Kia Slashes Sorento Price

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday May 19, 2006

David Berthon

With a new model around the corner, Kia has begun slashing the price of its Sorento four-wheel-drive, with savings of up to $4000.

The 3.5-litre, V6 Sorento is normally $37,990 drive-away but the price has dropped to $33,990 on the road.

Four-speed automatic transmission adds $2000 and metallic paint $250.

The price cut comes just one month after Kia increased the Sorento's recommended retail price by $1000 to $34,990 plus on-roads.

The Korean-built 4WD has recently been finding the going tough in a medium 4WD marketplace that's softened 14 per cent in the year to April, compared with the same period last year.

With no diesel engine available, Sorento sales have suffered, in the same period, by more than 60 per cent.

The Sorento has dual airbags, anti-lock brakes, cruise control, air-conditioning, alloy wheels, an eight-speaker CD audio system, remote central locking and power windows and mirrors.

The driver can switch from two-wheel drive to four-wheel-drive on the move at up to 80kmh.

The vehicle is generally regarded as a rugged off-roader. However, its suspension lacks refinement and becomes unsettled on choppy surfaces, compared with some of its Japanese-built competitors.

Kia has also introduced promotional pricing on its smaller 2.7 V6 Sportage this month - now $29,990 drive-away, a saving of $3000. Again, the deal comes just a month after its recommended retail price was increased by $1000 to $30,990 plus on-road costs. Metallic paint adds $250.

The automatic-only Sportage comes with dual airbags, anti-lock brakes, traction control, air-conditioning, cruise control, remote central-locking, CD player, alloy wheels and power windows and mirrors.

The four-speed automatic features manual-shift function and drives through an electronically controlled part-time, four-wheel-drive system.

For the rest of this month buyers can win $2000 worth of petrol for test driving a new Kia. Kia took over direct distribution in Australia in March (previously Kia cars were sold by an independent distributor) but sales have dropped 21 per cent since the takeover.

Kia Australia has confirmed with its dealers its plan to release a string of new models, starting with a new Sorento due in August. The new Magentis family sedan is due mid-year followed by a new, short-wheelbase, eight-seat Carnival people-mover and the small Cerato sedan. Diesel-powered variants of the Sorento and Sportage are due before the end of the year.

DRIVE A BARGAIN

Nissan Pathfinder 4WD, $40,888 plus on-road costs, All Nissan dealers.

4.0-litre, V6, five-speed automatic, dual airbags, anti-lock brakes, air-conditioning, cruise control and remote central locking. Seven-seater - save more than $7000.

Toyota Corolla Ascent sedan, $20,980 drive-away, Truscott's Toyota, Five Dock.

1.8-litre, four-cylinder, four-speed automatic, driver airbag, air-conditioning, remote keyless entry, CD player, power mirrors. Save $3000. Metallic paint $215 extra.

Jeep Wrangler Sport, $29,990 drive-away, York Motors, Rushcutters Bay.

4.0-litre, six-cylinder, five-speed manual, CD player, dual airbags, air-conditioning and cruise control. Save $3000.

Volkswagen Golf - all models except Golf GTi. All Volkswagen dealers.

$500 in free petrol for limited period.

© 2006 Sydney Morning Herald

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