About the Kia Sportage
James S bought this Kia Sportage new for $43,000 (including all on-road costs). James S. would not buy this car again because: “Why wouldn’t I buy this car? Full disclosure here, I had it as a rental for two weeks during a recent vacation. And during my time with it , I definitely found some amazing features and reliability points though there was just one thing I couldn’t quite swallow: value for money.
For a mid-size SUV, the Australian market is spoiled for choice, and the competition is fierce. For $39k+ on the road you’d expect something more substantial with the interior. Yes, it’s an entry-level car, but it really shows more than I expected. Be it hard plastic on the doors or dash, plain black plastic on the center console, or even 1" Lazy plastic trim around each of its 10 " Shows Let’s be frank here, the trim looks like it’s from the 2008 Holden Astra era. It really shows that you are money conscious. Competitors such as Mazda, Toyota or even sister brand Hyundai play in the same market space and price point, hiding their cost-saving measures unfortunately better than they do.
How reliable has your car been? Let us know about any issues.
Given this is a short term, it would be rude to make anything here or comment in depth without a longer term in the Sportage. What I can say is that mechanically, this is what you get from a brand offering a seven-year warranty. The only minor quibbles would be Android Auto, which is wireless, would occasionally lose its connection, though this was mostly because the phone was connected to the car via the USB-C port for charging. So it’s likely that the system didn’t like dual connections.
What about the ownership experience with your car?
I imagine it would be a dream to own this vehicle, very cheap on fuel (diesel), and at the price point, in a market full of SUVs, the insurance is quite affordable after factoring in some of the costs (for NSW). It happens.
In today’s market where the cost of living is on the rise, many people find this car worth keeping over the life of the vehicle. But, this is my opinion in my own circumstances and as stated earlier, I do not own this vehicle.
How has the purchase and aftercare experience been with your car?
As touched upon earlier, I do not own this vehicle, but let’s look at the facts here.
The Sportage is consistently in the top three for its segment (medium SUV) and has comfortably placed in the top 10 sales this year (and last year).
Are you happy with the price and features of your car?
All its glory and success is probably not due to the entry-grade ‘S’ variant. Having bought a CX-5 Touring two years ago for similar coin, I’d say the diesel variant lacks value for money, commanding a $5k premium over the petrol FWD variant.
However, $43k drive away is a little hard to swallow. With hard plastics everywhere (along with a soft plastic steering wheel), a digital display that looks like it came from a 90s Game Boy Color, and the lack of sat-nav is a bit much.
As mentioned, this is the diesel version with a different drivetrain. It’s not all bad though and Kia has prioritized safety which is great in today’s world.
Options like adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist were very welcome to see and for highway driving, the car can almost drive itself and is very welcome especially for an entry level car in today’s market.
Personally, for a money-conscious buyer, I’d look at the petrol variant if AWD isn’t required. If a diesel is preferred, I recommend putting a few extra coins on the table for the more popular SX variant which includes a nicer interior with soft touch points, larger display and sat-nav.
What do you think about your car’s performance and economy?
One word: excellent.
Two weeks of countryside and suburban driving with the diesel yielded a combined cycle of 5.1L/100. With fuel prices rising just north of the $2 mark, every drop counts and the diesel engine in the Sportage, while cheap at times, is plenty cheap and will throw you back if you even ask. , helping to turn on 416Nm of torque. tap
What about the technology in your car?
The technology in the Sportage is a bit of a flip of the coin.
On the plus side you have a (basic) digital driver’s display, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping technology, speed sign recognition, and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
On the downside of the coin, no sat-nav, no climate control.
No keyless entry and start! Turning the key is so 2010. It can be a challenge when you’re trying to navigate the house and trying to charge your dead phone unsuccessfully.
LED headlights up front for visibility, yet Kia opted for old-school bulbs for the rear light cluster.
The technology for the Kia Sportage S is really subjective from my point of view, on the one hand it’s great, but on the other hand, it’s lacking.
How about your ride comfort and handling of your car?
It’s great to drive the car every day. It’s not a hi-po SUV, it doesn’t have any sporting credentials (despite its name), but it’s supple without being boat-like, and direct without twisting like a go-kart.
For an every day point-A to point-B car, it can’t be faulted. Although, and this may be me being a bit biased, the diesel rattle and truck sounds are clearly present. You know you’re in a diesel car, but for those who are averse to diesel, this shouldn’t be a problem.