Automatic transmissions that can change gears smoothly are known as continuously variable transmissions. The advantages of a CVT over a traditional automatic transmission include quicker shifting and acceleration, lower weight, and claims of being far more dependable and long-lasting.
In This Article...
Which Kia Models Have CVTs (Continuously Variable Transmissions)?
Currently available Kia models include a CVT as a standard or optional transmission:
- 2020 Kia Rio Hatchback and Sedan
- Kia Forte compact sedan, 2020
- upcoming Kia Soul CUV
- Kia Seltos Compact SUV 2021
What type of transmission is in the Kia Sorento?
The fourth-generation Kia Sorento debuted in North America on September 22, 2020. It is available in the LX, S, EX, SX, SX Prestige, and SX Prestige X-Line trim levels, among others. While the 2.5-liter Smartstream 4-cylinder gasoline engine used in the LX and S models produces 191 horsepower (194 PS; 142 kW), the 2.5-liter Smartstream 4-cylinder gasoline engine used in the EX, SX, SX Prestige, and SX Prestige X-Line versions produces 281 hp (285 PS; 210 kW). Although vehicles with the 2.5-liter turbo engine employ an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, all North American Sorento models use an 8-speed automatic transmission. Hybrid versions of the Sorento will be offered following the first release in late 2020. [32] There is no longer a V6 engine available. The Sorento PHEV[33], from Kia, will go on sale in 2021. Its 1.6-liter turbo-four-cylinder engine is paired with an electric motor to provide 261 horsepower. The claimed electric vehicle range is 51 km (32 miles), and the total range is 740 km (460 miles). Prices will be revealed at a later time.
In the United States, at its assembly factory in West Point, Georgia, Kia continues to produce the Sorento for the North American market. Except for the hybrid variants and the SX Prestige X-Line vehicle, which come standard with all-wheel drive, all models come with front-wheel drive. Three rows of seating are standard on all 2021 Sorento models sold in North America, and higher trim levels come with second-row captain’s chairs rather than the normal second-row rear split bench seat. [34]
How effective is the CVT in the Kia?
Three Kia cars received appalling predicted reliability scores due to poor ratings in key categories based on consumer feedback.
The manufacturer made significant mistakes when it installed a new continuously variable gearbox (CVT) to the most recent Forte and Soul. According to CR, the CVT performs a commendable impersonation of a conventional automatic transmission in both vehicles. Running errands around town is manageable, but it becomes noisy under stress.
Although the new transmission may boost performance and fuel efficiency, it did not enhance the ride comfort of either vehicle. The 2021 Kia Soul handles well and navigates turns enthusiastically, according to CR’s experts. They clarify that the ride seems less precise and controlled because there isn’t enough input.
With the CVT, the most recent Kia Forte is in a comparable situation. The CR team claims that the Forte’s ride quality is terrible, much like the Kia Soul’s. Due to their excessively stiff suspensions, both Kia models make it possible to feel every flaw on the road. When it comes to comfort, the Forte and Soul are near the bottom of their respective classes.
The 2021 Kia Niro EV is not without faults. In addition, it’s really noisy, you can’t have all-wheel drive, and not all states offer it. Despite having a respectable 239-mile range, it can take up to 10 hours to fully recharge using a 240-volt charger. The engine in the most recent model hasn’t been rated by CR yet, so the verdict is still out on it.
Which SUV does not utilize a CVT?
Kia: CVTs are not available in the Cadenza, Optima, Stinger, K900, Sportage, Niro, Sorento, Telluride, Sedona, and Forte (Optional).
How durable are Kia CVT transmissions?
The lifespan of a CVT transmission is the same as that of a conventional automatic transmission, and they are built to last the entire life of the car. The lifespan of a normal CVT is at least 100,000 kilometers. Some vehicles, like the Toyota Prius, frequently have a lifespan of far over 300,000 kilometers. Some brands, like other automotive parts, last longer than others when maintained properly.
Do Kia Sorentos have issues with their transmissions?
You can drive at the speed you want thanks to your transmission, which transfers power from the engine to the wheels.
Given that the transmission must convert the exact quantity of power for the required speed,
Mileage
The continual movement of the belt between the pulleys ensures that power is always sent to the wheels, making CVTs the most fuel-efficient gearboxes available. The ideal transmission to choose in terms of mileage output is a CVT automatic, especially if you operate your car primarily on urban roads. DCT automatic, on the other hand, is significantly better for fuel economy since it minimizes the time between gear changes.
Servicing, maintenance, and replacement
Since the majority of its design is simple to understand, the CVT automatic is considerably less prone to malfunctions and costly maintenance (two pulleys and one belt). The CVT has a low cost of maintenance. Even though they are expensive, CVT replacement parts are still more affordable than DCT automatic.
Driving experience
The DCT automatic outperforms the CVT automatic in this situation. Since the pulley in a CVT automatic transmission transmits power through a belt system, there is a definite lack of reaction in the power flow. The rubber-band effect and lack of power that driving enthusiasts would want are common with CVT automatic transmissions. While the gear selection in a dual-clutch transmission is automatic, the gears mesh similarly to those in a manual transmission, giving it far more energetic and high-octane performance. This is why sports cars frequently have DCT automatic transmissions.
Overall cost-benefit
DCTs often cost more than CVTs due to their complicated infrastructure and design, though this also depends on the vehicle. The most expensive versions of the automobiles come with both transmissions. In terms of durability and fuel efficiency, CVTs are comparatively more dependable than DCTs.
Here are the top DCT and CVT vehicles in India based on performance and price.
What’s wrong with the Kia Sorento?
Customers have experienced a number of issues with the Kia Sorento since it has been advertised and sold by Kia. These models share costly issues with one another. The following model years should be avoided: 2004, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2016.
Common difficulties include those with the engine, the electrical system, the airbags, the seat belts, the lights, and the body or paint.
Engine failure is the most serious problem that these Kia Sorento models have. When most consumers have traveled an average of 62,000 miles, something happens. They could end up costing you more money in repairs, so we advise avoiding them.
Which Year Models of Kia Sorento Are Safe to Buy Used?
Production of the Kia Sorento has been going on for approximately 20 years. Not all of the models that are released, like many other cars in its market class, are flawless right out of the factory. Some people have flaws. Despite this, you have a selection of others. This is particularly true if you want to stay away from those already listed.
The following list of reliable Kia Sorento model years includes:
- Kia Sorento 2003
- Kia Sorento from 2005
- 2007 Sorento Kia
- Kia Sorento 2008
- Kia Sorento from 2009
- Kia Sorento 2010
- Kia Sorento 2015
- Kia Sorento 2017
- Kia Sorento from 2018
- Kia Sorento for 2019
- Kia Sorento 2020
- Kia Sorento 2021
The years 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 are among the safest Kia Sorento model years to purchase. Compared to the earlier mentioned model years, these have minimal complaints.
The worst issues with many of them were engine issues, a broken air conditioner compressor, electrical issues, light issues, and AC/heater issues. Most of them are also inexpensive to fix minor problems. However, they are among the minority of car owners.
The worst car troubles in early generations include crankshaft problems, frequent lighting system failures, and broken parts. It’s important to remember that these issues only occur in cars with more than 90,000 miles on the odometer.
A few owners are also affected by the problems. They are less likely to happen in a Sorento with little mileage and good maintenance. The models from 2007 to 2010 and 2015 to 2021 are the least problematic. The year 2016 is an outlier; it is less dependable than the other years in the following years.
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Which Kia Sorento Years to Avoid
The aforementioned Kia Sorento model years should easily accommodate your family’s needs and daily driving requirements. You need a dependable automobile in addition to one with excellent handling, a luxurious interior, and lots of attractive amenities. Here, we go into greater detail regarding the model years that weren’t chosen.
Steer clear of the following Kia Sorento model years:
- Kia Sorento from 2004
- Kia Sorento from 2006
- Kia Sorento from 2011
- Kia Sorento 2012
- Kia Sorento 2013
- Kia Sorento 2014
- Kia Sorento 2016
These model years frequently experience issues with their engines, electrical systems, lighting, seat belts and airbags, and body and paint. These affect everyone, and numerous users have noted concerns that are essentially the same.
You should steer clear of the 2011 Kia Sorento the most. It tops the list for having the most owner complaints. It is most likely to experience brakes issues, drivetrain issues, airbag and seat belt issues, and engine issues.
An engine failure at 77,000 miles cost the most money of all issues reported for the 2011 model year. Fixing this issue will cost $4,600. Other serious issues include an airbag problem that cost $2,000 to fix at 92,000 miles and a door issue that cost $400 to fix at 94,000 miles.
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The 2016 Kia Sorento is another vehicle you should completely avoid. In comparison to other models with lower mileage, it has more issues and costs more to repair. The most common issues are with the engine, then the steering, body/paint, and lights.
The engine has experienced the worst reported failure at 62,000 kilometers. Repairing this cost $6,100. Other owners reported having to pay up to $600 to fix wiring that rodents had gnawed. At 22,000 miles, one user’s car stalled while accelerating.
Common Kia Sorento Problems
One of the greatest warranties for cars is offered by Kia. But that doesn’t mean you should be any less critical, especially when it comes to reliability concerns. The most typical Kia Sorento issues, spanning all model years, are listed below:
- Engine issues – The Sorento’s engine frequently fails, which is a common dependability problem. The engine failure, which was primarily reported in 2011, 2016, and 2017 models, was caused by a leaky head gasket, which mixed engine oil and coolant. These liquids when combined can seriously harm engines.
- Frustrated owners reported that the Sorento’s doors won’t open when reached from the outside, which is more unpleasant than dangerous. Additionally, defective door handles made users of the child-lock feature even more irate. Owners of 2011 Sorentos make up the majority of the complaints.
- Burning out of headlight bulbs: Numerous customers noted that the headlight bulbs on Sorento models from 2002 to 2009 were particularly prone to premature failure. Additionally, several stories claimed that additional headlamp component parts were also melted. There should have been a recall for this dependability problem, but there wasn’t one. Owners were required to purchase replacement bulbs for between $100 and $600.
Kia Sorento Problem Counts by Year
Young and experienced drivers equally are impacted by winter driving. To help you get from A to B as securely as possible, we’ve put together a list of the best automobiles for snow.
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Is there a CVT available for the Kia Sportage?
The swooping looks and superior guarantee of the well-known Kia Sportage crossover set it apart from the competition. Its base front-wheel drive and available all-wheel drive remain unchanged for 2019. It also has a standard 4-cylinder engine with 181 horsepower or an optional turbo-4 with 240 horsepower.
There is also an SX model with nimbler handling and a turbocharged engine that modifies the crossover’s personality. Every Sportage has a 6-speed automatic transmission, which may not have the same fuel efficiency as a CVT but is still preferable to having a large rubber band hurling the car forward.
Except for the SX, all active safety features like automated emergency braking are optional. All modelsaside from the entry-level LXcome equipped with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Kia’s practical Uvo infotainment system.
The EPA rates the front-wheel-drive LX at 23 city, 30 highway, and 25 combined mpg. LXs with all-wheel drive get a 21/25/22 mpg rating.
With a little more equipment, the EX model has fuel economy ratings of 22/29/25 mpg with front-wheel drive and 21/26/23 mpg with all-wheel drive.
With front-drive variants getting 21/26/23 mpg and all-wheel drive getting 20/23/21 mpg, the SX makes up for its horsepower.
The Sportage receives a total of five stars from the NHTSA, including four stars for front-impact protection and rollover avoidance. Entire Review
The Sportage receives a total of five stars from the NHTSA, including four stars for front-impact protection and rollover avoidance. Full Review hidden