"Bob Edwards" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:
[email protected]...
> > I have just been looking at both the Sorrento and the X-Trail this week
at
> > the Display in the Shopping Centre at Milton Keynes. Within the next 3
> > months I want to purchase a replacement tow car and both cars mentioned
> > would fit the bill and are of a very similar price. I have to say that I
> > liked the Sorrento it seemed well designed and put together. My concern
> is
> > with the Kia, despite the avalanche of praise it has received is what
> > happens in the longer term with reliability and values. I suppose you
> could
> > say that buying anything with four wheels on new is a mugs game!!! Out
of
> > the two I think my choice would be the X-Trail particularly as it now
> comes
> > with an uprated engine of 136hp. It is a smaller vehicle than the
Sorrento
> > which would suit my wife. I now have to decide whether the X-Trail is
> going
> > to make a better towcar than a Ford Mondeo 130hp diesel as I can acquire
a
> > new one of the latter at an advantageous price.
> >
> >
> > David - Milton Keynes
> > www.caravantravels.co.uk
> > Details of our Caravan Travels in the UK and Europe with help and advice
> and
> > site reports
> >
> >
>
> Do a comparison of the 2 cars on the What Car website and much of the data
> shows in some ways a strange similarity: e.g. Power (138 and 134 bhp) and
> torque (232 and 232 lb/ft) are virtually identical - so both cars will tow
> well.
True, although the Sorento achieves both max bhp and max torque at lower
revs.
The Sorento is rated to tow 2800kg against the Nissans 2000kg and its
separate chassis, self levelling suspension and low range will all help
>Surprisingly the X-Trail is only 57 mm shorter than the Sorento,
> though lower.
True it is only 57mm longer, but the 119mm extra width and 149mm extra
height make a real difference, more passenger space and boot space massively
up based on the figures on What Car (several times the volume).
>Then look at the top speed, mpg and acceleration figures and
> the X-Trail wins hands down.
Thats pushing it a bit - the Sorento is approx 33% heavier than the Nissan
and you would expect something that much bigger and heavier to use a but
more fuel and be a bit slower (if similar engine). The Xtrail returns about
10% or so to the gallon and achieves 112 against the Sorentos 106 - neither
of which can really be described as "winning hands down" in fact given the
Sorentos 33% extra size and weight I would consider that advantage pretty
poor.
Acceleration 0-60 is a bit more of an issue with a 3 second difference, but
"real world" performance is not an issue.
> I too sold a Discovery to buy an X-Trail and I am exceptionally pleased
with
> it. If you like driving (with and without the caravan) then the X-Trail
is
> much more car-like, is nippy and handles really well. If you want a
higher
> driving position, cumbersome handling and performance which is more
> agricultural, then the Kia or Discovery fits the bill.
Higher driving position, yes - to call the Kia "agricultural" in any sence
is plain stupid (and, yes, I know What Car used that word). The discovery is
agricultural, the kia is nothing like it at all.
Handling is far from the likes of older "agricultural" 4x4's and it was
tuned by Porche, yes - on bad roads the ride is a little harsh but it is
very well controlled. The ride is not the Sorentos best point but on most
roads it is just fine. Handling is well up to the near 200bhp of my 3.5,
and it needs to be vivet the 0-60 of just under 10secs on a vehicle weighing
2 tonnes - I can throw it around with confidence no problems.
> Bob
>
>
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