Your advice needed! Hyundai Sonata GLS Premium or Ford Everest 4x4 LTD or others

[PrimeDefender]

Hello there!

This is my first post here in Tsikot.

Posting this because I need your advice. I am currently driving a Mitsubishi Outlander 4x2 which I've had since 2008. Now that I am joining a new company, I have to decide what car to choose within the 1.5M to 2M price range, which makes it a bit more confusing since I really don't have stringent criteria in selecting which car to go with this time around.

My eyes are on the following:

* Hyundai Sonata 2011 2.4 GLS Premium - because of great reviews; also thought that it's perfect to try out a sedan this time around; excellent design both outside and inside the car; panoramic sunroof is an awesome plus; sound system is not inferior (subwoofer is always welcome); great instrumentation; price point is not prohibitive; just a bit wary that they might launch the Hyundai Azera Grandeur here which I think would be more superior than the Sonata (excellent design too!)

* Ford Everest 4x4 AT Limited - it's a big SUV which might be a good move coming from a Mitsubishi Outlander; I like the interior space a lot and the vents on the side (mababaw but I like it); also like the fact that it's a full fledged 4x4 vehicle; it has leather seats and every convenience of an SUV; just wary that they might launch the Everest 2012 soon which is nicer in terms of design; have also been hearing a lot about Ford's really sucky after sales service; it has a DVD system but I dislike the instrumentation which looks so basic and dated.

* Montero Sport VGT 2011 (or 2012? The newest available one) - I like everything about it except that it feels like there are just so many Monteros on the road pretty much like Fortuners come in multiples.

The following also got me interested, but not on the same level as those listed above:

* Honda Accord (2.03M)
* Mitsubishi Galant (1.59M)
* Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8L (1.86M)
* Mitsubishi Strada 4x4 3.2GLS AT (1.265M)
* Dodge Nitro (2.2M)

I know they're cars of different breeds and it might not be so easy to compare and contrast them, but I hope you can help!

I drive in the city most of the time although weekend getaways are at least once a month. I usually like the ruggedness of SUVs but I am excited at the prospect of enjoying a premium sedan's cabin.

Looking forward Tsikot members!

Salamat!

[GTi]

Wow ang taas ng budget! With this budget, hindi na ako kukuha ng Sonata. If you can wait maybe pwede mong hintayin ang bagong Azera which might be coming out later this year. But personally, I'd always pick the SUV over the sedan especially since we are in the Philippines.

Here are three SUVs in ranking order which I think you may like:
1. Kia Sorento DLX 2.2R e-VGT 4x4
2. Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2R e-VGT 4x4
3. Mitsubishi Montero Sport GTV 4x4

[PrimeDefender]

Thanks for your input, GTi!

Sobrang maiinis ako if the Azera comes out and I've already bought a Sonata. I just can't get over how beautiful Sonata looks! But the new Azera is sure to beat its own. :o)

[GTi]

The Sorento DLX is the top of the line variant which has pretty much all the creature features present in the Sonata including the panoramic sunroof, engine start/stop button, etc. If you were after the Sonata's looks and features, I'm sure you'd like this one. It looks more menacing and is more powerful to boot.

[Starex_Gold]

For the 2M budget, I'll go for the Sorento CRDi R-eVGT DeLuxe 4WD A/T. If you are willing to wait for the unit. I know someone here in tsikot, she's waiting for 7 months pero wala parin yung Sorento DeLuxe niya.

Pero sa totoo lang, nasa needs mo yan eh.

Kung kailangan mo ng SUV, mag Sorento DeLuxe ka na, kung di maka-intay sa unit, Santa Fe or Tucson CRDi R-eVGT GLS-Premium 4WD A/T (May available units ngayon)

Kung Sports Car, Genesis Coupe V6 A/T.

Kung mid-size sedan, Sonata na.

Yung Azera wala pang balita as per HARI. Specs nga ng Elantra di matapos eh, Azera pa kaya.

[GTi]

For the 2M budget, I'll go for the Sorento CRDi R-eVGT DeLuxe 4WD A/T. If you are willing to wait for the unit. I know someone here in tsikot, she's waiting for 7 months pero wala parin yung Sorento DeLuxe niya.

Pero sa totoo lang, nasa needs mo yan eh.

Kung kailangan mo ng SUV, mag Sorento DeLuxe ka na, kung di maka-intay sa unit, Santa Fe or Tucson CRDi R-eVGT GLS-Premium 4WD A/T (May available units ngayon)

Kung Sports Car, Genesis Coupe V6 A/T.

Kung mid-size sedan, Sonata na.

Yung Azera wala pang balita as per HARI. Specs nga ng Elantra di matapos eh, Azera pa kaya.

Kapag gray market kaya makakakuha agad ng unit? And mas mahal kaya yun as compared to Columbian's prices?

Naku naman yang specs ng Elantra, katagal-tagal! Hindi naman siguro ganun kahirap maging product planner? Tapus ang laking KJ ng mga yun eh. Siguro mag-apply ka nalang for product planning work sa HARI para maganda lagi produkto nila.

[PrimeDefender]

For the 2M budget, I'll go for the Sorento CRDi R-eVGT DeLuxe 4WD A/T. If you are willing to wait for the unit. I know someone here in tsikot, she's waiting for 7 months pero wala parin yung Sorento DeLuxe niya.

Pero sa totoo lang, nasa needs mo yan eh.

Kung kailangan mo ng SUV, mag Sorento DeLuxe ka na, kung di maka-intay sa unit, Santa Fe or Tucson CRDi R-eVGT GLS-Premium 4WD A/T (May available units ngayon)

Kung Sports Car, Genesis Coupe V6 A/T.

Kung mid-size sedan, Sonata na.

Yung Azera wala pang balita as per HARI. Specs nga ng Elantra di matapos eh, Azera pa kaya.

Gotcha! Thanks for the input.

How's the resale value of Kia Sorento? My only worry is that it depreciates fast that it would no longer have much of a value after, say, 5 years.

Checked out the Kia site last night (hated the Flash pages a lot; it took forever to load even when landing pages where really just static pictures; oops sorry, no more ranting) and I must say maganda nga ang features of the SUV. I just couldn't get over the fact that it is indeed a Kia.

How's Kia's rep now? It seems like I am stuck with my memory of Kia as the brand that made Pride. But I am a newbie, so I turn to you guys for opinion. Asking especially about Kia especially I read on this and other threads a lot of good word about the Kia Sorento. (I could just imagine my mom, who spent a pretty long time in the automotive industry particularly in Mitsubishi, saying "huh, really? A Kia?")

Thanks for the help guys~