jgotangco: Thanks. Clearly, there's not enough Sorentos around to have enough owners wanting to form a club. I'll take your advise and check out the other clubs. I've been to San Juan (and beyond, all the way to the coastline -- forget the name of the place) and saw a few ideal sites for off-roading. In fact, I ventured on one (going up the mountain) but chickened out after about half an hour because I was by my lonesome.
Menph: Check out the following sites where I posted some of my observations about the Sorento plus other people's comments, including those about competition:
http://www.kia-forums.com/t2795-sorento-mo...-suv-winner.htm
http://4x4ph.com/forum/index.php?act=ST&f=3&t=2727
http://4x4ph.com/forum/index.php?act=ST&f=3&t=2784
http://4x4ph.com/forum/index.php?act=ST&f=4&t=2455
I am 99.9% satisfied with my Sorento. The remaining .01% is that of the gas consumption, although it has greatly improved since my last tune-up (at 10,000kms).
If you're getting the diesel version, then that .01% should not be an issue for you. The Sorento's a dream for me, because I get a big-SUV ride without the big SUV size, perfect for my already fullhouse garage.
At its price, you get more elegant (and better fit) interiors, really hot exterior looks, big, macho tires, totally awesome engines (3.5V6 or the 2.5CrDi are both powerful), low-range gearing (separates true offroaders from pseudo/wanna-be softroaders), ABS/LSD (standard, indispensable), 4wheel disk brakes, altimeter/temp/barometer instrumentation, body-on-frame ruggedness, solid axle rear for hardcore offroading, leather seats, and decent on-road ride (not the greatest, but then again, neither has the Patrols nor the previous generation Pajeros).
20,000kms on my odometer and my only complaint was a tiny squeak from, I suspect, the front suspension, after I kinda banged up the Sorento over Quirino highway without slowing down over mooncraters. Mysteriously, the squeak went away once I got back to Manila.
Most impressive about the Sorento is its very quiet ride. A number of friends (including a car mechanic) was surprised when I would pull out from the driveway because they thought I hadn't started up the engine yet. Of course, the diesel probably wouldn't be as quiet, but, it just highlights the really quiet cabin of the Sorento.
Just yesterday, I saw a Sorento on EDSA, with its (I suppose) owner sitting at the rear being driven by her chauffeur. First off, the Sorento's not for being driven around. From behind, I saw li'l old owner-lady bouncing up and down inside as it went over the rutted roads just north of the Buendia pass. I suspect, the Sorento had really filled-up tires and, since it was practically empty, bouncing merrily along its way, tossing the hapless lady-owner-who-preferred-to-be-chauffeur-driven in the rear seat. That's not what a Sorento is for.
If you're after a family vehicle and have no aspirations whatsoever to brave the lunar landscape outside of Manila, you should opt for a CRV or an Escape/Tribute. Even an X Trail (ugly interiors). If, on the other hand, you intend to venture out to places like Quezon or Aurora or Bicol, then the Sorento is the better deal, if only because you wouldn't have to worry so much about losing a trailing arm or other parts of the suspension when rough-riding it over potholes. Again, surprisingly, even after 20,000kms of extreme torture, my Sorento remains as quiet as the day I first got it. No rattles, no squeaks, no pings, no blogs.
To date, my Sorento remains a looker; not a few other SUVS trail me from behind sizing me up. People have approached me about it; people in the carwash, especially, crowd around it.
Good luck on your Sorento and let's hope you get one as spanking great as mine. Some of the sites I posted above also discuss Sorento defects (all in other countries) and you just might want to go over them so there will be no surprises.
For me, though, my 7 month old, 20,000km Sorento has been one great ride!
Have fun!