Sorento sees sales soar

The four-wheel-drive Sorento has become the fastest-selling Kia of all time, reaching 500,000 sales in just 39 months.

The Korean carmaker says it knew it had a hot item on its hands as soon as the vehicle was unveiled in February 2002. Sales took off immediately, both in its home market and overseas, where waiting-lists soon soon built up.

Sales broke through the 100,000 mark in only 11 months and the company had to introduce another production line to keep up with the demand.

The popularity of the Sorento even had an effect on the New Zealand market, where the launch of the vehicle was delayed by several months and availability was restricted for the first year.

Demand has continued to build, resulting in Kia making further production changes that will lift capacity from the present 150,000 units a year to 180,000.

More than 12,600 Sorento models are sold on average every month, with 4600 going to domestic buyers and 8000 to international markets.

Originally launched with just the 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine and a 4-stage automatic transmission, the Sorento has also gained a 2.5-litre common-rail diesel engine and 5-speed sequential transmission.

In New Zealand, the diesel option starts at $40,495.

The company says the fuel economy offered by the diesel has been a big boost to sales as petrol prices soar.

Kia Sorento diesel sales have doubled each month since June.