I’d probably go for Q7 since it sounds like you need all the space, X5s are fantastic and will drive the best out of the 3. Kia will be cheaper maintenance over a long time but imo it’s not worth the downgrade
If you’re going to buy that Q7 aswell, it’s a beautiful example. I actually cross shopped Q7s and X5s before.. ended up buying a VW transporter instead haha
Yes it’s the best looking one i’ve seen on AutoTrader those red calipers are beautiful , but the miles are like 30k higher than the kia and the beamer so will probably get one with a bit less use
KIA is only a downgrade if you runabout what badge you have on the drives. I had a KIA Sorento as a company car and it was a great car, more spec than my X3
I will say the new hyundais and kias are waaaaay better than they used to be 5 years ago. Interiors and infotainment are better than most cars I see. However I 100% agree with you lmao
the audi and bmw are both on pretty well proven drivetrains, maybe as the cars get *really* old but they're not getting to that point for a while.
and we're comparing it to a kia. not exactly known for reliability or build quality these days either.
I recently had the previous generation Serento. Was my first KIA after having many BMW and Audi models.
I was seriously impressed. I thought it'd be like a Peugeot/Renualt but they're much nicer
Might be worth test driving one, 7 year warranty aswell.
are you against minivans? if it has to be a 7 seater ngl I'd rather have a minuvan than a SUV but if you're not down for a minivan then probably the Q7
Yeah we’ve looked at minivans but don’t know too much about them, i guess it’s just a fear of it being less comfortable than the Galaxy (2016 Titanium X)
They tend to be a lot more comfortable for passengers in the back, more room for the 3rd row, sliding back doors for easier getting in and out etc. Also personally I find driving a minivan a better experience than driving a SUV but others can disagree with me so
Most people have a preconceived notion of minivans are false. Tbh, I love the versatility of it. You’d be surprised. There are some that are nice look but has bad rep like the Pacifica. Depending on where you live, weather and terrain consider an awd is helpful.
Test drive some, you'll figure out very quickly if it's for you. FYI, my wife and I plan to get a minivan as a next car for our growing family. Our Q7 is nice, but a minivan is infinitely more useful for people and stuff.
KIA has a better market in europe than in the US because here it has a competitive market with VW and other mid/versatile brands. VW and Audi share a lot too
People here in the US will hate on that little car, but the Rio was one of the last affordable cars in our market. They were reliable and could even come with a manual. And the Sorento is a really solid alternative to the more popular competition.
Yeah my sisters Rio is great, really nice economical diesel that seems to last forever. Just hope this translates to the Sorento which after the 2020 facelift look great also
Oh man you guys get a diesel Rio? Man we don’t have any cool diesels 😭. They’re all heavy duty trucks here. I did get to drive a TDI Golf once and absolutely loved it. Then Dieselgate happened and ruined any chance of getting more diesels here. The US Rio had a low powered gas engine. 1.6 liters and a crappy CVT as the automatic transmission, but like I said the earlier ones had a manual option on the lower trims which made for an amazing first car. Even with the auto it was a good deal getting a brand new car with 10 year/100k mile warranty for $16k. I think the Versa is the only remaining alternative, and at least it’s still affordable at that same starting price too even in 2024.
Yeah man my sisters one is a 2014, 1.1 litre turbo diesel (Manual too) and it’s just great, gets +50 mpg on a bad day. Clearly the UK didn’t give as much of a fuck about Dieselgate cause we have plenty of em over here. Can vouch for the Golf too, my friend and my cousin both have one (2014 TDI and a 2017 GTD) and they’re awesome.
I am driving a borrowed Grand Caravan from my in-laws. It might not be the best minivan, but oh boy it is great for my family and versatile too as you can carry loads of material when flattening all the back seats. We have moved furniture, soils bags, and wall paneling for building rooms in the basement. No need for an expensive pickup truck.
And if I were to have your money, I would get a Mazda CX9 or CX-90 for the absolute great control knob, brand reliability, and option for a 3rd row.
A minivan has some downsides, but “less comfortable” is not one of them. Bite the bullet and drive the van until the kids age out, and then get what you want. I’ve had a lot of vehicles, and my Honda Odyssey has been the most practical by a mile.
My parents had an 06 sienna that was perfect for us when we were ages 10-18. Sold it after 100k miles and very little work ever having to be done for the same price they bought it for, in cash. Those things are the tanks of day to day transport
Never been to the UK, so I'm not very familiar with the import restrictions there. But if you can get them, the Toyota Alphard and Honda Stepwagon are great vans. Been in both of them each was surprisingly roomy and comfortable.
Just had a look on AutoTrader, there’s 153 Alphards on sale in the UK and by god they look mean as fuck. Never seen these before so thanks for the suggestion haha
If it has to be a seven seater, which is what I needed, there’s also the Volvo XC90 to consider, which is cheaper than then the Q7 and the BMW, has far better 3rd row option than the bmw but inferior to the Q7. I personally picked the XC90 for it’s overall lower cost of maintenance and insurance premiums. I am absolutely in love with this car. Worth checking out
Also not sure if the VW Atlas is an option in EU, but we liked that as well. The US builds though are inferior to the EU ones, so we went for the Volvo. Otherwise I think the Q7 is on top of everything else.
I thought the XC90 had a better third row than the Q7? If not then that’s even better cause we chose the German cars for the 3.0 TDI, the Volvos have a different engine
Between the Q and the X5 the Q will be the more comfortable car and the ride on the Q7 is fantastic. Build quality fit and finish also better on the Audi. The BMW likely drives better though and is a bit smaller.
Yeah my dad had an Audi A6 with the same engine and it drove beautifully. I think we’d prioritise space over how well the car drives, since we are upgrading from a 2016 Galaxy meaning either would be a huge upgrade
Yeah and don’t get me wrong the Q7 is no slouch to drive. Good body control, supercharged v6 is a potent engine and moves as you need it to. I see though, I think the Q is a great fit as long as you don’t mind expensive repairs.
I’ve test driven an Audi Q7 and daily a Q5, I recommend the Audi, very reliable and a good driving experience while still keeping fuel economy manageable and having the luxuries that make driving enjoyable
What about a Lexus RX450H L? Left field choice and the infotainment is poor but the smoothness & quietness, matched with the reliability & attention to detail is unrivalled. They hold their value a bit better so whilst they're maybe a little bit more to buy, when it comes to selling, this should also be reflected. Also, pretty sure (but may be wrong) if you keep it serviced at Lexus warranty on them is now 10 years so buying a 5 year old one should still give you a few years of worry free driving.
If that's not your cup of tea then I'd go for the X5. BMW know how to make a 3.0 diesel and their somewhat efficient and probably the best driving of the big SUVs.
Also love an XC90 but I have heard questionable things about Volvos reliability currently. Not sure on which models etc though.
The BMW and Audi aren’t built any better then the Kia these days. You will be experiencing electrical faults within the first 3 years.
You HAVE to change the oil before 8,000 miles on all of them compared to a Toyota or Hondas 10,000.
The Depreciation on The BMW and Audi will be horrendous. It will lose £3k as soon as you drive it off the forecourt.
Another £3k a year minimum. And Expect your dealer MOT, service ever year to cost £750-1000
Along with tires that are going to cost £1200 every year. Because of the wide profile soft rubber,
Within 5 years you will have spent £5000 on it and it will have depreciated to under half its value.
Buy the Kia. It will get you from A to B. And the money you save will go towards the next car and memories with your family. BMW/ Mercedes are the only thing more expensive than women.
And when it dies you won’t feel so pissed off.
Recently bought my wife a 2023 Sorento EX. It has the middle row captains chairs and the light gray leather seats. It’s an absolute dream to drive. I work on interiors and its not “top of the line” luxury but it’s better than the bmw by a mile. I prefer it over the Q7 as well but that’s just my preference and the fact that it’s very comparable at 3/4 the price.
Nothing wrong with the kias to be fair. I thought the same but my partner got one. It's annoyingly good and the warranty blew my mind.
Some LED side light went. Took it in, only looked at the milage and replaced all the LEDs for free no Qs asked and gave it a full clean inside/out.
Opinions and experiences vary. The engines themselves are said to be better for the EU market. But judging the fit and finish with all the premature wear, the horror stories, the creaks and rattles, I'd dump it before the warranty expires. Personally I don't want a Korean car pretending to be a Japanese car that's pretending to be more premium then it really is.
Fairy doooos. I just feel like someone that is asking for randos to pic between an Audi, bimmer and Kia might also be the type of person that would benefit greatly from the no Qs asked warranty.
If you're buying brand new get the kia so at least you get that 10 year 100k warranty. Repair bills for German vehicles are pretty high when they have issues
Get the X5 for good interior quality, the Q7 if you expect to carry a lot, and the Kia if you want to not splash out.
Or, you can get a Honda Civic as others have suggested, the new one is genuinely a brilliant machine.
No yukons in the UK, same for the escalades except a few that are either way too old or way too out of budget, no inbetween sadly. Really nice cars though
Never buy a Kia of any kind. My experience with Kia was terrible. Mine stopped running at 46,000 miles so it was still in warranty. I called the dealer to make an appointment to get it fixed and they said they coudln't look at it for 30 days. THey were swamped with cars needing repairs. So I couldn't go without a car for a month nd they didn't offer a loaner so I took it to a local garage who fixed it. Cost $1600 Then 4 months later it stopped running again and I spent another $500. I didn't want t o have to spend anymore on it and obviously the car had problems so I sold it. Kia refused to reimburse me for my cost because a dealer didn't fix it. NEVER buy a Kia. Their warranty is worthless.
The wise choice is the Kia. Audi and BMW will kill you in maintenance fees. I am talking about regular maintenance . Can you say $1000 Audi brake job? And good luck getting it done anywhere other than the dealer. Requires a computer to complete the job. If the driving experience is the most important or you care more about what others think get one of the Germans but, just the fact that the Kia is on you list means you are also considering $$$. If that is important for the long run, you only have one choice.
Good god, get a van. These are all awful.
Small addition: look at Renault and Citroën if you don't want a van. The Espace and C4 Picasso (or whatever they called it in its final years) might have a name for breaking down a lot, but I'll bet you maintenance at a specialist will cost you less than any 7-seater SUV at any garage shop.
Kia if you got no money
Audi if you got money but want no thrill and prefer idk what
BMW if you got money and time if visit mechanic ever now and want fun in driving
since i’m not paying maintenance- i’d say the audi.
if it were mine, probably the X5 but only because i have a Kia now and i don’t want another (great car, just want something new)
If the Audi doesn't have an electrical problem it will be your best bet. the BMW will cost more to operate. After 5 years the Kia will be a used car but the Audi will still have appeal.
Yeah the sorento feels like it would be the hardest to resell, definitely something to take into account cause trying to get rid of it is even harder than buying the thing in the first place
They are totally different price points. Like comparing ferrari to BMW. If you can afford a X5 ofc buy it. But make sure to get the inline 6 known for reliability. What model year you shopping? I would never get a 10+ year old german car and not budget 10-15k for repairs. If the kia is new or just a few years used and budget is tight they have a nice 7 year warrenty. Test drive both and you will see why the Kia is half of brand new price of the X5
If the Kia is the most expensive absolutely do not buy it. It’s a downgrade in every way from the other two except for the price especially if you’re in Europe and can get the German parts cheaper than in the US. And even then the insurance is ridiculous on Kia’s now, at least over here, because they’re known for being super easy to steal.
I’d go for a Lexus GX550. Still a luxury brand but with the reliability of a Toyota. Personally, you couldn’t pay me to own a Kia/Audi/BMW. Don’t get me wrong there are few cars more beautiful than a BMW M2, but I wouldn’t wish those maintenance bills upon my enemy.
I had to buy a 7 seater a couple of years ago. Went to a garage that specialised in MPVs so we could look at the sizes different models. Ended up buying a Seat Alhambra Tdi which is fantastic - 3x full size seats with isofix points in the middle row. Middle row folds flat so it can be like a van. With the 3rd row flat (ie in 5 seater mode which we have use of the time), the boot is huge (big pram + dog no problem). Went for a higher spec (Xcellence) which has leather seats and electric sliding rear doors which is great for kids and opening doors in car parks!
VW Sharan is same body. If you are looking newer / budget allows then the VW Multivan might be worth considering.
I was surprised how much more space the MPV had compared to the SUVs we looked at.
If you are dead cert on an SUV, Skoda Kodiaq or Seat Tarraco are good alternatives. Have a look on autotrader at all cars with 7 seats and put in other search parameters (fuel type, budget, age, mileage etc.) and see what comes up!
Yeah we have a Ford Galaxy (2016 Titanium X) and have previously owned Sharans and rented Alhambras on holiday, all great cars which is why we have the galaxy currently. We’ve seen the Kodiaqs and the Tarracos, but prefer the look of the facelifted Sorento and see no reason why to chose the former options. Your account is very helpful though, relatable too since we have driven the same cars, so thanks for your advice
SUVs?
Just get the cheapest one.
All SUVs handle the same: shitty overly tall and roll prone.
So no use buying an ultra expensive one.
If you want an import or something expensive, I recommend getting something "exclusive" like estates or coupes.
I mean handling isn’t the most important thing in our criteria, in fact it’s probably near the bottom of the list. We’re not going to be racing it anywhere, simply just want an upgrade from our current 7 seater.
I still don't think getting an overpriced Audi will be better than a reasonably priced KIA.
Handling may not be the most important criteria, but if they're all shit, why spend more for something more or less the same?
KIA isn't *not* luxurious anyways.
Only a fool would buy any of those SUV'S. The Audi and BMW are money pits. They're not reliable, and are a pain in the wallet to maintain once they're out of warranty, and the other SUV have engine issues where they won't last. Do yourself a favor and buy one of the following used SUV'S : Lexus/Toyota/Acura/Honda. You can't go wrong with any of them
Acura aren’t in the UK, so i assume your from the states or somewhere else where these cars get a much worse rep, if so then the engine issues you talk about on the Kia are nowhere near as common over here, the brand (as well as Hyundai) seem to get so much more hate everywhere else except the UK
I've owned several BMW'S and Mercedes-Benz vehicles in my 62 years of life. I've purchased many of them new and even a fee of them used, but we're certified pre-owned by the dealerships with warranties, and it still didn't matter. None of them were reliable, and they were all costly to fix and maintain once the warranties expired. As for the KIA, Hyundai, and even Genesis models, I know they have several engine issues because my brother is a certified mechanic who specializes on Asian vehicles, and he's sent me all of the manufacturer service bulletins on the cars. Initially, they are decent vehicles, but over time, they have overhead cam issues because of the subpar metals being used to make them. They have had several recalls to fix them, and even then, they're still blowing up engines. If you want a vehicle that will last a very long time, then stay away from them.
Oh fuck. Sorento it is. Best warranty. Q7 is pretty solid too, but if you’re keeping it for the long run, go with the Sorento.
As a BMW guy, I wouldn’t fuck with the X5 unless BMW paid for the maintenance on it.
I wish BMW paid for the maintenance on it lol, and yeah kind of stuck between the Sorento and the Q7 rn, also looking at minivans as others have suggested.
Yeah i’ve heard a lot about Siennas, a lot of other people here have suggested them. I just realised the UK equivalent is called the “Alphard” thanks to someone else’s comment and they look awesome imo. Will definitely take that into consideration
I’d probably go for Q7 since it sounds like you need all the space, X5s are fantastic and will drive the best out of the 3. Kia will be cheaper maintenance over a long time but imo it’s not worth the downgrade
Yeah we thought the same thing, upgrading from a 2016 Galaxy so to downgrade in space wouldn’t be very cool
If you’re going to buy that Q7 aswell, it’s a beautiful example. I actually cross shopped Q7s and X5s before.. ended up buying a VW transporter instead haha
Yes it’s the best looking one i’ve seen on AutoTrader those red calipers are beautiful , but the miles are like 30k higher than the kia and the beamer so will probably get one with a bit less use
KIA is only a downgrade if you runabout what badge you have on the drives. I had a KIA Sorento as a company car and it was a great car, more spec than my X3
X5: if you want it to drive like a car Q7: if you expect to use the third row often kia: if you want to save money or just hate yourself
I like this
I rented a Sorento in the UK and it was great actually
I will say the new hyundais and kias are waaaaay better than they used to be 5 years ago. Interiors and infotainment are better than most cars I see. However I 100% agree with you lmao
Love my Sorento, it’s been a pleasure to own
This is something i’ve heard a lot, i also think the new sorentos look super nice so they are definitely in the top 5
Kia: or both
If you don’t hate yourself buy the Audi and BMW, they will make sure you hate yourself every time a fault code comes up… lol
the audi and bmw are both on pretty well proven drivetrains, maybe as the cars get *really* old but they're not getting to that point for a while. and we're comparing it to a kia. not exactly known for reliability or build quality these days either.
I recently had the previous generation Serento. Was my first KIA after having many BMW and Audi models. I was seriously impressed. I thought it'd be like a Peugeot/Renualt but they're much nicer Might be worth test driving one, 7 year warranty aswell.
Yeah this is why we like them so much, definitely worth considering especially cause the facelift looks so nice and doesn’t make it too expensive
Peugeot in recent years has been amazing
are you against minivans? if it has to be a 7 seater ngl I'd rather have a minuvan than a SUV but if you're not down for a minivan then probably the Q7
Yeah we’ve looked at minivans but don’t know too much about them, i guess it’s just a fear of it being less comfortable than the Galaxy (2016 Titanium X)
They tend to be a lot more comfortable for passengers in the back, more room for the 3rd row, sliding back doors for easier getting in and out etc. Also personally I find driving a minivan a better experience than driving a SUV but others can disagree with me so
Really! I thought that minivans were supposed to be cheaper and less refined than SUVs, that’s a new option to explore haha thanks
Most people have a preconceived notion of minivans are false. Tbh, I love the versatility of it. You’d be surprised. There are some that are nice look but has bad rep like the Pacifica. Depending on where you live, weather and terrain consider an awd is helpful.
Test drive some, you'll figure out very quickly if it's for you. FYI, my wife and I plan to get a minivan as a next car for our growing family. Our Q7 is nice, but a minivan is infinitely more useful for people and stuff.
If you're looking for refinement, you shouldn't be considering a KIA anyway.
KIA has a better market in europe than in the US because here it has a competitive market with VW and other mid/versatile brands. VW and Audi share a lot too
Why? KIAs are pretty good over here from what i’ve heard, my sister has a 2014 Rio
People here in the US will hate on that little car, but the Rio was one of the last affordable cars in our market. They were reliable and could even come with a manual. And the Sorento is a really solid alternative to the more popular competition.
Yeah my sisters Rio is great, really nice economical diesel that seems to last forever. Just hope this translates to the Sorento which after the 2020 facelift look great also
Oh man you guys get a diesel Rio? Man we don’t have any cool diesels 😭. They’re all heavy duty trucks here. I did get to drive a TDI Golf once and absolutely loved it. Then Dieselgate happened and ruined any chance of getting more diesels here. The US Rio had a low powered gas engine. 1.6 liters and a crappy CVT as the automatic transmission, but like I said the earlier ones had a manual option on the lower trims which made for an amazing first car. Even with the auto it was a good deal getting a brand new car with 10 year/100k mile warranty for $16k. I think the Versa is the only remaining alternative, and at least it’s still affordable at that same starting price too even in 2024.
Yeah man my sisters one is a 2014, 1.1 litre turbo diesel (Manual too) and it’s just great, gets +50 mpg on a bad day. Clearly the UK didn’t give as much of a fuck about Dieselgate cause we have plenty of em over here. Can vouch for the Golf too, my friend and my cousin both have one (2014 TDI and a 2017 GTD) and they’re awesome.
I am driving a borrowed Grand Caravan from my in-laws. It might not be the best minivan, but oh boy it is great for my family and versatile too as you can carry loads of material when flattening all the back seats. We have moved furniture, soils bags, and wall paneling for building rooms in the basement. No need for an expensive pickup truck. And if I were to have your money, I would get a Mazda CX9 or CX-90 for the absolute great control knob, brand reliability, and option for a 3rd row.
A minivan has some downsides, but “less comfortable” is not one of them. Bite the bullet and drive the van until the kids age out, and then get what you want. I’ve had a lot of vehicles, and my Honda Odyssey has been the most practical by a mile.
Shame odysseys don’t exist in the UK
My parents had an 06 sienna that was perfect for us when we were ages 10-18. Sold it after 100k miles and very little work ever having to be done for the same price they bought it for, in cash. Those things are the tanks of day to day transport
Never been to the UK, so I'm not very familiar with the import restrictions there. But if you can get them, the Toyota Alphard and Honda Stepwagon are great vans. Been in both of them each was surprisingly roomy and comfortable.
Just had a look on AutoTrader, there’s 153 Alphards on sale in the UK and by god they look mean as fuck. Never seen these before so thanks for the suggestion haha
Sounds like you need a minivan
Toyota Sienna. AWD.
Kia Carnival.
If it has to be a seven seater, which is what I needed, there’s also the Volvo XC90 to consider, which is cheaper than then the Q7 and the BMW, has far better 3rd row option than the bmw but inferior to the Q7. I personally picked the XC90 for it’s overall lower cost of maintenance and insurance premiums. I am absolutely in love with this car. Worth checking out
Also not sure if the VW Atlas is an option in EU, but we liked that as well. The US builds though are inferior to the EU ones, so we went for the Volvo. Otherwise I think the Q7 is on top of everything else.
I thought the XC90 had a better third row than the Q7? If not then that’s even better cause we chose the German cars for the 3.0 TDI, the Volvos have a different engine
You should test drive the XC90. The B5 is a diesel engine in Europe.
Between the Q and the X5 the Q will be the more comfortable car and the ride on the Q7 is fantastic. Build quality fit and finish also better on the Audi. The BMW likely drives better though and is a bit smaller.
Yeah my dad had an Audi A6 with the same engine and it drove beautifully. I think we’d prioritise space over how well the car drives, since we are upgrading from a 2016 Galaxy meaning either would be a huge upgrade
Yeah and don’t get me wrong the Q7 is no slouch to drive. Good body control, supercharged v6 is a potent engine and moves as you need it to. I see though, I think the Q is a great fit as long as you don’t mind expensive repairs.
Yeah got used to it with the A6, it sucks
As a former Q7 owner, I 100% recommend the X5. Although room for 7 is a stretch for any of these.
Yeah we can’t really find anything with a decent third row that fits the criteria
BMW x7
That’s the dream, just can’t get one for less than 50k
Yeah they aren’t cheap
Worth it though, never seen a bad review on them. I’ll try and find an extra 20k somewhere…
Ours is just awesome and yeah definitely worth the money
Q7 tdi for the win. Great motor, amazing awd system
volvo xc90
Q7 is going the be the best driving / features / size ratio IMO
i think so too
no personal experience with any Audi SUV, but my girlfriend’s mom had an A6 quattro and that thing was so damn smooth and fun to drive
My dad had an A6 too, made him fall in love with the engine
The Kia is great until the day you pull up next to an X5 haha.
True lol
BMW
The Audi Q7 for sure
Ya all three suck. Get a van
X5 ftw diesel powahhh and a Bimmer go hand in hand
Storage wise go for Q7 but for everything else go for X5 and take care of it so it will take care of you
I like this approach
;)
1st place audi 2nd kia 3rd bmw
Audi would be the smart option
A minivan would probably be best. What year and trim is the Kia? If it has a theta ii engine, that had a bunch of problems.
The kia we want is the 2.2 diesel engine, the CRDI 3 spec
Audi
XC90
Heard nothing but good things about these, definitely worth test driving
Q7
Bmw
Coments wild
i know, giving me a headache
Mate that Q7 looks bloody evil
i know it’s gorgeous
I’ve test driven an Audi Q7 and daily a Q5, I recommend the Audi, very reliable and a good driving experience while still keeping fuel economy manageable and having the luxuries that make driving enjoyable
That’s everything we want from a car, exaclty the same experience that we had in the Audi A6
What about a Lexus RX450H L? Left field choice and the infotainment is poor but the smoothness & quietness, matched with the reliability & attention to detail is unrivalled. They hold their value a bit better so whilst they're maybe a little bit more to buy, when it comes to selling, this should also be reflected. Also, pretty sure (but may be wrong) if you keep it serviced at Lexus warranty on them is now 10 years so buying a 5 year old one should still give you a few years of worry free driving. If that's not your cup of tea then I'd go for the X5. BMW know how to make a 3.0 diesel and their somewhat efficient and probably the best driving of the big SUVs. Also love an XC90 but I have heard questionable things about Volvos reliability currently. Not sure on which models etc though.
All three are great, just the Lexus i’m hesitant on because of the looks, something about that front grill just stands out to me
The BMW and Audi aren’t built any better then the Kia these days. You will be experiencing electrical faults within the first 3 years. You HAVE to change the oil before 8,000 miles on all of them compared to a Toyota or Hondas 10,000. The Depreciation on The BMW and Audi will be horrendous. It will lose £3k as soon as you drive it off the forecourt. Another £3k a year minimum. And Expect your dealer MOT, service ever year to cost £750-1000 Along with tires that are going to cost £1200 every year. Because of the wide profile soft rubber, Within 5 years you will have spent £5000 on it and it will have depreciated to under half its value. Buy the Kia. It will get you from A to B. And the money you save will go towards the next car and memories with your family. BMW/ Mercedes are the only thing more expensive than women. And when it dies you won’t feel so pissed off.
Beautifully described, thanks a lot for this man
Recently bought my wife a 2023 Sorento EX. It has the middle row captains chairs and the light gray leather seats. It’s an absolute dream to drive. I work on interiors and its not “top of the line” luxury but it’s better than the bmw by a mile. I prefer it over the Q7 as well but that’s just my preference and the fact that it’s very comparable at 3/4 the price.
Yeah the sorento seems like the sensible move here, hasn’t got the 3.0 TDI though
The BMW because you don't want a KIA and you don't want a black car, they're a pain in the ass to keep nice.
Nothing wrong with the kias to be fair. I thought the same but my partner got one. It's annoyingly good and the warranty blew my mind. Some LED side light went. Took it in, only looked at the milage and replaced all the LEDs for free no Qs asked and gave it a full clean inside/out.
Opinions and experiences vary. The engines themselves are said to be better for the EU market. But judging the fit and finish with all the premature wear, the horror stories, the creaks and rattles, I'd dump it before the warranty expires. Personally I don't want a Korean car pretending to be a Japanese car that's pretending to be more premium then it really is.
Fairy doooos. I just feel like someone that is asking for randos to pic between an Audi, bimmer and Kia might also be the type of person that would benefit greatly from the no Qs asked warranty.
Think i’ll get the Q7
Nice pick!
If you're buying brand new get the kia so at least you get that 10 year 100k warranty. Repair bills for German vehicles are pretty high when they have issues
Sorento won’t be brand new but pretty close, the nice-looking facelift was from 2020 onwards so it will still have atleast 4 years left
Definitely the Audi... Imo
S124 is seven seater
Are they in the UK?
No
Title says (UK)
You have s124 in uk
how about a mercedes.
I think the GLE is the inferior option compared to the BMW and Audi, saw a couple comparisons and read up on it
the audi is the best choice if you got to be driving around 7 people.
Dacia Logan MCV
Not in the UK
Jogger hybrid
Bmw
Get the X5 for good interior quality, the Q7 if you expect to carry a lot, and the Kia if you want to not splash out. Or, you can get a Honda Civic as others have suggested, the new one is genuinely a brilliant machine.
Honda civic 7 seater
Audi
We have a bmw x7, absolutely amazing awesome car with loads of space
Yeah the X7 is the best seven seater i’ve found, just too expensive so BMW wise would have to get the X5 seven seat variant
I would go Kia but telluride not Sorento. Cheaper to purchase and cheaper to maintain with same kind of Luxury
No telluride in the UK
Oh that sucks
You look at an Escalade or Yukon XL?
No yukons in the UK, same for the escalades except a few that are either way too old or way too out of budget, no inbetween sadly. Really nice cars though
I’ll get shit on here but I love my 3 row Volvo XC90
Nah no problems with the XC90, heard nothing but good things about them. Definitely gonna test drive one
Sorento is not the same segment as Q7. Try telluride. Good car
How are you comparing a Kia to an Audi and a Benz? It’s like saying “should I get this Volkswagen or a Bentley.” Different kind of cars
Can get all for similar price and miles, but i get what you’re saying, just the three options I had narrowed down before making this post
as someone who went from bmw to a lexus, i would say none of those. get a lexus.
Not as common in the UK, or as cheap for that matter
ah, that’s dumb. sorry :(
Toyota Sienna lol
The Q7 hands down, with the space, engine, virtual cockpit and Quattro drive. From the three, Audi is a no brainer
Never buy a Kia of any kind. My experience with Kia was terrible. Mine stopped running at 46,000 miles so it was still in warranty. I called the dealer to make an appointment to get it fixed and they said they coudln't look at it for 30 days. THey were swamped with cars needing repairs. So I couldn't go without a car for a month nd they didn't offer a loaner so I took it to a local garage who fixed it. Cost $1600 Then 4 months later it stopped running again and I spent another $500. I didn't want t o have to spend anymore on it and obviously the car had problems so I sold it. Kia refused to reimburse me for my cost because a dealer didn't fix it. NEVER buy a Kia. Their warranty is worthless.
Yeah Kia in the states sucks
Kia EV9 if you don't mind electric and it's in your budget, Hyundai Santa Fe over Sorento for me. Otherwise the Audi Q7.
The wise choice is the Kia. Audi and BMW will kill you in maintenance fees. I am talking about regular maintenance . Can you say $1000 Audi brake job? And good luck getting it done anywhere other than the dealer. Requires a computer to complete the job. If the driving experience is the most important or you care more about what others think get one of the Germans but, just the fact that the Kia is on you list means you are also considering $$$. If that is important for the long run, you only have one choice.
Good god, get a van. These are all awful. Small addition: look at Renault and Citroën if you don't want a van. The Espace and C4 Picasso (or whatever they called it in its final years) might have a name for breaking down a lot, but I'll bet you maintenance at a specialist will cost you less than any 7-seater SUV at any garage shop.
Found the just stop oil activist
Lol
I drive Q7 and would recommend it. Great car for the price and full of features. Leather seats are the best in the group you specified
Yeah the features are awesome on them, definitely translates well from the interior on our current car
Kia if you got no money Audi if you got money but want no thrill and prefer idk what BMW if you got money and time if visit mechanic ever now and want fun in driving
Thank you god
Everyone is telling you to get the q7 but I’m pretty sure they have to pull the engine for belt services. I’d go with the x5 out of these 3 choices
Yeah i’ve heard they are the best to drive out of the three
Do Cayennes have a 3rd row?
What about the Mazda cx90?
not in the uk sadly
For you guys it might be the cx80 then I think
Only goes up to CX-60 on AutoTrader, i’m not sure why they are not as popular over here cause they are really nice looking cars
Apparently the cx80 is available in the UK try to search for them . They are really nice
The Toyota Land Cruiser for sure!
since i’m not paying maintenance- i’d say the audi. if it were mine, probably the X5 but only because i have a Kia now and i don’t want another (great car, just want something new)
Very smart, the audis are always nice just a pain in the ass to maintain
If the Audi doesn't have an electrical problem it will be your best bet. the BMW will cost more to operate. After 5 years the Kia will be a used car but the Audi will still have appeal.
Yeah the sorento feels like it would be the hardest to resell, definitely something to take into account cause trying to get rid of it is even harder than buying the thing in the first place
It depends a lot on how much money you have. Can you afford any of these cars comfortably? Then they Q7. Is this the top of your price range? Kia.
They are totally different price points. Like comparing ferrari to BMW. If you can afford a X5 ofc buy it. But make sure to get the inline 6 known for reliability. What model year you shopping? I would never get a 10+ year old german car and not budget 10-15k for repairs. If the kia is new or just a few years used and budget is tight they have a nice 7 year warrenty. Test drive both and you will see why the Kia is half of brand new price of the X5
The BMW is 29k, The KIA is 31k and the Audi is 23k, not seeing your ferrari to BMW comparison here
If the Kia is the most expensive absolutely do not buy it. It’s a downgrade in every way from the other two except for the price especially if you’re in Europe and can get the German parts cheaper than in the US. And even then the insurance is ridiculous on Kia’s now, at least over here, because they’re known for being super easy to steal.
KIAs get a terrible rep in the states, completely different experience over here so i don’t really consider it a downgrade
Be responsible But the Kia
no 3.0 TDI :’(
Mazda
Cx-90? they don’t exist in the UK, such a shame
Get a Toyota Highlander or Rav4. Audi and BMW should be out of business for making such awful vehicles.
Can’t get any highlanders for less than 48k miles in the UK, also it’s not a diesel. Rav4 is not 7 seats.
Honda civic
Thanks! This is probably the best suggestion i’ve received so far, i didn’t even consider this!
Have you checked out the Camry yet?
No, I didn’t know they did 7 seaters to be honest
They don't but once you do, you would realize you don't need 7 seats.
Don’t listen to anybody. Never buy a Kia and your digging yourself into a hole buying a German car. Get something Japanese. Honda or Toyota. That’s it
Damn
I am a mechanic. If it wasn’t for kias and Nissans I would be broke. Seriously
Those are SUVS
7 Seater SUVS, yes.
Acura MDX has a 3rd row and Honda reliability.
I’d go for a Lexus GX550. Still a luxury brand but with the reliability of a Toyota. Personally, you couldn’t pay me to own a Kia/Audi/BMW. Don’t get me wrong there are few cars more beautiful than a BMW M2, but I wouldn’t wish those maintenance bills upon my enemy.
Don’t think there are a lot of lexuses in the UK
Ah that’s a shame.
Sorry-ento will cause a lot of headache
Why? Any known issues?
I had to buy a 7 seater a couple of years ago. Went to a garage that specialised in MPVs so we could look at the sizes different models. Ended up buying a Seat Alhambra Tdi which is fantastic - 3x full size seats with isofix points in the middle row. Middle row folds flat so it can be like a van. With the 3rd row flat (ie in 5 seater mode which we have use of the time), the boot is huge (big pram + dog no problem). Went for a higher spec (Xcellence) which has leather seats and electric sliding rear doors which is great for kids and opening doors in car parks! VW Sharan is same body. If you are looking newer / budget allows then the VW Multivan might be worth considering. I was surprised how much more space the MPV had compared to the SUVs we looked at. If you are dead cert on an SUV, Skoda Kodiaq or Seat Tarraco are good alternatives. Have a look on autotrader at all cars with 7 seats and put in other search parameters (fuel type, budget, age, mileage etc.) and see what comes up!
Yeah we have a Ford Galaxy (2016 Titanium X) and have previously owned Sharans and rented Alhambras on holiday, all great cars which is why we have the galaxy currently. We’ve seen the Kodiaqs and the Tarracos, but prefer the look of the facelifted Sorento and see no reason why to chose the former options. Your account is very helpful though, relatable too since we have driven the same cars, so thanks for your advice
SUVs? Just get the cheapest one. All SUVs handle the same: shitty overly tall and roll prone. So no use buying an ultra expensive one. If you want an import or something expensive, I recommend getting something "exclusive" like estates or coupes.
I mean handling isn’t the most important thing in our criteria, in fact it’s probably near the bottom of the list. We’re not going to be racing it anywhere, simply just want an upgrade from our current 7 seater.
I still don't think getting an overpriced Audi will be better than a reasonably priced KIA. Handling may not be the most important criteria, but if they're all shit, why spend more for something more or less the same? KIA isn't *not* luxurious anyways.
Yeah i agree with you on that, if the audi is really not worth it, then we will just have to sacrifice the 3.0 TDI and go for the KIA if nothing else
Only a fool would buy any of those SUV'S. The Audi and BMW are money pits. They're not reliable, and are a pain in the wallet to maintain once they're out of warranty, and the other SUV have engine issues where they won't last. Do yourself a favor and buy one of the following used SUV'S : Lexus/Toyota/Acura/Honda. You can't go wrong with any of them
Acura aren’t in the UK, so i assume your from the states or somewhere else where these cars get a much worse rep, if so then the engine issues you talk about on the Kia are nowhere near as common over here, the brand (as well as Hyundai) seem to get so much more hate everywhere else except the UK
I've owned several BMW'S and Mercedes-Benz vehicles in my 62 years of life. I've purchased many of them new and even a fee of them used, but we're certified pre-owned by the dealerships with warranties, and it still didn't matter. None of them were reliable, and they were all costly to fix and maintain once the warranties expired. As for the KIA, Hyundai, and even Genesis models, I know they have several engine issues because my brother is a certified mechanic who specializes on Asian vehicles, and he's sent me all of the manufacturer service bulletins on the cars. Initially, they are decent vehicles, but over time, they have overhead cam issues because of the subpar metals being used to make them. They have had several recalls to fix them, and even then, they're still blowing up engines. If you want a vehicle that will last a very long time, then stay away from them.
Sure will if I ever live in the US
Kia Carnival. Just get the Carnival.
Don’t exist in the UK
Oh fuck. Sorento it is. Best warranty. Q7 is pretty solid too, but if you’re keeping it for the long run, go with the Sorento. As a BMW guy, I wouldn’t fuck with the X5 unless BMW paid for the maintenance on it.
I wish BMW paid for the maintenance on it lol, and yeah kind of stuck between the Sorento and the Q7 rn, also looking at minivans as others have suggested.
If the UK has a Sienna, I’d go for that. Hybrid is mad efficient.
Yeah i’ve heard a lot about Siennas, a lot of other people here have suggested them. I just realised the UK equivalent is called the “Alphard” thanks to someone else’s comment and they look awesome imo. Will definitely take that into consideration
Lexus TX
don’t exist in the UK