Peter Simpson’s family-wagon gets its annual service, plus a few extra checks and jobs.
2014 Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi KX-3
Overall difficulty rating
Kia is one of those brands which has, since its arrival on these shores in the mid-1990s, transformed its reputation from bargain basement to one for long ser vice life and durability. This has been helped in no small way by the brand’s seven-year/100,000-mile warranty which provides peace of mind for buyers beyond the normal company car/leasing company first owner.
The second-generation Sorento, sold from 2010 to 2014 with a major facelift in 2012, was a huge leap forward, and though the diesels aren’t as refined as some rivals, the cars are enormous inside, and most come with lots of, generally reliable, lovely kit. Spec levels go from KX-1 to KX-3, plus a few limited editions.
The major mechanical bits usually last well to; in fact, a Sorento is one of the few seven-seat diesel autos without welldocumented weaknesses. And this is why the Simpson family are now on their second Sorento, and as a family car for a family living in the country, where 4WD is useful rather than a status-symbol, it really does make a lot of sense.
EQUIPMENT REQUIRED
› 10mm 14mm, 17mm, 22mm spanner or socket
› 6mm Allen key
› Funnel for refilling with engine oil
1 CHECK FOR FAULT CODES
With bespoke fault code readers readily available for anything from £20 upwards it’s something you can investigate yourself. Take specific advice if anything is recorded as present or pending.
2 CHANGE POLLEN FILTER 1
When, as here, the pollen filter is accessed from inside the cabin, I always make changing one of the first jobs I do, so I’m still relatively clean! On the Sorento you access it via the glovebox – open it fully and there’s a cover.
3 CHANGE POLLEN FILTER 2
With the cover off, the old filter should slide straight out. As you can see, ours was very definitely overdue a change! On a car used mainly or exclusively in urban conditions, more frequ
