Kia Sorento 2018: petrol or diesel long term?
Asked by David, NSW.
I have decided to buy a 2018 Kia Sorento. Is petrol or diesel the better option? I travel 20,000,km per year with a mix of shorter and longer trips. I will keep the car for at least 10 years so long term reliability is important. My concern with the petrol engine is the amount of fuel it uses and with the diesel engine my main concern is potential long-term problems with the DPF and the associated costs involved. Which way do you think I should go?
Answered by CarsGuide
31 Aug 2018There are a lot of factors that contribute to the decision, and many of them are variable. Things that can affect the outcome are the type of driving you do, and the price of diesel compared to petrol. Currently the price of diesel is comparable to the price of petrol, but sometimes diesel can be much more expensive than regular 91-octane petrol. On the basis of what you have told us about your driving I would estimate you would save $800-$900 per year on the cost of fuel if you drove a diesel, but the price of a diesel Sorento is around $2500 more than the price of a petrol engined model, remembering that the diesel is only available with all-wheel drive and the petrol only comes with front-wheel drive. With the fuel savings you would cover the different in purchase price in 2-3 years, leaving with an annual fuel cost saving thereafter. The DPF is really only a problem if you have to have it manually regenerate because your driving doesn't allow it to do it automatically. All things considered the diesel is probably the best way to go for you.
Other Kia Sorento problems
- 2010 Kia Sorento SLi has developed a flutter or shudder when changing gears
- What's the towing capacity for a 2017 Kia Sorento?
- What's a good hybrid car to buy?
- With only 120,000km on the clock should Kia honour its warranty as compressors should never fail this early?
- Why does my 2009 Kia Sorento Intermittently go into limp home mode?
- How do you remove a rear door panel on a 2016 Kia Sorento?
- What is the longevity of diesel-powered SUV and Passenger vehicles in Australia?
- Are caps to stop petrol being used in diesel vehicles reliable?
