Diesel or Petrol - Buying SUV Likely Kia Sorento or Toyota Kluger

Noblejoker on 07/02/2019 - 16:56

As per title - looking to buy a family SUV soon
Currently looking at Kia SOrento, think the Hyundai Santa Fe is too small inside (tall family)
Also considering Kluger (which is petrol only anyway)
Upgrading from petrol 2011 Outlander

Diesel is more fuel efficient
But then diesel is more expensive than petrol generally so that evens out right?

My diriving habits are mostly short hops in rgional town - think 10km / <10 minutes
Once a week would drive hour plus each way
Twice a month would do a 2 hours drive each way
Annual km not high - maybe 15,000

Any other factors we should consider when deciding on diesel/petrol
Servicing costs?
Wear and tear given short trips?
Which drives better?

If someone wants to debate Sorento vs Kluger I am all ears too
Thank you and Cheers

Poll Options expired

  • 7
    Kia Sorento Diesel
  • 12
    Kia Sorento Petrol
  • 11
    Toyota Kluger Petrol
  • 1
    Other
Automotive Car Kia Toyota

Comments

  • pegaxs on 07/02/2019 - 17:00

    If you are doing a lot of short hops, don’t go diesel. If you are doing long trips consistently, definitely go diesel.

    Basically, if it has a DPF, it needs to be cleaned out. This is done by longer trips, say, on a freeway/highway, usually roads in excess of 80km/h for a few mins.

    A lot of short hops in a diesel, a lot of start stop driving would be considered as heavy duty or harsh driving conditions. This would require more servicing on a diesel. They don’t like this type of driving at all. Petrol engines can cope with it more so than diesels.

    Also maybe consider the Hyundai Santa Fe/Tucson if you are in that range of vehicles.

    • Noblejoker on 08/02/2019 - 12:15

      Thanks you - looking like petrol/hybrid
      Re: Hyundai - Santa Fe is similar footprint to Sorento but waaay smaller inside
      No way my 6'6" teenager fits comfortably in the second row of Hyundai - OK in current Outlander and better in Kia

  • GG57 on 07/02/2019 - 17:01

    I don't know the price comparisons, but I recommend considering a Subaru.
    For your driving habits, stick with petrol IMO.

    • Noblejoker on 08/02/2019 - 12:13

      Don't have a dealer close but I should at least look at Subaru
      As per comments above interior room/comfort is the issue
      Older model Subaru weren't big enough for me or my growing teenagers
      But I respect the make so should check again

  • dcep on 07/02/2019 - 17:02
    +1

    diesel don't like short trips

    whatabout outlander phev ?

    • Noblejoker on 08/02/2019 - 12:12

      Hadnt considered actually - hmmm - research required

  • [Deactivated] on 07/02/2019 - 17:04
    +2

    Not sure about the models but some diesel vehicles have a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). Works great but takes a long time to heat up. Definitely longer than the trips you mentioned.

    Diesel also takes a little longer to reach optimum running temps. You won't see savings here.

    Diesel will cost more to service. If it runs on AdBlue… more money.

    Petrol drives smoother.

    The main reasons for going diesel is towing and distance. It seems you are doing neither so petrol is better.

    • Noblejoker on 08/02/2019 - 12:11

      This is what I have been told - Thanks

    • Kandrew on 08/02/2019 - 13:53

      Petrol drives smoother.

      In what way do they drive smoother?

      They might sound smoother, but my experience is that they do not drive smoother. There’s basically no difference in the smoothness of the drive.

      As I said, that’s my experience.

      • [Deactivated] on 08/02/2019 - 13:55

        Petrol engines have a shorter stroke. Diesel engines run on much higher compression and/or longer stroke.

        Mechanically, it can be conclusively demonstrated that a diesel engine produces more "vibrations" (it's actually movement but a common misnomer).

        • Kandrew on 08/02/2019 - 14:06

          No argument from me about the mechanics of what you say. But you said that they drive smoother. That’s what I would dispute.

          As per my other comment on this thread, plus what I said here, the refinement of some vehicles compared to others makes a huge difference. Drivability usually isn’t noticeable, nor is smoothness.

          • [Deactivated] on 08/02/2019 - 14:53

            @Kandrew: Fair enough but I have both petrol and Diesel vehicles.

            Also, I have driven a like models (ie golf with diesel and petrol) back to back and found the petrols always have lower cabin vibration and noise).

            As for driveability, for automatics, you won't really tell but my diesel is a manual and I have a petrol manual also. When changing gears, you can really feel how much less refined the transmission is.

            • Kandrew on 08/02/2019 - 23:16

              @[Deactivated]: Again, I agree with much of what you say.

              And i, too, have both petrol and diesel vehicles. I wouldn’t be getting so involved in the discussion if I had no personal experience with both types!

              What I don’t find, always, is that lower level of cabin vibration and noise.

              My two petrol cars are one automatic and one manual, but the manual one is off the road long term, awaiting some restoration. I have been unable to drive it for about three years. But I don’t remember it being any smoother than my manual diesel.

              Maybe we should agree to disagree. I don’t want to be involved in online arguing. Discussion is fine but it can too easily descend to argument and that serves no purpose.

              • [Deactivated] on 08/02/2019 - 23:25

                @Kandrew: I didn't feel as though there was any angst in this conversation but I can relate.

                It seems a growing trend where people mistake disagreement with animosity.

                So you like diesel and can't see the big difference, good for you. All the better that you're equally happy driving either.

                I find diesel rougher but tough for me, I need the towing power and they don't make a Ranger in petrol.

                😁

  • plmko on 07/02/2019 - 17:13
    +1

    Wait for RAV4 hybrid.

    • Noblejoker on 08/02/2019 - 12:16

      Ooh wife has a RAV and its ok
      Might be worth looking - researching …
      Actually look like an option and new model with increased interior space
      Not out till April but no big rush

  • [Deactivated] on 07/02/2019 - 19:52
    +1

    Toyota is a respectable make of cars. That is all.

  • Ugly on 08/02/2019 - 09:22
    +1

    I'm in a very similar situation. I traded my 2010 Outlander for a diesel Sorento back in October and I've been pretty happy with it.

    Service costs are fixed for the first 7 years - see (https://www.kia.com/au/service/capped-price-servicing/pre-pu…) - While diesel service costs are higher, it's only $71 per year more than the petrol version (average over the 7 years).

    I'm driving around 1hr to work and 1hr back each day, with occasional long trips so fuel usage would be different to yours, but I've been getting around 12L/100km in city driving and 6L/100km on highway trips. (Kia quote 9.2L urban / 6.1L extra-urban but I don't think they factor in how bad Sydney traffic is)

    • John Kimble on 08/02/2019 - 09:37
      +1

      because the test isn't real world

      https://www.caradvice.com.au/385014/how-is-fuel-economy-test…

    • Noblejoker on 08/02/2019 - 12:11

      Thanks for feedback
      Definitely looking at Kia but probably petrol rather than diesel like you
      How do you feel fuel cost is now compared to Outlander? Similar or slightly under with Kia?

      • Ugly on 08/02/2019 - 15:04

        City consumption for the Outlander was around 15L per 100km, so I'm using around 20% less volume, but higher price for diesel, so I think it it evens out.

        Note that the diesel Sorentos are All Wheel Drive, and the petrol are front wheel drive only. If you want AWD, you have to get the diesel.

    • sidozbargain on 23/09/2019 - 09:04

      Hi

      I am also in similar situation, about to buy sorento diesel.
      I drive 50kms everyday for work at 60kms/hr. I am now concerned about DPF, do you have to do long highway trips?

  • Kandrew on 08/02/2019 - 13:55

    On the subject of short vs long distance driving in a diesel, my mate who owns a 2014 Kia Sorento diesel, basically drives around Wagga Wagga all week, and once a week drives to The Rock (20 minutes each way, with a 50 km/h town in between) to see his mum. At other occasional times, he goes on holiday. The engine is not showing any signs of stress or mistreated.

    If I were the OP, I would be more than happy with the diesel. But I’d be looking at a European vehicle, and preferably a French one. They’re more refined than the Japanese diesels.

  • Euphemistic on 08/02/2019 - 19:55

    But I’d be looking at a European vehicle, and preferably a French one. They’re more refined than the Japanese diesels.

    Like a Renault or Peugeot? Their SUVs are built on platforms from Nissan and Mitsubishi and share a lot of components, like drivetrain.

    • Kandrew on 08/02/2019 - 22:59

      Yes, Renault and Peugeot.

      I know that Peugeot SUV used to be built on the Mitsubishi platform, but I’m not sure if that’s still the case. I simply don’t follow that platform.

      Renault and Nissan are closely linked. But remember that Renault owns Nissan, not the other way around.

      • Euphemistic on 09/02/2019 - 07:14

        Either way, saying a French diesel is better than a jap diesel isn’t as simple as it sounds. It could be that the strain and outlander are just as good as the French versions or that the French version is only as good as the best Japanese version. Of course, in sedans and hatches thugs are diffeent, but the SUV ranges have lots of crossover to muddy the waters.

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