This is the redesigned new-for-2015 KIA Sorento.

[teomingern]

All these are not available on any model and trim on Singapore Kia cars... drives the price too high.

[Speedygonz]

  On 6/15/2016 at 1:11 AM, Maddude said:

Hi, anyone knows if theres active lane keep assist and Autonomous Emergency Braking, active autocruise? Saw on one youtube video that demoed the active lane keeping. Otherwise i guess have to do PI to get the full spec?

These features are only available on the premium conti brands if you want an AD car. However, you can find them on PI models such as Toyota Sienta, Honda Jade, Honda Odyssey, etc. Honestly, such features are essential to ppl looking for a 7-seater family car and it's frustrating that the ADs don't even offer it as an option here.

[SunsetSorento]

Placed an order slightly more than 2 weeks ago. Can't stand driving an MPV and figured the sorento has the best bang for buck for a 7 seater SUV that can actually seat 7. It is indeed disappointing that the CnC chose not to have the lane departure, blind spot assist and most importantly, the autonomous braking. These features could really have brought KIA to the next level in the local market context. The smart parking assist to me is a gimmick and doesn't work well in stormy weather which we get alot of in Singapore. I would gladly not have that feature and top up another 5k to get the abovementioned safety features. Another gripe is the 4.3 inch screen. KIA has developed an awesome product in the sorento but has not been maximized by CnC in my opinion. If Mazda releases the CX9, the sorento will have serious competitor in this segment. Those who have time to wait, which I didnt, I would say wait for the CX9.

 

Meanwhile, I'll keep my fingers crossed that CnC will wake up to the fact that we want these safety features and can be updated at the workshop in the very near future

Edited June 15, 2016 by SunsetSorento

[Speedygonz]

  On 6/15/2016 at 3:06 AM, SunsetSorento said:

Placed an order slightly more than 2 weeks ago. Can't stand driving an MPV and figured the sorento has the best bang for buck for a 7 seater SUV that can actually seat 7. It is indeed disappointing that the CnC chose not to have the lane departure, blind spot assist and most importantly, the autonomous braking. These features could really have brought KIA to the next level in the local market context. The smart parking assist to me is a gimmick and doesn't work well in stormy weather which we get alot of in Singapore. I would gladly not have that feature and top up another 5k to get the abovementioned safety features. Another gripe is the 4.3 inch screen. KIA has developed an awesome product in the sorento but has not been maximized by CnC in my opinion. If Mazda releases the CX9, the sorento will have serious competitor in this segment. Those who have time to wait, which I didnt, I would say wait for the CX9.

 

Meanwhile, I'll keep my fingers crossed that CnC will wake up to the fact that we want these safety features and can be updated at the workshop in the very near future

Agreed. Some of these shortcomings can be mitigated by third party accessories such as the Mobileye 560 or Thinkware 750/770 that offers collision warning and lane departure warning. However, since they're not connected to the steering or brakes, they are unable to perform autonomous braking, lane keeping assist or adaptive cruise control.

[Rayoflight]

  On 6/15/2016 at 3:14 AM, Speedygonz said:

Agreed. Some of these shortcomings can be mitigated by third party accessories such as the Mobileye 560 or Thinkware 750/770 that offers collision warning and lane departure warning. However, since they're not connected to the steering or brakes, they are unable to perform autonomous braking, lane keeping assist or adaptive cruise control.

 

Also really screw C&C.. for not bringing in the 2.0T engine..

Edited June 15, 2016 by Rayoflight

[Maddude]

Why is CnC so crap?! I'm most willing to top up $$$ to get all these on the Sorento. 

[Leafs]

  On 6/15/2016 at 3:06 AM, SunsetSorento said:

Placed an order slightly more than 2 weeks ago. Can't stand driving an MPV and figured the sorento has the best bang for buck for a 7 seater SUV that can actually seat 7. It is indeed disappointing that the CnC chose not to have the lane departure, blind spot assist and most importantly, the autonomous braking. These features could really have brought KIA to the next level in the local market context. The smart parking assist to me is a gimmick and doesn't work well in stormy weather which we get alot of in Singapore. I would gladly not have that feature and top up another 5k to get the abovementioned safety features. Another gripe is the 4.3 inch screen. KIA has developed an awesome product in the sorento but has not been maximized by CnC in my opinion. If Mazda releases the CX9, the sorento will have serious competitor in this segment. Those who have time to wait, which I didnt, I would say wait for the CX9.

 

Meanwhile, I'll keep my fingers crossed that CnC will wake up to the fact that we want these safety features and can be updated at the workshop in the very near future

I totally agree. I was quite keen on Sorento , but with the kind of features and the 4.3 inch HU, I will prob wait for cx-9 . I know we should not compare mpv to suv, but price wise, odyssey gets much more bang with the price u pay , plus more features.

[Ocean6576]

Chances are CnC wanna keep OMV low hence omitting all the features.

Then website still show BSD and Rear Cross Detect, maybe was for the earlier batches.

CnC also no doing any self import and local fit items.

Perhaps due to no trained engineers who can oversee the local installation or also Kia refuse to allow order of parts seperately.

Anyway Sorento is still most bang for bucks SUV in the market now.

[teomingern]

You can't install safety features post production. Kia will not allow it I am sure. Those things are integrated into the car and are modular, which means you have to have them installed right from the start. No AD will be willing to bear the responsibility of a locally installed safety feature failing. They are not the manufacturer.

[SunsetSorento]

  On 6/15/2016 at 12:21 PM, Ocean6576 said:

Chances are CnC wanna keep OMV low hence omitting all the features.

Then website still show BSD and Rear Cross Detect, maybe was for the earlier batches.

CnC also no doing any self import and local fit items.

Perhaps due to no trained engineers who can oversee the local installation or also Kia refuse to allow order of parts seperately.

Anyway Sorento is still most bang for bucks SUV in the market now.

 

Agreed that the AD wants to keep the OMV low hence I cannot understand why they have all those features on the local website. Would be good to see a show of hands of how many people are willing to pay more for those extra features. I for one don't want the smart parking and wld probably put in another 5 - 7.5k?

Edited June 15, 2016 by SunsetSorento

[Ocean6576]

  On 6/15/2016 at 2:22 PM, SunsetSorento said:

Agreed that the AD wants to keep the OMV low hence I cannot understand why they have all those features on the local website. Would be good to see a show of hands of how many people are willing to pay more for those extra features. I for one don't want the smart parking and wld probably put in another 5 - 7.5k?

No choice. Me too rather have the surround cam, bigger HU, BSD and RCTD.

But AD did mention, for every dollar increased on OMV, we pay 2.27 times. 

[Maddude]

  On 6/15/2016 at 2:26 PM, Ocean6576 said:

No choice. Me too rather have the surround cam, bigger HU, BSD and RCTD.

But AD did mention, for every dollar increased on OMV, we pay 2.27 times. 

 

Even if we pay 2.27 times, we should be given the option to pay for it - especially the safety features. I dont mind forsaking smart parking, ventilated seats, rear cross traffic, blind spot detection when I see that lane departure / autonomous emergency braking as much more important.

 

The irony of Kia's global marketing is when the intended message reaches the consumer but then the company couldn't deliver. (I didn't think of Sorento as an option until I read the reviews)

[teomingern]

  On 6/15/2016 at 2:22 PM, SunsetSorento said:

Agreed that the AD wants to keep the OMV low hence I cannot understand why they have all those features on the local website. Would be good to see a show of hands of how many people are willing to pay more for those extra features. I for one don't want the smart parking and wld probably put in another 5 - 7.5k?

Cos those pictures and brochures come from the international brochure. We're too small a market to have our own brochure. That is the case for almost every brand I think...

[teomingern]

  On 6/15/2016 at 11:22 PM, Maddude said:

Even if we pay 2.27 times, we should be given the option to pay for it - especially the safety features. I dont mind forsaking smart parking, ventilated seats, rear cross traffic, blind spot detection when I see that lane departure / autonomous emergency braking as much more important.

 

The irony of Kia's global marketing is when the intended message reaches the consumer but then the company couldn't deliver. (I didn't think of Sorento as an option until I read the reviews)

Actually based on our type of traffic conditions, the more important safety features are blind spot detector and rear cross traffic detector. Given that our highways and even arterial roads are so crowded, failure to check blind spot could result in an accident. Cos we often have drivers who close up when we try to change lanes or worse, motorcyclists who like to sneak up from the blind spot and burst past you between cars, in between lanes on the white lane markings.

 

Lane departure warning isn't very important since we don't travel very far with endlessly long straight stretches with minimal traffic. This is meant really for overseas or like driving on north-south highway in Malaysia but even that is choked with traffic these days.

 

For autonomous braking, with the very tight distances separating our cars even on the highways, I think it won't be very effective. Or it will constantly be activated and will irritate the driver. I think we're all aware of how people like to step on the brakes while cruising at highway speeds even with nothing in front of them, like when approaching a moderate bend, they also step on the brakes, sometimes really slowing down very much. Super annoying and it will keep triggering the autonomous asking system.

Edited June 16, 2016 by teomingern

[Little_prince]

it's like the subarus in singapore also don't come with the eyesight system.

 

which is sibei disappointing given how highly rated it was overseas.

 

 

  On 6/15/2016 at 11:22 PM, Maddude said:

Even if we pay 2.27 times, we should be given the option to pay for it - especially the safety features. I dont mind forsaking smart parking, ventilated seats, rear cross traffic, blind spot detection when I see that lane departure / autonomous emergency braking as much more important.

 

The irony of Kia's global marketing is when the intended message reaches the consumer but then the company couldn't deliver. (I didn't think of Sorento as an option until I read the reviews)

 

  On 6/15/2016 at 1:14 PM, teomingern said:

You can't install safety features post production. Kia will not allow it I am sure. Those things are integrated into the car and are modular, which means you have to have them installed right from the start. No AD will be willing to bear the responsibility of a locally installed safety feature failing. They are not the manufacturer.

http://www.mobileye.com/

 

actually you can. 

 

singapore got distributor for this. even got spring funding for logistic vehicle. i've checked with them before, and they can install on passenger vehicle and the price is actually quite reasonable.

 

http://www.spring.gov.sg/NewsEvents/PR/Pages/SPRING-Supports-Efforts-to-Enhance-Productivity-and-Safety-in-the-Transportation-and-Logistics-Sector-20140526.aspx

[Little_prince]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXpiyLUEOOY

[teomingern]

  On 6/16/2016 at 1:11 AM, Little_prince said:

it's like the subarus in singapore also don't come with the eyesight system.

 

which is sibei disappointing given how highly rated it was overseas.

 

 

 

 

http://www.mobileye.com/

 

actually you can.

 

singapore got distributor for this. even got spring funding for logistic vehicle. i've checked with them before, and they can install on passenger vehicle and the price is actually quite reasonable.

 

http://www.spring.gov.sg/NewsEvents/PR/Pages/SPRING-Supports-Efforts-to-Enhance-Productivity-and-Safety-in-the-Transportation-and-Logistics-Sector-20140526.aspx

Hmmm... eye-sight system might be doable since it's not integrated to the braking and engine systems? That is it warns you but doesn't stop the vehicle.

[SunsetSorento]

  On 6/16/2016 at 1:04 AM, teomingern said:

Actually based on our type of traffic conditions, the more important safety features are blind spot detector and rear cross traffic detector. Given that our highways and even arterial roads are so crowded, failure to check blind spot could result in an accident. Cos we often have drivers who close up when we try to change lanes or worse, motorcyclists who like to sneak up from the blind spot and burst past you between cars, in between lanes on the white lane markings.

 

Lane departure warning isn't very important since we don't travel very far with endlessly long straight stretches with minimal traffic. This is meant really for overseas or like driving on north-south highway in Malaysia but even that is choked with traffic these days.

 

For autonomous braking, with the very tight distances separating our cars even on the highways, I think it won't be very effective. Or it will constantly be activated and will irritate the driver. I think we're all aware of how people like to step on the brakes while cruising at highway speeds even with nothing in front of them, like when approaching a moderate bend, they also step on the brakes, sometimes really slowing down very much. Super annoying and it will keep triggering the autonomous asking system.

Agree with maddude, that we should have the option to pay for it. Alternatively for CnC they can spec one vehicle for LTA's test and bring the car in on indent basis . KIA and Hyundai in other markets in Europe, US and Australia have already shed the poor Korean brand image whilst its still viewed fairly poorly in the region. Their current models, with all the extra features and established reliability, I believe have further taken them another step forward and not only compete with Japanese but with Continental cars as well. Its really quite unfortunate its being hampered by a minuscule 4.3

 

Most car collisions tend to occur at lower speeds, eg turning, tail gating during heavy traffic or wet weather. Autonomous braking in volvo has already saved a number of close calls from car to car collision and even stopped my friend's car from knocking into a cyclist that dashed out. I would agree with you that BSD and RCTD are also very important hence it bewilders me that CnC has chosen not to provide this as an option. These options cost only a few thousand more in other markets and even paying 2.27 times the price.. I say no worries!

 

Btw this is not a bash CnC rant but more so, hoping that CnC can understand their customers wants better