Thoughts please - Kodiac or Sorento for towing
As a newcomer to this hobby (which I have to say is brilliant 
) I am seeking opinions on which will be the best used tow car - Kodiac 4x4 2.0 Diesel 150ps or Sorento 2.2 diesel KX3 AWD? I am looking at 2017/18 models.
I have an Elddis Avante 550 MTPLM 1469kgs which I may upgrade to 1500kgs. My current tow car is an ageing Skoda Superb 2.0 diesel (9yrs & 101000 miles). It tows well but has the disadvantage of 80kg noseweight and it is time to change! I like both the Kodiac and Sorento and haven't decided which to go for so would like to hear from the voices of experience please.
Comments
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Not sure re the Kodiac, didnt i read somewhere on here that there were problems as to whether they could tow or not, could be wrong.
Have been towing with a Sorento since 2014, have the 2013 model 2ltr automatic , i tow a large Coachman 1575 kgs, tow's like a dream, out of 7 year warranty now, only problem was a hole in the radiator probably from a flying stone, was previously a LR Discovery person, but not any more, should think about trading it in, still runs like a dream and i get 35-40 mpg solo, 25-28 mpg towing.
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Currently have a Sorento and best tow car we've had, as well as one of the best 'solo' cars we've ever had. On long runs easily get 50/60 mpg but down to about 30 mpg towing and in-between for a mxture. Not so good for stop start town traffic use though on the rare occasions we use it as such. Our caravan is 1600 kg and it tows it very easily. All the rear seats fold down flat to makes an huge 'boot'.
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Another point I missed off is that it does have seven seats, without the rearmost two down the boot is still huge, with the rearmost two up it can carry seven adults quite comfortably but the view is not good for those sitting there. I've actually sat there and I'm 5'6 it is Ok for an hour or so.
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- Thanks for your response and I quite agree with the personal choice. The kodiac has a DSG gear box as has my Skoda Superb, although I've only been towing a caravan for a few months I haven't experienced any issues with the DSG. I have no experience with torque converter auto's and therefore have to ask what are the benefits?
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Thanks folks for your comments and helpful views for Sorento.
Kodiac owners are strangely quiet 🤔.
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I towed with DSG in my Passat for 80,000 miles over 4 years without a problem. DSG is NOT an automated manual! As long as serviced every 40k miles they are fine. Personally i would go for the Skoda but with the 190 tdi, you can never have enough horses for towing. And, the Skoda will be much better driving dynamics than any Kia. The reality is however the Skoda relative to the Kia/Hyundai is quite new so not as popular for towing.
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.... DSG is NOT an automated manual!
<Panto mode on> .. Oh yes it is! 😉
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My last two tow cars were Sorento's, the original model and the first upgrade. Both were good tow cars in auto form and both took us all over Europe. Although you won't be buying the models I had my suggestion would be to buy a model with self levelling suspension as the model I had with SLS I felt had the superior towing performance.
David
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The original concept or inspiration for DSG comes from pre-selector gearbox’s of old. However a true automated manual is exactly what it says, a manual gearbox with a series of actuators and clutch sensors that change gear. Very crude and jerky - the Suzuki Ignis used to use such an auto box and it was rubbish. As for Autoexpress…… it’s a good read of fiction most weeks.
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but it still uses clutch plates and actuators to select gears ..... hence an automated manual, just 2 gear boxes in one rather than use just one clutch as per my Smart & the Suzuki. If you want to drive a really rubbish automated manual, try one of Citroen's offerings ...
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Is Wiki any more believable?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct-shift_gearbox
''In simple terms, a DSG automates two separate "manual" gearboxes (and clutches) contained within one housing and working as one unit''
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I have now enjoyed test drives in both Skodiac and Sorento although neither were to my exact spec. Shame they can't include towing a caravan on the test drives!
I still like both cars for different reasons l agree with the earlier comment that the skodiac has preferable driving dynamics yet the Sorento makes a very comfortable cruiser. Mmmm🤔🤔🤔.
Kia are the first to come up trumps with sourcing my desired spec (K4) due in next week......if the price is right....in the meantime interested to see if Skoda can come up with a desirable Skodiac 4x4 190ps.
Incidentally I'm informed that the Sorento is fitted with a DCT (Dual clutch transmission) gearbox so very similar to the DSG.
Thanks again for all your comments which have been very helpful.
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@ Geofferoldchap .... Incidentally I'm informed that the Sorento is fitted with a DCT (Dual clutch transmission) gearbox so very similar to the DSG.
A couple of years ago I considered a Sorento to replace my R Class. I emailed Kia to ask what flavour auto gearboxes were fitted to a Sorento that would then have been 2 or 3 yrs old. After a week or so waiting for a reply I called into a local Kia dealer to ask them & was told DCT .... Kia then replied to my email to to tell me it was a conventional torque converter slush box! 🤷♂️
I bought a Merc 😉
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Older Sorentos had the TC box, newer ones the DCT. I don't know at what point they swapped over.
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Well whatever it is so long as it changes gear without me having to press cumbersome pedals and wiggle sticks around I'm happy 😊
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You might find these youtube clips interesting :
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its a shame hyundai kia have gone away from torque converter gear boxs to DCT, have you seen the safety warnings etc in the handbook about overheat safety modes and limitations in crawling traffic etc. This one of the reasons why my 2017 santa fe auto will not be replaced with another hyundai or kia.
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I tow with a 190 tdi DSG Kodiaq. It is excellent. Tow ball weight is 80kgs but I find this hard to achieve. With my van I find it is 85-90 kgs. I note however that latest info on Kodiaq has revised this to 100kgs.
BEWARE.Not all Kodiaqs are type approved for towing. Check carefully. Bizarrely if I recall correctly a 150 manual is not approved yet a 150 DSG is.0
