UPDATE 1: We have included the brochure and replaced the rather convoluted spec sheet (4/13).
After much speculation, Columbian Autocar Corporation, Kia’s distributor in the Philippines has unveiled the all-new, third-generation Sorento and Grand Carnival. These two new offerings bolster Kia’s presence in the country while giving the Korean brand a more premium positioning. Both models are new from the top-down and are catered to the discerning taste of the upscale market.
Both models wear Kia’s new brand identity look with the upright, prominent nose and strong, slab-sided look. The Sorento features a longer body along with a reduced height and more width giving it a bolder on-road presence. Meshed into the Tiger Nose grille is a unique diamond-shaped pattern. Meanwhile, the Grand Carnival has a wide stance, cab-forward design, and a distinctive side line. It has an egg-crate pattern in its Tiger Nose grille.
Both models are designed primarily in Kia’s Namyang, Korea design studio with significant input from its Frankfurt, Germany and Irvine, California studios.
Inside, the new Sorento and Grand Carnival carry a theme of “modern and wide”. The new horizontal layout of the controls offers a feeling of space while being visually appealing at the same time. The aeronautic inspiration continues with the instrument cluster, controls, and even gear shifter. Both models benefit from the luxury of leather seats, a Smart Key push button engine start/stop, and a large moon roof. Both also have the convenience of a power tailgate. The Grand Carnival gets the additional luxury of dual power sliding doors.
Underneath, both the Sorento and Grand Carnival carry an upgraded version of Kia’s 2.2-liter 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine now with 200 horsepower and 431 Nm of torque. Aside from uprated power, this revised motor is said to offer greater mid- and low-range torque, smoother response, and reduced engine noise. Both engines are mated to a 6-speed automatic with cruise control. The Grand Carnival boasts of an 80-liter fuel tank while the Sorento has a 70-liter tank.
The Sorento also gains all-terrain surefootedness thanks to Kia’s DYNAMAX all-wheel drive system which offers a higher level of stability even on low-grip surfaces.
The Kia Grand Carnival is available in a palette of 6 colors while the Sorento comes in 8. Both models come with a 5-year, 160,000-kilometer warranty and retail for P 2,300,000. Reservations are now underway with sales to start soon.
Lacking features for the price. Typical (local) Kia.
ReplyDeletetypical not just of kia, but of many brands here in Philippines.
DeleteAt least everyone else is improving, Mazda for example has stability control on most of its cars, even entry level models. Even the well-hated mu-X at 1.3M has traction and stability control. While the Sorento on the other hand lacks safety features that the Santa Fe/Grand Santa Fe have. Sorry but TBH I still don't understand how they were able to price the SF and Grand Carnival that way.
Delete*Sorento (typo)
DeleteWould wholeheartedly agree. I currently own a 2014 Sorento CRDi 4x2 which is a steal at 1.3M (which I got with discount). You can get the 4x4 variant for only 100K more. The new Sorento is almost 1M more than the previous one.
DeleteYet with the new model that costs 2.3M, you get the same engine (not really a bad thing since the 2.2L R engine is really powerful, but the new model is bigger hence less oomph), same transmission, and only a few extras such as a sunroof and a power closing rear hatch. The seats weren't even electric and the headunit wasn't even touchscreen, unlike the one featured at the Paris Auto Show. So yes, I think the new Sorento is overpriced. This should've been 1.9M at most, same as the current TOTL variant.
True, the previous gen base Sorento CRDi is a good buy already. But with the new Sorento, it's more of a heavy facelift rather than a replacement.
DeleteHi Ulysses, do you know why KIA (Hyundai as well) don't include any touch/infotainment/navi screen on their top of the line Plus Php2MILLION cars?!?
ReplyDeleteKia's designs look good at first glance...... but after a while, it just doesn't cut it...... not sure why......
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking of buying a minivan. Since prices are the same, which is a better choice- this Kia Grand Carnival or the Honda Odyssey JDM?
ReplyDeleteDo you really have to ask? It's a no-brainer. Of course, go for the Honda Odyssey! Korean cars are crappy and are mostly plagued with low quality materials.
DeleteHaha! The immature JDM fanmonkey is here again!
DeleteDo you really have to ask? It's a no-brainer. Of course, go for the Philippine car.
DeleteThere is no Philippines car brand here!
DeleteI have same thinking w/john, I had 2012 grand carnival. Its quite nice and not expensive it was 1.5M only but now they offer 2.3M.. In korea top of the line is 1.7M but here 2.3M?? Its should be max 2M.. They over price it.. I go honda odyssey..
ReplyDeleteCarnival is bigger than the Oddysey and it looks much better.
ReplyDeleteBigger doesn't always mean better. Quality wise, korean cars are still inferior compared to japanese. You can just feel it, from the way the door closes to the materials used in the interior.
DeleteSo that explains it, tulad na lang ng tunog ng sta.fe vs montero pagsinara yung pinto..LOL
DeleteSta.Fe solid chug sound, montero merong clunk na para bang sa multicab..LOL
DeleteHaha! JDM fanmonkeys are all here!
ReplyDeleteMga JDM fan-gheys napapag-iwanan na ng panahon, 2 generations ago pa nakahabol sa design, features & quality ang KDM cars. Ilan years nga pala uli ang warranty ng beloved Jap brands niyo? Hahaha. Meron diyan 1 year nga lang eh, diba Subaru? LOLZ. SA USA nga, the largest auto market in the world, with the highest & most demanding consumer protection laws, mas mahaba pa warranty ng Hyundai & Kia kesa dito sa Pinas! Isip-isip muna kayo, tagal na nalugi at nabaon sa lawsuits ang Korean brands kung wawents mga gawa nila.
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DeleteAgree, brother.
DeleteLonger warranty looks good on paper but you'll have to settle with an overall shittty quality when you get a korean car. With korean cars, inferior quality means using sub par interior materials, crappy handling and steering, slow gasoline engine. The koreans solved the wear and tear of parts but they still haven't got a clue when it comes to an enjoyable driving experience. I'd still choose a japanese car over a korean car. Korean cars are all style and no substance.
DeleteThink about what you're saying genius. Eh di nalugi na nga yang mga Korean brands na yan dahil kung puro low-quality ginagamit nila at puro warranty claims dahil libre lahat under warranty, at mas matagal pa kesa sa typical Jap brand. Last I looked mas marami pa dealerships ng Hyundai at Kia kesa sa Jap brands except for boring Toyota. In short, it's your thinking and outdated perception that is sh1tty & low-quality.
DeleteIt's not about the breaking down of parts anymore. Any car can easily last 5 years without parts breaking down. When I say low quality, it's the overall feel of the car. From the driving experience to the feel of the materials used in the interior, the seats, dashboard etc. they feel really cheap, although they look good. People buy korean cars because they're cheaper and looks pretty decent but they feel dull and lifeless. Toyota is boring? Are you kidding? Have you seen their recent line-up? Maybe you're the one that's stuck in 2010.
DeleteAgain, think harder about what you're saying. If any car can "easily last 5 years without parts breaking down", then why don't they all offer longer warranties? If your favorite Toyota brand is so "reliable", then they should offer 10 year warranties to underscore their supposed "quality". Konting commonsense naman kung may time.
DeleteAnd yeah, I've been bored seeing their recent lineup. Nothing special, of course it would look good compared to their previous uninspired designs. The current ones look like cheap Chinese knock-offs of curent Lexus spindle/trapezoidal grilles, half-baked at that.
DeleteI drive a Pajero, Camry and Carnival. For me, the Carnival drives great and feels great. The 5 year warranty on the Carnival, states that the manufacturer is more than confident it will have no problems. Both japanese cars only give 2 year warranties, with the same reason stated. If you speak against or for Kia, pls make sure you drive them rather than make conclusions by merely seeing them on the road or in a showroom. I have personal experience with both, so pls make sensible comments based on FIRST HAND experience. It just makes you people who have no experience sound ridiculous. I will buy the next Carnival without a doubt.
Delete3 years ang warranty nila, hindi 2 years. Are you sure you've driven them? I highly doubt you even had first hand experiences with cars. Also warranty =/= quality of product.
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Deletethese 2+M models are the top of the line variants, im more inetrested in the mid range offerings as they offer more back for your buck
ReplyDeleteCurrently, they only offer one variant per model. Perhaps in the coming months, they will launch new variants.
DeleteSomeone said magkakaroon ng 1.8M base model Carnival later.
ReplyDeleteI dunno about you guys but Korean cars seem pretty boring for me. For example, the Hyundai accent looks bland and its TOTL model has only 4 speed automatic. Same with the Kia rio, its boring, its slow too and its transmission is low tech also. The elantra looks plain fugly and too feminine. The sorento is starting to look dated. The only good looking Korean car for me is the new Tucson and Santa Fe, but other than that, they're all pretty much a borefest.
ReplyDeleteI love the Elantra. It looks very slick!
DeleteEveryone's selling boring shit except for Mazda imho. If you're going Korean though, screw gas and get their diesel. Coming from Monty to Sorento the diesel on the Monty is just downright bad compared to the Sorento's. Same thing rin with Fortuner, ang panget ng makina compared sa Sorento. Sorento's engine is much more quiet and so much more powerful. Malaki difference talaga. I can confidently say na game ako makipagkarera sa ibang SUV dyan kahit pa Touareg o Cayenne pa yan. :) I'll hand it over to the Koreans to make a great diesel engine. Approve ako dyan. But their gas engines are not efficient at all from experience. Good power pero malakas ang kain.
DeleteI love preying on Sorentos and Sta. Fes on the Skyway with my Subaru FXT because they think they are faster.
DeleteSorento has the Santa Fe Engine ... 50% of KIA is owned by Hyundai.... They are both Worldwide brand ... Ang Asian market comes from Korea ... Maganda sana kung meron ding galing US manufactured product nito. Baka di alam ng mga pro Japs... The engine of Santa Fe/Sorento CRDI ay designed in Germany at ang body ay mula sa US engineering design for Sorento and European designer ang Santa Fe - of course may collaboration ng mg Korean designers. All the Korean products that are distributed worldwide ay hindi naman talaga Korean. The Sorento ay may warranty na 10 years na. Yun lang you have to go thru the required (strict) warranty PMS na 5,000 and 10,000KM check up kaya madugo din... which is good for diesel engine... tama lang naman.
ReplyDeleteAng mga hyundai at kia now ay overseen ang quality ng dating chief design engineer ng Audi.. i guess the jdm peeps know what audi quality is all about.. and hindi po sya tinanggal doon. He was pirated.
ReplyDeleteRidiculous. Sorry for the word, but karamihan ata ng mga nag comment ay AUV lang, (montero, fortuner, everest, trailblazer, mux, and the rest of the chipipay diesel down to crosswind) ang nasakyan coming from taxicab (vios mazda sentra...) Korean cars may quality ha ha! Sumakay kya kau going promdi ng japanese suv or higher brand jap cars, ewan ko lang if u would ever want to ride pa any crap creeky noisy smelly and underpowered korean crap. Well, sorry manila totoys, promdi boys just keep on laughing at your social climber antics.
ReplyDelete2 airbags for a 2.3m SUV?
ReplyDeletePut all the safety features found in the US model then lower the price to 2m, this will sell well. At this price, people would rather buy a Fortuner or Montero
ReplyDeleteSa US, Korean cars are still behind the Japanese when it comes to reliability. But they are getting better. So it does not help the Korean manufacturers when a Philippine distributor removes certain safety feature to make more money.
ReplyDelete