Faults:

Intermittent steering wheel shake from 70-80mph.

Very occasional poor starting after very heavy rain overnight.

Occasionally, the rear tailgate wouldn't lock on the central locking loop.

General Comments:

I bought this car in a fit of madness to get a 4x4 for the winter, as it was a couple grand less than an equivalent diesel version.

One thing has dominated my ownership of this car -- FUEL ECONOMY.

I guess it's also partially because fuel costs in the UK are ridiculous and carry on rising, but even so, this car was awful on petrol. The HIGHEST figure I ever got was 23.6 mpg on one tank, the lowest, 20.6 mpg; range was anywhere from 260-290 miles.

I suppose expecting much more from a 2.7 V6, 1.8 ton, auto 4x4 with brick like aerodynamics is too much, but even so...

Anyway, leaving aside the reason I just got rid of it after only 4 months of ownership, I actually liked the car itself.

Big, comfy heated seats, really good kit level (could've done with parking sensors though), a smooth engine and torque sensing 4x4 with a diff lock (great in the snow we just had, took me straight past about 3 stranded cars one day) were all highlights, along with good grip and a very effective cruise control set up.

Criticisms -- Too much body roll, and a crap auto gearbox (responsible in part for terrible fuel economy I suspect), only 4 speed, and so eager to kick down a gear whenever you went anywhere near the loud pedal, that I usually locked it in top gear as soon as I could.

The other annoying thing was I bought 4 new Avon Ranger 85% on road, 15% off road tyres for it, and straight from when they were fitted, got a vibration through the car at around 50mph, and then steering wheel shake between 70-80mph, some days worse than others. It seemed totally tyre related, as it wasn't doing it when I bought it, and I think the problem was getting less the more miles I did on the tyres.

I got the wheels balanced about 4 times, but the problem never really went away, so, don't buy Avon Rangers.

I've now got a Fiat Panda diesel that does 60mpg, and costs me £30 a year road tax, rather than 22mpg on average, and over £400 a year road tax, not to mention insurance, service costs...

Faults:

Electrical problems.. Got the car new and it has been back to 3 different Kia dealers, and is still having problems.

Door locks have a mind of their own, locks will lock and unlock up to 20 seconds.

If the A/C and radio are on at the same time, both will shut off and start back up.

Dome lights, head lights, dash lights flicker at will. Each Kia dealer comes up with their own reasons.

Engine ground wire loose, replaced alternator 3 times, replaced battery, replaced engine main fuse box. Last dealer said they found the problem and replaced the alarm/security computer. Guess what, the problem is still there.

I love the car, but it has been in the shop 9 different times for the same problem, and each Kia dealer comes up with a cure for the problem, but with no cure at all.

General Comments:

Great car, rides well, handles well. Just serious problems with electrical problems.

Faults:

All lights have burned out. Now I need new struts (?). And at 60,000 a new timing belt. So this is a large sum of money.

General Comments:

Should a car need new struts (?) at 53,700 miles. I was told it must have been from a pot hole or something. I have never four wheeled in this vehicle.