Body Roll on 2008

nissan246 · 07-05-2008, 06:56 AM

Hi everyone, we are in the market to buy a Sorento 2.5 diesel, on a test drive I noticed a warning sticker on the sunvisor re rollover also read in a couple of reviews that they have handling issues. Can anyone give us info on fors and against this model, also towing a 1850kg caravan. Thanks Bob

McTweety · 07-05-2008, 11:12 PM

The road handling of the Sorento is actually pretty good. But all SUV's, including the Sorie, are more likely to roll than a "normal" passenger car because of their high center of gravitation. The sticker on the sunvisor is just a warning, that is probably mandatory by law.

Also, your 2008 may be equiped with ESC (Electronic Stability Control). All the US models have it, but I'm not sure about the rest of the world. If you have ESC, it will be even more difficult to roll the car.

You should have no problems at all towing that caravan. Kia specs 3500kg as towing capacity for the 2.5 CRDi. That means you can almost buy a 2nd caravan and tow both of them at the same time

gee6 · 07-06-2008, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McTweety

Kia specs 3500kg as towing capacity for the 2.5 CRDi.

Actually that only applies to late model diesel automatics. Other models are speced lower. Go to UK Kia Sorento Forum - Home where you will find a forum board dedicated to vanning with the Sorento (registration required) and plenty of general info on diesel models.

Aref_Bilal · 07-06-2008, 05:16 AM

Almost all 4wheel drive vehicles will have the rollover warning on the sun visor. It's just there to tell you that these cars behave different from normal cars.

McTweety · 07-06-2008, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gee6

Actually that only applies to late model diesel automatics. Other models are speced lower. Go to UK Kia Sorento Forum - Home where you will find a forum board dedicated to vanning with the Sorento (registration required) and plenty of general info on diesel models.

Yep, but since he put 2008 in the subject line I guessed it was a late model

riverider · 07-06-2008, 03:42 PM

I can feel some roll when going around a curve. It's not really bad but you do feel it.

gee6 · 07-06-2008, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McTweety

Yep, but since he put 2008 in the subject line I guessed it was a late model

Not quite what I was getting at - 3500kg only applies to the automatics (not manual diesels or petrol models)

aerozan · 07-06-2008, 04:55 PM

an easy solution is to lower the car with shorter springs or low side tyres: 245-60-18 or 255-55-18. you can go even lower with 19" or 20" wheels.

nissan246 · 07-07-2008, 12:55 AM

Thanks for the info guys, we are not newcomers to 4x4's, as at the moment we have a GQ 4.2 diesel and have had many others over the years but thought we would look at smaller versions on offer these days, as the price of diesel here in Perth W.A it is $1.90 ltr and more in the country towns.
Regards bob

McTweety · 07-07-2008, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gee6

Not quite what I was getting at - 3500kg only applies to the automatics (not manual diesels or petrol models)

That's interesting... I didn't know that. But you're right, for the 2.5 CRDi manual transmission Kia "only" specs 3000 kg. I wonder why there is a difference. I would expect an auto transmission to be more vulnerable than a manual when it comes to towing, but it seems it's the other way around for the Sorie. Maybe because the gear ratios are different?

Even the maximum ball weight is different: 120kg for the manual and 140kg for the auto. Why would that be? Do the manuals have different suspension? Maybe the manual gearbox unit is lighter so it has less weight in the front of the car to counter balance the ball weight?