Kia sorento hybrid7/5/2023 ![]() ![]() But even so, one would think that the equipment would be sent for overnight delivery as a simple courtesy for Kia customers. I was told that it would take around 5 business days to get a new switch! That is a clear indication that certain essential parts for this car are not being stocked regionally. So that should be quickly rectifiable, right? Wrong. They had to coordinate for several days with engineers at Kia central headquarters before diagnosing the issue as a defective starter button. They admitted that the hybrid was so new that they were not really familiar with the technology of the vehicle. The dealership was initially unable to figure out the source of the problem. The bottom line is that it was almost 24 hours before the car was to get to the Kia service center.īut that was just the start of the odyssey. Needless to say, most tow trucks do not come equipped with these mechanisms. The driver had to employ a wheel lift and dollies to transport the car to the dealership. That truck did not arrive until late the following morning. I was then promised a third truck that would be properly equipped to deal with the issue. Well, after waiting another two hours, that second driver appeared and simply went through the same futile motions. To return to the narrative, the first tow driver departed and informed me that he had called for a second truck to come out. That is a very fundamental design problem. But as far as anyone can tell (and that includes the local Kia dealers and the national Kia road service personnel), this car lacks that feature. Normally, such a vehicle will also be equipped with a "shift lock release" somewhere on the console or dash to compensate for this and to allow an emergency shift to neutral. Without power, there is no way to shift the car to neutral. The car was designed with an unusual rotary shift dial on the center console. ![]() The driver tried, also without success, to jump start the car, then tried to shift the car to neutral so that it could be towed in the normal fashion. ![]() After the usual two hour wait, a tow truck did arrive. I wound up contacting the Kia road service that was part of the warranty, fearing wisely that the car might ultimately have to be towed all the way to a Kia dealership. ![]() The interior lights worked, but the car was otherwise as dead as a doornail. On my fifth day of ownership, I repeatedly tried to start the car without success. I am pleased with the ride quality, and the six passenger seating comes in handy with the grandkids (though I would have preferred seven passenger bench seating). Not something that I have elected to use, but it might come in handy for those wishing to take a cat nap while driving. There are even two levels of lane-assist driving. The Sorento is also equipped with numerous interesting technological features. The gas station trips will be few and far between. Amazingly enough, that is even better than the mileage my Sorento hybrid had afforded, despite the Sorento being a larger vehicle. Despite the reports from some owners of disappointing fuel economy, I have been getting 40 MPG. The Sorento hybrid is an impressive vehicle. My wife was the pleased owner of a Kia, so when I saw a 2022 Sorento hybrid become available at a relatively good price, I decided to make the switch from my Sonata. I had driven a Hyundai Sonata hybrid for many years and loved the car. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |