Kia Problems

That's not easy to answer without knowing your situation in more detail, but if shopping new, I'd recommend the Sorento. 

It's a fresher overall design with more smart thinking behind it, and a four-year longer factory warranty. 

It offers the option of diesel if you prefer, but I'd be choosing the petrol for overall performance and refinement, with still decent real-world fuel efficiency. The petrol V6 Sorento is only available in two-wheel drive though. 

Good luck, and keep us posted with your journey, 

So many things affect road noise, which makes it difficult to fix. There’s the road surface itself, the tyres, and the noise insulation in the vehicle. The Honda CR-V might well be quieter, but could still be noisy on the roads you drive on. If the road noise is the thing that is making you switch vehicles, then it might be worth talking to a tyre dealer about a tyre that might be quieter than the ones on your Kluger. If you want to go down that road, you could try a Mazda CX-5 or CX-7, a Kia Sorento or Sportage, Toyota RAV4.

It needs investigation, and because it is still under warranty I would urge you take it to a Kia dealer. It could be that the fluid needs to be changed, although it shouldn’t at such low kilometres, so perhaps it’s something to do with the driveline computer.

Kia has a seven-year warranty. Holden, Ford, Hyundai and Mazda have five-year warranties. Toyota is currently three years, but is going to five. Look at the small models from those carmakers and you’ll find models to fit your budget.

Try eBay, or perhaps a Kia dealer in America, or if you have a friend in America you could have them buy them for you and ship them out.

It’s not a common problem, with the Sportage or AWD vehicles in general. Even though yours is well out of warranty it’s still covered by the consumer protection laws, so it’s worth asking Kia for at least part of the cost of repairs.

The Mazda3 and Holden Astra are both good alternative choices, but you could also consider a Toyota Corolla or Kia Rio or Cerato.

The trade-in valuation you are likely to get is between $5500 and $10,500, depending on the model, condition, and odometer reading. There are no rules to say how much more you might get if you were to buy three cars.

Kia’s target for the Stinger was originally 200 per month, and while it has sold 150-160 per month the company says it is not disappointed. They are buoyed by the fact that more than 80 per cent of the sales are the top-spec 3.3-litre GT. They are also encouraged that three state police forces have signed up for Stinger – Queensland, WA and the Northern Territory – and South Australia is still looking at it, while Victoria and NSW are showing renewed interest in the car.

You can call Kia’s customer assistance service on 1800 600 010, but I suspect you won’t get the satisfaction you’re looking for. I believe you’ll find that the accessories you are waiting for are aftermarket items fitted by the dealer, and not from Kia.