Kia Problems

Graham 'Smithy' Smith reviews the used Kia Sorento 2003-2005, its fine points, its flaws and what to watch for when you are buying it.

They might all look the same, but not all four-wheel drives, or SUVs if you prefer, are the same. Once Hyundai broke through it was just a matter of time before the other Korean carmakers followed in their tyre tracks. One of them was Kia, although the company’s products were pounding our pavement well before it launched here in its own right.While few realised it the Ford Festiva was actually built in Korea by Kia so there was some history with the brand before the Mentor and Credos arrived on these shores in 1998.That history suggested that the Kia would do well once it did arrive, and there were buyers ready to shell out for these newcomers on the basis of the Festiva’s good record.MODEL WATCHThe Credos was Kia’s ‘big car’, arriving in the wake of the smaller Mentor, and pitched against others such as the Daewoo Leganza and Hyundai Sonata.Like those other cars from the Korean peninsula the Credos offered more room and metal than its rivals from Japan or Europe could. It was the same pitch that all Koreans were making, but it was a successful one.Underneath it shared some components with the Mazda 626 that preceded it so there was plenty of reason to have confidence that it was a competently engineered car.On top, however, he sheetmetal was all new, not that the styling was anything to write home about. It wasn’t unattractive, but it certainly came from the same jelly mould that was in use by many carmakers of the time.The sameness in the styling was a true reflection of its position as a follower of the market rather than a pacesetter. There was nothing to make it standout, except for its price, but that was enough for most buyers.Under the dumpy skin of the front-wheel drive Credos lay a 2.0-litre double overhead camshaft four-cylinder engine. With four valves per cylinder and fed by fuel injection it was up to the mark in design terms and boasted adequate mid-range torque. When pressed, however, it ran out of puff at the top end.At its peak it pumped out 98 kW at 6000 revs while the torque peaked at 171 Nm at 4000 revs, all of which was fed into either a five-speed manual gearbox or four-speed auto and ultimately on to the front wheels.On the road the Credos was competent without being thrilling. It got the job done without any fuss as long as you didn’t expect to outpace other models from Japan or Europe.There was nothing new in the chassis, it was utterly conventional, but that really sums up the Credos. It was a conventional car that broke no boundaries; it simply delivered plenty of metal for the money.There was just the one model, and it came with air-conditioning, power steering, central locking, power windows and mirrors, immobiliser, tilt steering, cloth trim and six-speaker sound. An option pack delivered leather, woodgrain and ABS brakes.IN THE SHOPWhile the Credos is Korean, which is cause enough for a careful inspection, they’re often bought by cash strapped buyers who can’t afford to service them properly. But because it’s a step up the model chain from the bottom feeders that are mostly affected by owner neglect it’s not such a problem.It’s still worth going over them thoroughly and asking for a service record. It always pays to find out if it has seen the inside of a service shop.The Credos will be fast approaching the 100,000 km mark, which means a major service and a timing belt change. Expect to pay around $600 for the belt change so it might be best to find one that’s just gone past that service point and had the belt changed.Look carefully around the engine, transmission and power steering for oil leaks that will have to be fixed.When driving the car carefully observe the auto shifting. It should be smooth and without hesitation.The interior trim seems to hold up well as does the plastic hardware components.IN A CRASHA driver’s airbag was standard, but passenger airbags and ABS anti-skid brakes were optional.There isn’t a lot of history from real life crashes so it’s hard to judge the performance of the Credos on the road.OWNERS SAYThe low sleek appearance, generous rear seat legroom and the economy of its four-cylinder engine were what attracted Doug Higgins to the Credos. His previous experience with a Kia-built Ford Festiva also helped him decide on the Korean. The Credos, he says, seems to be designed for fast cruising as it sits low and stable on straight highways and hugs the road on curves. The power steering is a little heavy, but it has a firm positive feel with no kickback and good self-centring. The ride is harder than some other cars the same size, but the firmer suspension is good for road holding and gives a sense of security for the driver. The auto transmission kicks back smoothly one or two gears when accelerating and the engine breathes effortlessly through its four valves per cylinder. Doug says he gets 9.0 L/100 km on the highway and 11.0 around town.Doug Johnstone is also a very happy Credos owner. His has done 110,000 km and in that time he’s only had to replace a power steering hose and a brake calliper, and repair a broken exhaust. It doesn’t use oil and he gets 8-8.5 L/100 km on a trip. He says it cruises at the highway speed limit quietly and is easy to drive. The handling isn’t pinpoint accurate, but is quite acceptable. The auto has funny ratios, but once you get used to its quirks, it is not a problem. Contrary to some early reviews he has found the seats to be comfortable, the trim looks a bit ordinary, but it has worn well. On the negative side he admits it’s as ugly as sin and the gauges also leave a bit to be desired. The speedo is hopelessly optimistic. Overall, though, he has been very happy and is in no rush to trade it in. LOOK FOR• jelly mould looks• modest performance• blunt handling• reasonable interior roominess• commendable economyRIVALS• Daewoo Leganza – 1999-2001 – $6500-$8500• Mazda 626 – 1999-2002 – $9000-$15,000• Hyundai Sonata – 1998-2000 – $7000-$9500THE BOTTOM LINEAffordable and economical small sedan with plenty of features, but don’t expect high resale value when it comes time to sell.RATING55/100

Just as the Japanese carmakers did 40 years ago the Koreans changed our automotive landscape when they arrived in the 1980s. Hyundai was the brand that forged the path for others, like Kia, to follow. Hyundai’s pitch was based on affordable pricing with a comprehensive list of standard features. It was an irresistible value-for-money deal.Kia was one the last to hit the local market when it launched its first models in the mid-1990s, but it too offered a similar deal with cheap and cheerful models with a decent array of features and pricing within the reach of just about everyone.Like the other Koreans Kia put new cars within the reach of those who might not otherwise be able to afford a new model. By doing so they sent the used car market into free fall causing values to plunge.MODEL WATCHThe Rio has been a popular small car since it replaced the Mentor in 2000. The Mentor was one of the first models Kia introduced here and while it struggled for sales as the brand built a following the Rio has taken the company to a new level of acceptance.There were two body styles offered, a four-door sedan and a five-door hatchback. Both were quite well equipped with standard features like power steering, central locking, CD player, air-conditioning, and a driver’s side airbag. In other words they had just about everything a budget conscious buyer could want.Both body styles were appealing without being eye-catching. They didn’t set any styling trends with their soft lines and plump curves, but they blended into the landscape without causing any visual offence.Inside, they were roomy with quite good accommodation and plenty of luggage space. Those in the front had adequate head and legroom while those in the rear were squeezed in more tightly if you tried to fit three across the back seat.The Rio was conceived as basic transport, it wasn’t a car that excited anyone with a passion for cars.It had a perky 1.5-litre twin-cam four-cylinder engine boasting 77 kW at 5800 revs and 134 Nm at 4500 revs, which was enough to keep the Rio on the pace in the traffic scrum and cruise comfortably along the highway.There was a choice of a five-speed manual gearbox or four-speed auto with drive through the front wheels.Fuel consumption is one of the reasons for buying the Rio and it is generally good in that regard. It’s normal to achieve 6.5-8.0 L/100 km around town in the manual and 8.0-10.0 L/100 km in the auto.The suspension does an adequate job. The handling is secure enough for most situations, but don’t try pushing it hard around corners or you’ll soon realise its grip limitations, while the ride is comfortable on smooth roads, but a little choppy on broken surfaceA combination of disc front brakes and drum rears provides sufficient braking power, but there are no anti-skid brakes to prevent lockup.An update in 2003 brought more equipment, bigger brakes and some suspension refinements that delivered more comfort and better response.Like most of the Korean cars that have landed here to date the Rio’s build quality was variable, it lacked refinement and the fittings were course. Everything was there, but it didn’t quite come together in a fluid way.IN THE SHOPThe Rio was built to a price so it has to be accepted that it won’t have the quality of higher priced cars.Cars vary so much because of the inconsistent build quality it’s important to thoroughly check each individual car for its own faults.Expect squeaks and rattles from the body, the interior trim fittings are likely to have deteriorated and looking the worse for wear, and there are likely to be noises from the suspension.Early cars are likely to be approaching the time for a cam timing belt change, so check for a service record. Oil leaks are common so check the engine bay carefully.Cheap cars like the Rio are often bought by people who can’t afford to service them properly and neglect them as a result. Regular servicing is just as important with the Rio as it is for more expensive cars.IN A CRASHA driver’s airbag was standard, but Kia didn’t offer a passenger’s airbag or anti-skid brakes.OWNERS’ VIEWSEllis Olding has owned his Rio hatch three years and has been completely satisfied with it. He praises its comfort, luggage capacity, ease of handling and parking, and says the fuel consumption is excellent.Belinda Stinten says her 2004 Kia Rio is economical to run, cheap to service if you don't go through a dealer, but instead find a service centre that will honour your new car warranty. She has had no major problems with it and is very satisfied overall.Pauline Dunne loved Subarus, but turned to the Rio when she found the Subaru too expensive. She loves the Rio’s performance, comfort, style, roominess and economy, and would happily recommend it to anyone. She has says the service she has had from her dealer which has been excellent and inexpensive compared to the cost of servicing a Subaru.Sam Nadella’s experience with the Rio was anything but positive. He says the 2003 Rio he once owned was a terrible car. It had more rattles than the 1986 Ford Laser he owned before it. There was a problem with the fuel rail, there was a water leak into the boot area that was traced to improperly applied body sealant, and the radio was replaced three times without success.LOOK FOR• roomy interior for small car• good sized luggage space• adequate performance• lacks refinement• good fuel economyTHE BOTTOM LINECheap and cheerful small car with variable build quality and little refinement, but good fuel economy.RATING65/100

Graham 'Smithy' Smith reviews the used Kia Sorento 2003-2005, its fine points, its flaws and what to watch for when you are buying it.

Korean carmakers used a simple philosophy when they began their assault on the Australian market. They might all look the same, but not all four-wheel drives, or SUVs if you prefer, are the same. Korean carmakers used a simple philosophy when they began their assault on the Australian market. It made great sense when they were trying to prove themselves to a sceptical market. It worked a treat for Hyundai when it arrived on these shores and has proved successful for other Korean carmakers that have followed since.Kia was no different when it launched the Sportage four-wheel drive wagon in 1996. The Sportage was remarkably well equipped given its price, which comfortably undercut its rivals in the compact four-wheel drive segment.There was just the one Sportage model. Unlike some other Kia models of the time, which were developed with the help of Mazda, the Sportage was designed and developed in-house.Its styling was clean without being in any way challenging to the eye. The shape was a simple box on wheels typical of a wagon, the edges were soft and rounded and there was little in the way of curves to break up the expanse of panel work.Colour matching of the bumpers and outside rear view mirrors gave it an upmarket look, while chrome door handles and other bright work was a classy touch.While many compact offroaders aren’t really meant to go too far from the black top the Sportage promised the capability to plunge much deeper into the bush.Short front and rear overhangs meant there was less chance of damaging the body when negotiating dips or banks, while the whole thing was built on a separate chassis like bigger and tougher offroaders.Other compact offroaders were mostly built using unitary body construction, which doesn’t employ a separate chassis. Traditionally a separate chassis was regarded as necessary to survive in the bush, which put the Sportage ahead of its rivals, but unitary construction makes for a stiffer, more responsive vehicle that’s more at home when on the black top.Motivation for the Sportage was provided by a fuel-injected double overhead camshaft 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that produced 94 kW at 5300 revs and 175 Nm, which was competitive in its class at the time.On the road its respectable torque meant it wouldn’t be left gasping at the lights, but it became rather harsh and noisy if revved high and hard.Kia buyers could choose between a five-speed manual gearbox and an optional four-speed auto. Drive went to all four wheels, and there was a low ratio transfer case that gave the Sportage a distinct edge when it went bush.Inside there was roomy accommodation for five adults. Those in the front had plenty of head and legroom, while those consigned to the rear still had good headroom but were a little cramped for leg space.The rear seat could be split and folded as needed for carrying whatever load was needed to transport.Power windows and mirrors were standard, along with remote central locking, an immobiliser and height adjustable steering column. Missing were features like a rear window wiper and a driver’s footrest.Air-conditioning, alloy wheels, front nudge bar, antilock brakes, and the auto transmission were available as options. Metallic paint was available at no cost.Because of the Sportage’s capability to beat around the bush it’s important to check underneath for damage to the underbody, exhaust and other vulnerable mechanical components.Look for bent or broken brackets, fittings, lines and hoses, dents and splits in the underbody itself, and dents to exposed areas of the engine and gearbox.Splits in rubber boots can result in damage to vital driveline components from dust and water intrusion so check steering and drive line carefully.Offroad use can also be detected by scratches on the paintwork from rubbing against shrubs and trees along the edges of bush tracks. Look for damage to bumpers, rear view mirrors, and other external body hardware.It’s probably best to avoid vehicles which have been used offroad, but heavy offroad use can be used as a lever to negotiating a better price if you’re happy to gamble.Diane Coleman liked the look and size of the Sportage when she bought her 1998 model new. She says it handled well on road and offroad on the many times she ventured into the bush and she’d happily have another one. In the five years she owned the Sportage she clocked up more than 200,000 km, and apart from a broken timing chain, which caused serious internal carnage at 60,000 km and was fixed under warranty it was very reliable. Her only criticism was the operation of the turn signal switch which would cancel at awkward moments when turning right.The Sportage isn’t listed in the recent used car safety survey, but it’s safe to say that its crash performance is likely to be average or less than average given that it’s not a unitary body construction, doesn’t have air bags, or height adjustable front seat belts.• Attractive styling• Roomy interior• Good performance from DOHC motor• Capable offroad performanceCapable compact offroad wagon with good looks and long list of features at an affordable price.

Transport has always been a problem for parents of large families.