Used KIA Sorento SUV 2003 review and buying guide (2003 to present): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Kia Sorento (2003 to 2009) should you buy?

A Sorento built from March 2004 is the better bet, because that's when Kia swapped the original four-speed automatic, which gave problems, for an improved five-speed, and gave the 2.5 diesel more torque. It's a separate-chassis 4x4 with low-range gearing, so treat it as a tow car and off-roader that carries a family rather than a soft road car.

The August 2006 facelift brought a revised 2.5 diesel and suspension changes that left the ride and handling better balanced, and a 3.3 V6 petrol replaced the 3.5 at the start of 2007. That makes a facelift the nicer drive, but the diesel's fuel tank fault covers every year from 2003 to 2009, so a later car isn't exempt, and its history matters more than its age.

Which engines and gearboxes are the safe choices on a 2003 to 2009 Sorento?

No engine here is a safe bet: the 2.5 CRDi diesel has a serious known fault, and there's too little written about the V6 petrols to call them sound. On diesels from 2003 to 2009, the coating inside the fuel tank can peel away and get carried through the fuel system, cutting the engine while you're driving, and by 2011 it was being reported more often.

One 2005 automatic kept cutting out over four months, blamed first on the fuel filter and then on three injectors, before Kia agreed to fit a new tank, sender and filter. On that car even the new tank didn't end it: it cut out again the following month. So a diesel that's had filters and injectors replaced without a lasting cure is one to leave.

The original four-speed automatic gave problems and an improved five-speed took over in March 2004, so a later auto is the one to have. Manuals aren't trouble-free either: gearbox faults get more common from around four years and 80,000 miles, worst on cars that have towed, and dual-mass flywheel and clutch failures were rising sharply by 2009.

The 3.5 V6 was sold only as an automatic, and a 3.3 V6 replaced it in 2007. There's no known fault on either, but so little has been written about them that it's no proof they're sound. On a 3.5 converted to LPG, the manifold swirl actuators can snap off after about six years and tangle in the valves.

What should you check when viewing a used 2003 to 2009 Sorento?

Ask straight out whether the engine has ever cut out, then read the bills: repeat fuel filter changes, injector work or a new fuel tank on a 2.5 CRDi all point to the tank lining. One owner's 2004 diesel kept shutting off under hard acceleration onto a motorway despite several new filters, with the tank liner, sender pump, its relay or the pump's earth all suspects.

Compare the tread depth on all four tyres, because the four-wheel-drive system won't cope with a gap of more than 2mm between front and rear. Ask whether the tyres have been swapped front to back during their life. On an XT with 18-inch wheels, watch the dash for warnings, as some appear to have had wheel-slip sensor trouble that confuses the transfer box.

On a manual, check the clutch doesn't slip or judder and the gears go in cleanly, especially if there's a towbar fitted, since towing makes gearbox trouble more common. If it's a 3.5 V6 on LPG, find out how long ago it was converted, as the swirl actuator failure turns up after about six years.

Ask for proof of four UK recalls. In December 2004, Kia replaced alternator pulleys that could seize and throw the belt, making steering and braking heavier. In April 2007, swapped airbag wiring on 2006 to 2007 facelift cars was corrected so the side curtain airbags deploy properly. Cars built from 2005 to 2008 got a relay so water or oil getting into the brakes' hydraulic control unit can't short it out, and 2007 to 2009 cars a new brake light switch that could kill the brake lights.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What do owners like about the 2003 to 2009 Sorento?

It's a pleasant, friendly car to drive, and the light controls mean it doesn't feel like hard work for something this size. The 16-inch tyres soak up bumps well, so it rides comfortably on broken roads even though it's built on a separate chassis like a proper off-roader.

It's a genuine off-roader rather than a soft-roader in 4x4 clothing, and it's a strong, capable tow car. It's a big car, too, with five doors and room for five, and the rear window lifts up on its own, so you don't need to open the whole tailgate to reach the boot.

• The Sorento is a large 4x4 SUV, measuring 4,570mm long, 1,885mm wide, and 1,735mm high.
• This model features a separate ladder frame chassis and a solid rear axle, with a standard five-door, five-seat body.
• Original engines included a 143bhp 2.5 chain-cam common rail diesel and a 3.5 litre V6, offering a strong 2,800kg towing capacity.
• The Sorento received a four-star NCAP crash safety rating and came with a three-year unlimited mileage manufacturer warranty.
• From March 2004, a five-speed Sports H-Matic automatic gearbox replaced the four-speeder, improving fuel consumption by up to nine percent.