Kia Sorento diesel leads in Global Green Challenge
October 26, 2009 by Matt Brogan
At the end of day one of the Global Green Challenge Kia Australia are leading the medium SUV class with the two of its new next-generation Kia Sorento diesels. The first day saw the group travel 317km from Darwin to Katherine in the Northern Territory.
The new Kia Sorento shows off the new R-series CRDi turbo-diesel with class leading fuel efficiency. Coming first and second in its class.
The race started at the NT Parliament House in Darwin, did a circuit in Darwin’s urban area before commencing the trip down the Stuart Highway to Katherine.
To become the winner in the Global Green Challenge each class must show the best improvement on its ADR fuel consumption and emissions ratings.
The all-new, high-tech R-series turbo diesel engine punches out 145kW of power and 422Nm of maximum torque (with manual transmission) from just 2.2-litres capacity, with combined ADR fuel consumption of 6.7L/100 kms and CO2 emissions of just 177g/km.
Print it: 
So, what did it do? How much less than 6.7?
can’t wait for the CA Sorento review!
Me too :) yes indeed what was the consumption on this first leg. I live in the bush so I am very interested
Read on below, I posted those over an hour ago.
BTW the SUV and small deisel classes is the only “classes” with more than on entry (two competing teams).
Based on CA headline then every other entrant (except Hyundai) could claim to be “Leading in the Global Green Challenge”
In fact under the rules the V8 Maloo is the real leader with the XR6 Turbo second.
If you are looking for the most economical the the Ford Fiesta Econetic is leading.
The one annoying thing about this challenge, is the lack of information and results so far. We’re into the third stage today and only heard a little bit about the first short stage…..c’mon guys, where’s all your blogs??
I’ve checked other websites as well, and they say “follow the event on here”, and nothing!! only what happened on the Friday. So give us more info!!
The Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo has thus far improved its ADR stated figure by some 39.41% (7.09 litres/100KM) while the HSV Maloo Ute improvement is reported as a staggering 44.99%. (8.00 litres/100KM)
The Holden Sportwagon improvement was 33.43% (6.19 litres/100Km) while the Skoda Superb improvement was listed as 31.93% (4.70 litres/100km).
Both Hyundai Santa Fe models improved and were remarkably similar with improvements of 21.77% and 21.23%. Best fuel consumption figure for the Hyundai Santa Fe entries was 5.24 litres/100Km.
There was more variation in the two Kia Sorento entries with one vehicle improving by 26.68% and the other by 19.72%. Best fuel consumption figure was 4.91 litres/100Km.
Fuel consumption figures have been interesting to say the least with the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic diesel achieving a figure of 3.13 litres/100Km on the Katherine to Tennant Creek stage over 600 kilometres plus.
The best of the Mini D’s achieved a fuel consumption figure of 3.30 litres/100Km.
The Suzuki Alto achieved 3.88 litres/100km.
CA Says:
“At the end of day one of the Global Green Challenge Kia Australia are leading the medium SUV class”
Not sure that parent company Hyundai would be real happy as the Santa Fe is running 3rd and 4th (there are NO OTHER entries in the class).
BTW the above post is a direct quote and should have been placed inside “quotation marks” – sorry for the omision.
Wow, that’s a LOT of torque from a 2.2!
How about an imformative write up CA????
Thanks for filling in the big blanks “DE”.
Also with no competition in any of the classes, why is Kia geting a write up for winning their one horse race???
“Lets face it, hyundai and kia are the same”
Im sure this competition/test will get more relevant in the years to come, but at the moment this does nothing but burn unnecessary fuel.
This drive is about saving the world by reducing emissions, but this drive test would surely undo what manufacturers have managed to save on over the years.
Its like going on a diet, and at the end of the 12 months eating a heap of chocolate biscuits
once more manufacturers compete in years to come though im sure their will be more pressure on them to really knuckle down on economy
any word on how the LPI Cerato went???
I am interested to see if the underated LPG can make headlines
Andrew, it’s not in the starting list.
Also the Tesla, whilst looking good for urban driving, in this test it fails by being recharged from a deisel powered generator, on the back of a truck, that is following the car. Better economy would have been achieved if they just put the car on the truck (but that isn’t the point here).
But CA posted an article saying the Cerato was entering?????
Maybe Kia cottoned on to the fact that this sort of trip isn’t suited to Hybrid cars, and that the results wouldn’t help their marketing. The Sorento advertising however will benefit quite well.
Toyota resisted strongly entering at all, let alone the Prius. Rumour has it even to the point of actively discouraging dealer involvement.
So if your a country rep, get a XR6 of Maloo Ute! Or a Sante Fe if you want to impress your clients.
A Kia Soul with this engine would kick ass!
Too bad Greenfleet aren’t doing it this year like they were in 2007… figures were don on a daily basis so we could all keep track of it.