The Kia Sorento was commonly sold on
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and
Hire Purchase (HP) finance agreements during the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) investigation period, which ran from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. This investigation uncovered significant issues related to
discretionary commission arrangements in motor finance products, affecting millions of consumers across the UK.
How the Kia Sorento was Typically Financed
The Kia Sorento, known for its spacious interior and robust performance, was frequently financed through PCP and HP agreements during the FCA's scrutiny period. Typical financing terms ranged from £15,000 to £30,000 over a term of 36 to 48 months. Common lenders that provided finance for Kia Sorento vehicles included
Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance,
Close Brothers Motor Finance,
MotoNovo Finance, and
Santander Consumer Finance.
In PCP agreements, consumers would make monthly payments with a balloon payment at the end of the term. This final payment was often based on the expected future value (EFV) of the vehicle, which could vary significantly depending on market conditions and wear and tear. HP financing, on the other hand, typically involved fixed monthly payments over the entire loan period without any balloon payment.
The FCA Motor Finance Investigation
The Financial Conduct Authority launched a full investigation into motor finance products sold in the UK from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. One of the key issues uncovered was the widespread use of discretionary commission arrangements between lenders and dealerships. These arrangements allowed dealers to receive additional payments based on factors such as the length of the agreement, the size of the loan, and even the type of vehicle sold.
The investigation revealed that these practices could lead to consumers being charged more than they should have been for their finance agreements. According to the FCA’s findings, 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026), with a total of £7.5 billion (FCA, March 2026) in overcharges identified (FCA estimate). The average overcharge per agreement was estimated at around £829 (FCA estimate).
How to Check Your Agreement Look for a reference to "Discretionary Commission Arrangements" (DCA) or similar terms in your documentation. These arrangements allowed dealerships to receive additional payments based on the length and size of your finance agreement.
check if your financing period falls within the relevant dates: 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. If you purchased your Kia Sorento during this timeframe and noticed any unusual fees or commissions in your paperwork, it is advisable to seek further information from your lender.
If you suspect that your Kia Sorento finance agreement was mis-sold due to the FCA's findings on discretionary commission arrangements, you can complain directly to your lender without needing a
claims management company. Common lenders for Kia vehicles include Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, MotoNovo Finance, and Santander Consumer Finance.
When contacting your lender, provide them with all relevant documentation from your finance agreement, including any correspondence about the DCA arrangement. Be clear about the specific issues you are raising and request a full review of your case. You do not need to hire an external firm or pay upfront fees; the process is designed to be free for consumers.
Sources and References
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). "Motor Finance: Discretionary Commission Arrangements." FCA, 2024.
- Office for National Statistics (ONS) Census 2021.
Based on 34,491 MOT tests conducted in 2024 (source: DVSA anonymised test data), the Kia Sorento has a pass rate of 77.7%. This is close to the national average of 79.6%, meaning the Sorento performs about average in MOT testing.
The Sorento pass rate is slightly below the overall Kia average of 81.4%. The average mileage at MOT for this model is 85,380 miles.
- MOT pass rate: 77.7%
- MOT failure rate: 22.3%
- Tests analysed: 34,491 (2024 DVSA data)
- Average mileage at test: 85,380 miles
- Kia average pass rate: 81.4%
- National average pass rate: 79.6%
Data source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results 2024, published under the Open Government Licence v3.0.