and reassuring. Enough power to move approx. 2 tons. True off road capability, couldnt ask for more. Lets not forget, its a luxurious SUV, not a "tool". Everybody complains about gas mileage. What other cars with 3,5 L engines have SIGNIFICANTLY better mileage?

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  Kia got it right ... - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By Fish - December 23 - 2:00 am

  Ill have to admit, this vehicle had fit perfectly into what I had wanted in my new vehicle. Its fun and easy to drive. Its quiet on the highway, and the handling, accelleration, and braking are all excellent for a 2+ ton SUV. The ride is just a little stiffer than Id have liked, and the gas mileage leaves a lot to be desired, but bang for your buck, this thing is first rate.

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  my new sorrento - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By CharlesK - December 6 - 10:00 am

  Comfortable fun to dive. I love it!!

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  Great SUV for Good Price - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By charlesm1950 - November 16 - 10:00 am

  I had been looking for an SUV that was safe, comfortable, reliable and fit within my budget. I test drove the RAV4, Saturn, CRV, Santa Fe, and Tribute before driving the Kia Sorento. I was impressed by the styling, similar to the Lexus RX-300, and the fit and finish. The engine had plenty of power and the quality seemed better than the Saturn and on par with the others. I placed my faith in buying a Kia on the success of the Hyundai Santa Fe and the Kia Sedona minivan. Ill keep interested parties informed of my long term experience in the Sorento town meeting group. Overall... a very enthusiastic thumbs up.

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  1500 miles - so far so good - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By Brooklyn1951 - November 9 - 2:00 am

  We purchased our Sorento after considering several other SUVs. The Sorento was the only vehicle I was "excited" about buying. The deciding factors, in rank order, were- build quality, features, price and warranty. Gas mileage for highway driving is about 19 mpg so far. The Torque-on-Demand 4WD system and limited slip rear differential have worked great in our last 18" snowfall. The engine is wonderfully quiet and smooth. The transmission and 4WD system operate invisibly (thats good!). People are amazed at the quality and features of this loaded $26K SUV.

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  New Sorento Owner - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By Ag - November 9 - 2:00 am

  Just picked up our Kia Sorento and love it so far. Great vehicle for the money. Many standard features only available as options from other manufactures. Only complaint so far is vibration or rumble while at highway speeds (50mpg or greater). Seems like tires but unsure.