I've driven the Kluger 2WD around Tasmania for 3 days. The handling is superb. Has good rip cornering. No trouble climbing up hill. Plenty of power to overtake. I feel like this car offers better structural than any other SUV even though it missing some other electronically safety features.
The 2018 Kluger has a slew of safety features as std. The GXL has Lane Departure Warning n steering assist, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, AEB, adaptive cruise control, auto hi beam, hill descent assist, hill start etc it is a pleasure to drive on and off-road. Seven adults in the car and all remarked they had plenty of room. We went to test drive the CX9 and the Kluger. Was going to buy the CX9 becoz of reviews like Matt's and also the slightly cheaper OTR. However, we fell in love with and went with the Kluger. There's a reason why there are so many Kluger's on the road. It's because it's a great car.
This is very biased towards the Toyota Kluger. In my opinion, during the next 15 years the Toyota will still be running because of its reliability. It doesn’t need fancy bells and whistles, it’s a family car. To get you from point A to B. It will be most likely that it will have better resale value too. The Kia might have a seven year warranty but being a Toyota, it doesn’t need it. Don’t get me wrong the Mazda and Kia are good cars that offer a lot of kit. But the Kluger is more practical for a family that wants a car to last more than 10 years. So in my opinion get the GX AWD.
One thing with Mazda is that they refine their latest cars every year - I own a 2019 CX-9 Grand Touring and I absolutely love it. Plus they offer 5 year service package and 6 year warranty in the US now!
GO KIA Sorento Awesome review one of the best 7 seater comparison review i have seen recently.... Matt u rock mate one of the most detailed and practical reviewer
I need 7 seats for occasional use..... I'v a 2 years old baby..... I'm 32 years old earning average salary and do 70-80 km daily city drive, dont want high fuel consuming vehicle, dont really go off-roads and dont want to spend too much money as we are building a new house too.... so keeping all the things in mind I bought brand new Mitsubishi Outlander 7 seater 2wd base model for $28,600 including 5 years warranty and 4 years roadside assistant. It has DRL, fog lights, good infotainment system with Apple carplay and Android Auto, 17" alloy wheels, leather steering wheel with controls and basic necessary safety features and honestly I'm happy with everything....
Charlie Warlie I have no kids and got a Sorento. Would have been around the same price as the 5 seaters I was looking at so I was like why not. No need to upgrade in the future when I do have kids, and for now the extra room is great when travelling, having room for friends and family in the car and for towing purposes. Best decision I’ve made and as much as it looks like a mom car, the interior is amazing and such a smooth car!
Matt, you said all the vehicles have curtain airbags protecting the third row passenger. But if you look at ANCAP crash test data for the latest Sorento (tested OCtober 2017), it DOES NOT have third row curtain airbags. Even the Kia website says 'The Sorento offers front and side airbags for driver and front passenger, as well as two side-curtain airbags to protect the first and second row passengers.' Sounds like you gave wrong info on something which could be a critical decision making factor for many families. Your comments please!
I'm curious how the Sorento ultimately wins on value, when it is about the same price as the CX-9 while not being any more vehicle. The Kia is smaller, has a lower grade interior, isn't as fun and engaging to drive, isn't as good looking, and maybe only has a couple of extra features. Is it just the longer warranty?
- JPL - ~10-15 k difference in driveaway prices for top models.....bought a gt line Sorento 52k drive away. There was no way I could convince myself shelling out more for a Mazda with 1/3 the sunroof
One thing I really dislike about the Mazda are the black plastic trimming around front, back, and side bumpers and even around the tires. I don’t know why they didn’t just paint it... it makes it look cheap
I bought a few weeks ago in NZ my 3 rd Kia Diesel (being an ex diesel automotive engineers, I will not touch petrol anymore) I traded in a 2016. Sportage diesel turbo , a very nice car but needed a bigger and a little more comfy So we bought now a 2019 Sorento 2.2. Turbo diesel AWD Ex black version in silver 19 inch wheels ,with all the bells and w.... a very impressive Car and top value for money. Kia makes very ,very good Cars , thats way we have now 2 Kia,s in the Fam. P.S I am not getting paid by Kia New Zealand
Drive them. And keep into consideration if you plan to keep the car for a long time. I went for the top trim of the Sorento. It rides softly, the V6 sounds nice and is powerful, consumption has been surprisingly good, and Kia service is in a different level, excellence is the word.
I've owned a Mazda before and it was kinda good but not great and I've driven a Kia company car before and I hated everytime I had to go somewhere in it. Reliability and resale value is a big thing so a Toyota Kluger would be the best fit for me.
It's clear that Sorento is by far best value here. Based on last few years of research, Highlander is still at the top as far as reliability, but Sorento is right behind it and the thing is Sorento's reliability was only growing from year to year and there won't pass much time until they're considered same as far as build quality and reliability. Mazda is just just ... not good enough there. It's always been: Toyota -> Subaru -> Honda -> Nissan -> Mazda in regards to build quality and reliability. I like Highlander as well, but what Sorento might be missing in reliability ratings, warranty does it or surpasses it. GOOD JOB KIA!
Kju Njels do some research and stop basing your theory on 10 years ago, Toyota, Honda, Nissan neither subaru has better quality or safer vehicles than mazda as of 2014+
Regarding reliability, although your comment might be correct as far as perception 10 years ago, it's certainly not the case by numbers. The two largest and most comprehensive reliability studies are done in Germany. Out of those, the Auto Bild, 100,000km endurance test is considered to be the best because it takes a car and does real world distance. It then uses real ownership to rate cars based on penalising cars that go outside the schedule service. After this is complete, Auto Bild does a very famous break down (they take the whole car apart), take a photo for their magazine then access every single nut and bolt under a microscope to determine wear. Both German studies have the same result, Mazda (particularly over the past 8 years), is their most reliable brand. But their top 4 is basically similar - Mazda, Toyota and Honda - although more recently, Hyundai has been coming up to match them. Regarding AutoBild's results..... Almost all cars gain penalties. That is, a single fault that requires a service visit or slight addition wear gets points. Only 7 cars have had zero points (i.e. flawless), and 3 of those have been Mazda's. The 2012 CX-5 diesel was broken down in 2013, and unfortunately was given an additional service due to a software change required for its diesel engine, and a change of dip stick design. That was its only point, and had it not been for this, it would have been AutoBild's 4th Mazda with 0 points, and therefore clearly their most reliable brand. No other Japanese brand has received zero points. What does make it easier for Mazda is Japan is that they are small (10% of size of Toyota), and for their size they invest more significantly into engineering R&D than the other Japanese brands. This has resulted in at least 32 engineering world records since Ford departed, including for example the highest tensile steel in automotive world (Hiroshima where Mazda comes from is known for its steel). But the biggest break through will be their 2020 SPCCI engine. The day after their press release, Toyota signed a deal to source engines. They've achieved what almost every other car manufacturer has attempted - a spark assisted SCCI. Should be great on the back of their current range of high compression engines.
I'm going for the Kia Sorento (looking to purchase it in a few months) and I want to buy the 7 seater version as my first car, but am quite unsure considering there are four variants of the model available. Can you suggest which variant offers the 7 seats and has all the basic features (android auto, apple carplay, sat nav, aeb, etc.)
Why do reviewers constantly complain about not being able to fit a six foot adult in the third row? It doesn’t matter, it’s for kids! At least I personally wouldn’t banish friends or (adult) family to these back rows.
Has anyone thought about 3rd row vent? If you need to carry 7-8 passengers all the time, pls consider the practicality of Kluger with the vent. Can’t imagine sitting at the 3rd row in the a hot summer day without the air
Mazda is practically the best in terms of space and performance. Value for money has been evident on this SUV. Kia is a bit a contender on this category however not really sure about its durability / dependability, unlike Toyota aside that its a Japanese SUV, it should somehow dominate this segment though but unfortunately it failed to top Mazda CX9.
The kia might be great but the middle seat in the second row is unusable. If you've got three kids, where does number three go? You wouldn't put them in the back full-time and that middle seat just terrible. Why do reviewers never mention this aspect? It's our number one criteria with three kids
Yes between Kia and Mazda is almost the same value for different reasons. One of the biggest things for me is interior experience and even though on pictures the Kia seems inviting, when I sat iit, that big wide infotainment area seemed kind of like an impersonal monster, and seeming a bit too far even if it wasn't. I actually might lean CX-9
I have owned HIGHLANDER excellent suv Kia do not well in crash Mazda is just a reliable as Toyota but get used one save on resale and depreciation Better handling on Mazda I am trying Mazda
Mazda cx-9 has top quality interior design and has a superb handling also more spacious, Kia only got their panorama sunroof practically mazda takes it
I got a 2013 kluger and i know its a bit diff with 2014 up design but its longer...how is it that u cant fit in the 3rd row but i can (im 6ft tall) and still fit nicely in the middle row...is there anything im missing
In my experience they're on par with the Japanese. We had a 2006 Kia Carnival (Sedona) 3.8l V6 for 11 years. Apart from routine maintenance we never had an issue with it. Kia has pretty good warranty at 7 years (here in the Australasia market).
Look at the quality inside Look at the kinda sporty car body Look at the fun in driving and smooth Look at the price Look at the many features Of course Mazda CX-9
These are features that can be disabled but its good to know they are there when and if you need them, however for the price of the Toyota one would think it has something more to offer
I am a Kia Sorento owner, so I can say that its trash. I am the owner of a Kia Sorento, so I can say that its trash. And I do not recommend it, it is a very bad truck
