Kia Sorento or Toyota Rav 4: comparison of the “oldies”


Story

Toyota Rav 4 is considered the first Japanese crossover that became famous far beyond the borders of the country of origin. The developers presented the Rav 4 as a youth car (RAV is an abbreviation, and “4” stands for all-wheel drive system), although it was in demand among car enthusiasts of all age groups. Rav 4 premiered in 1994. The car was based on the trolley of its brother, the Toyota Tselika. However, the debut version of the crossover had a large number of shortcomings, which did not allow the model to achieve great success.

In 2000, production of Rav 4 2 started. Some of the problems remained and this was perceived very negatively by the company’s fans. In 2005, the third generation crossover was introduced, which immediately created a stir on the world market. And the restyled version of 2010 generally became the best-selling in the segment.

In 2012, at the California auto show, the fourth generation Rav 4 was presented to the public, which became noticeably larger and received an improved line of engines.

The Kia Sorento, named after the Italian resort of the same name, was presented in the winter of 2002 at the Chicago Auto Show. It is worth noting that the debut version of the car was a frame SUV, and few could have expected that the model would soon begin to position itself as a crossover.

And this happened in 2009, when Sorento 2 was presented in Seoul. In the fall of the same year, sales started on the domestic market. In 2013, the model underwent restyling, as a result of which its handling and dynamism improved.

In 2014, the third generation Sorento premiered in Paris. By the way, the car is now being assembled at Avtotor in Kaliningrad.

What's better? Considering the fact that both models cannot boast of any significant achievements, we will award this point a draw.

Disadvantages of Crossovers

Disadvantages of the fifth generation RAV 4 crossovers:

  • high fuel consumption;
  • body roll when maneuvering;
  • lack of backlighting of some buttons in the cabin;
  • minor flaws in the interior decoration;
  • sedimentation of dirt on the part of the thresholds closed by the door;
  • small fuel tank volume;
  • poor sound insulation of the body floor and wheel arches;
  • inconvenient folding mechanism for the rear seat;
  • poor quality of plastic trim in the trunk;
  • dust entering the engine compartment through the standard protection.

Disadvantages of Sorento noted by owners:

  • There is no electric heating of the windshield;
  • There is 1 USB connector for connecting storage devices;
  • 12 V socket is installed only in the luggage compartment;
  • there is no turning light system;
  • A voltage converter and 220 V socket are not provided;
  • Water accumulates under the door trim;
  • a stream of dirt flies into the engine compartment through the gap between the hood and bumper;
  • There is no container for sunglasses in the cabin;
  • low quality artificial leather, on which creases quickly appear;
  • poor maneuverability due to size and weight.

Appearance

Despite the fact that the exterior of the cars is made in different stylistic directions, they have many common features. For example, this is aggressiveness and brutality.

The appearance of the Sorento boasts of progressiveness and volume. The same can be said about the Rav 4; we can also add that the exterior of the “Japanese” has almost completely lost the features of the Toyota model range, and looks absolutely authentic in relation to its predecessors.

The design of the front end of the Sorento creates this aggressiveness. A huge false radiator grille, which looks simply gorgeous, also adds firewood to the fire. The Rav 4 has a very unusual front end and this is the main highlight of the car.

The sides and rear of the cars have a lot of similarities. In general, to summarize, I would like to give preference to the Sorento’s exterior.

Salon

Looking inside the cars, you can get a pleasant shock, since few people expected such a rich and progressive interior design from Asian models. However, a small advantage must be given to the Sorento's interior, because it successfully combines modern technology and traditionalism. The Rav 4 designers need to do a little more work in this regard.

When it comes to spaciousness, the Sorento is again the favorite. But the quality of finishing is higher in a Japanese car.

Specifications

In 2021, both companies pleased their fans with the release of regular model updates. For comparison, we chose modifications of the Rav 4 and Sorento, equipped with 2.4-liter gasoline engines. It’s worth noting right away that the Korean car has an all-wheel drive system, while the Japanese car has front-wheel drive. Based on this alone, it is the first option that is more attractive for Russian motorists.

In terms of dimensions, the Sorento is 350 mm longer than the Rav 4 and 50 mm taller. The wheelbase is also longer on the Korean car - 2700 mm versus 2560 mm. But the ground clearance is higher for the “Japanese” - 190 mm/185 mm. Given this, it is not surprising that Rav 4 is lighter than its current opponent - 1460 kg/1698 kg. Both cars are equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels.

As for the motors, as mentioned above, they have the same volume. But the “Japanese” engine is not very picky about fuel quality, and it can be easily filled with 92nd. Alas, the same cannot be said about his counterpart. The Sorento's power unit produces 175 horsepower, and the Rav 4 produces 170 horsepower. This difference is due to the better maximum torque of the “Korean”. But this did not in any way affect the dynamics indicators, which are to some extent even better in the Japanese car. For example, to accelerate from zero to hundreds of Rav 4 you need to spend 11.3 s, and Sorento - 11.5 s. Considering the class affiliation of the cars, both results can be called quite good. The average fuel consumption for both models is the same - 8.8 liters.

The fuel tank is larger in the Sorento - 64 l/60 l. The same can be said about the luggage compartment capacity – 530 l/450 l.

Kia Sorento reviews

Kia Sorento 2001 reviews

Name:

Maxim
City:
Angarsk Sorento, 2001, 2400 cc.
see, Gasoline, Automatic, Front-wheel drive Pros:
Ok.
Cons:
Cheap parts,

Kia Sorento 2007 reviews

Name:

Dima
City:
Novosibirsk Sorento, 2007, 3300 cc.
see, Gasoline, Automatic, All-wheel drive Pros:
Reliability.
With HBO it’s a fairy tale, the fuel consumption is ridiculous, less than on a Corolla. Frame. Even on a broken suspension we drive without knocking. Mileage at sale: 280,000 km. There is 1 liter of oil per 10,000 km. I consider it a feature of the V-shaped six. Plenty of space for rear passengers. For height 185, seat max. pushed back. In the back there is at least 30 cm between the seats. Transported 8 bags of potatoes. The acceleration was not affected in any way, the ride became even smoother. The oil is well located. filter. You can change it without draining the oil. Changed every 5000 km. Cons:
The front driveshaft turns sour.
Bad location. Because of this, it does not move on the splines, but stands firmly. Front crosspieces without grease fittings. I installed the grease guns myself and happiness came. No one-touch turn signals. Valkaya is a feature of a frame machine. The rear SPU bursts. I took it off and drove without it, I didn’t notice any difference. The valve cover is leaking... clogged. What was repaired:
Front driveshaft. Rear SPU. The valve cover is leaking.

Name:

Peter Sorento, 2007, 2500 cc.
see, Diesel, Automatic, All-wheel drive, All-wheel drive Pros:
Cool interior trim, many nice little things like electric driver's seat, automatic folding wipers, strong suspension, engine without problems
What was repaired:
Replacing the step and that's it

Name:

12677996
City:
Omsk Sorento, 2007, 2500 cubic meters.
see, Diesel, Automatic, All-wheel drive Pros:
High cross-country ability, smooth ride, engine power
Cons:
Diesel engine takes a long time to warm up
What was repaired:
At 150t. km the front driveshaft, stabilizer struts, timing belt, bushings were changed

Kia Sorento 2008 reviews

Name:

dava312
City:
Donetsk Sorento, 2008, 3300 cc.
see, Petrol, Automatic, All-wheel drive Pros:
Good value for money.
Playful, not expensive to maintain, reliable. I bought it with 130,000 miles and sold it at 176,000 km. No problem. Cons:
None
What was repaired:
None, just that.

Name:

Arden888
City:
Tyumen Sorento, 2008, 3300 cc.
see, Gasoline, Automatic, All-wheel drive Pros:
Reliable, eternal
Cons:
None
What was repaired:
None

Name:

Konstantin
City:
Novosibirsk Sorento, 2008, 3300 cc.
see, Gasoline, Automatic, All-wheel drive Pros:
excellent car
Cons:
fuel consumption, but this is expected
What was repaired:
you need to change the oil in the transfer case more often, then this unit will delight you with its work.

Name:

9724083
City:
Tomsk Sorento, 2008, 3300 cc.
see, Gasoline, Automatic, All-wheel drive Pros:
Passable, high.
powerful motor, convenient control, warm. Cons:
Rear suspension is stiff.
What was repaired:
There have been no major repairs in 10 years. Because they did the maintenance on time.

Name:

MaximSorento, 2008, 2500 cc.
see, Diesel, Automatic, All-wheel drive, LX Pros:
I have owned the car for 2 years. Budget frame SUV, very easy to operate, all modifications and improvements can be made by yourself if you have a garage with a pit.

  • Toyota RAV 4: generations and their characteristics

The chassis is very strong and simple, rolling 265/75R16 MT, so I know what I’m saying. The engine requires care and will make you happy. The interior is spacious, for my height of 165, it’s completely eye-opening. Minuses:

Only those who don’t take care of the car can have disadvantages. And if you give the car to hands that cost a hundred, then you’ll be in trouble.
What was repaired:
in two years, nothing can be said about the breakdowns. Since during this period of operation the car was constantly improved and is being improved to this day, so the mega care only makes me happy.

Name:
City:
Ulan-Ude Sorento, 2008, 2500 cc.
see, Diesel, Automatic, All-wheel drive Pros:
Consumes little fuelPowerfulSpirited
Cons:
Problems with diesel

Name:

2706703
City:
Tomsk Sorento, 2008, 3300 cubic meters.
see, Gasoline, Automatic, All-wheel drive Pros:
Reliable and responsive engine with moderate fuel consumption.
Cons:
Stiff suspension
What was repaired:
NO

Kia Sorento 2009 reviews

Name:

mountain maxims
City:
Nefteyugansk Sorento, 2009, 2400 cubic meters.
see, Gasoline, Automatic, All-wheel drive Pros:
Luggage compartment volume
Cons:
creaky PLASTIC INTERIOR
What was repaired:
Chassis

Name:

2202515
City:
Makushino Sorento, 2009, 2400 cc.
see, Gasoline, Automatic, All-wheel drive Pros:
The car was great, everything suited me.
Cons:
I wouldn’t say that the car has disadvantages, it’s just that it’s purely Korean, so far I’ve only used the advantages, of course, without shielding the chassis like all cars, I think.
What was repaired:
There were no repairs, everything was ok.

Name:

1430523
City:
Vladivostok Sorento, 2009, 2500 cubic meters.
see, Diesel, Automatic, All-wheel drive Pros:
price-quality ratio, comfortable and belt-ready suspension, the ability to select cheaper analogues, excellent cross-country ability for this type of vehicle, cozy interior.
Cons:
absolute dependence on fuel quality.
doesn't like to cool down below -17. discs with non-standard holes. What was repaired:
within 5 years, replacement of the mass air flow sensor, valve covers, pipes and intercooler, right wheel hub with hub, struts, springs all around, valve covers (do not wash a cold engine with cold water)

Name:

Dudya
City:
Komsomolsk-on-Amur Sorento, 2009, 2400 cubic meters.
see, Gasoline, Automatic, Front-wheel drive Pros:
Low consumption, spacious interior, good appearance
Cons:
Weak engine

Name:

Artem
City:
Surgut Sorento, 2009, 2400 cc.
see, Gasoline, Transmission, All-wheel drive Pros:
Large, Economical
Cons:
Suspension sometimes “thumps” Children’s sores (all-wheel drive)

Name:
City:
Novosibirsk Sorento, 2009, 2200 cc.
see, Diesel, Automatic, All-wheel drive Pros:
Dynamics, good car for its year, has a lot of things, very reliable and cheap to maintain
Cons:
Hard ride

Name:

Tomich
City:
Tomsk Sorento, 2009, 2400 cc.
see, Gasoline, Automatic, All-wheel drive Pros:
Large interior, large trunk.
Not Japanese, of course, but overall an honest car for the money. Cons:
None particularly. Not a very durable pendant.

Name:

10511304
City:
Sergiev Posad Sorento, 2009, 2400 cc.
see, Gasoline, Transmission, All-wheel drive Pros:
Comfort, cost (quality-to-price ratio)

Kia Sorento 2010 reviews

Name:

Denis
City:
Novosibirsk Sorento, 2010, 2400 cc.
see, Gasoline, Automatic, All-wheel drive Pros:
Value for money.
And in fact, I’m very pleased, the main thing is to take one that hasn’t been wrung out. Cons:
You have to flash it, like all modern ones.
The suspension is a bit stiff, but I got used to it. What was repaired:
Sold for 220 thousand. Consumables only. Front struts at 180 and “eggs”. All.

Name:

Wasyek2000

City:

Free2 months ago Posts: 34 Sorento, 2010, 2400 cc.
see, Gasoline, Automatic, All-wheel drive Pros:
Spacious interior.
Quite a strong chassis. Even now at 185 thousand km. Almost everything is original and intact. All-wheel drive prevents slipping in winter. Relatively low consumption, city 13-14, highway 8-10 liters, mixed 11-12 liters per hundred. For a 2.4 liter engine I consider it quite acceptable. Cons:
I don’t see any particular disadvantages.
It’s just a little harsh on rough roads, but it rolls quite a lot when cornering at speed. But this is all subjective. What was repaired:
The tracks on the stove engine were worn out (170 thousand km). Replacing the stove. The splines on the differential were cut off (172 thousand km). Replacement of differential. Replacement of ball joints (180 thousand km).

Name:

11338941
City:
Aikhal

Sorento, 2010, 2400 cc see, Gasoline, Automatic, All-wheel drive Pros:

big, reliable.
Cons:
good appetite
What was repaired:
these are minor things

Rating
( 1 rating, average 4 out of 5 )
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