Year 2011
Engine 2.0 l Diesel
transmission Automatic
Model Platinum
This is the replacement for my trusty Subaru Forester. If you have read my blog on the Forester you will know that I really liked this car for its versatility and drivability. I did not buy the new model as it just left me cold. After looking around for quite a while and annoying multiple car salesmen I settled on the KIA Sportage. It ticked all the boxes and it was fun to drive. So, six months down the track what do I think? Still happy and enjoying driving it all the more. I am still amazed at all the bits and piece I am finding out about it.
What was I looking for in a car? It had to be comfortable for a long trip. enough power to be able to overtake. It needed good connectivity (Bluetooth, iPod or mp3 player connectivity and a decent sound system). I wanted it to have a trip computer with fuel consumption, distance to next tank fill, etc... Good fuel economy was a must in this day and age but had to be large enough to fit five adults comfortably. I also like all wheel drive, it just makes the car a bit more predictable and copes with wet roads better. Not that I have a habit of going into a corner in any car with the intention of performing a well executed four wheel drift. Integrated satnav would have been nice but not a deal breaker as they get out of date so quickly. All of this plus to do it in a bit of style. On the face of it that would seem to be not too tall an order... wrong. Very few cars or AWDs could match these criteria It had to be a wagon of some sort to take the two dogs we have in the back. It had to have a blind that would go over the cargo bay so it was easy to roll back to allow the dogs in
In the end it really came down to just a few cars, the Forester, Toyota's RAV4, the Hyundai iX35 and the Sportage. The Forester's interior was a bit dated even though it did tick all the boxes plus it did not drive as well as the old one. The RAV4 was not bad, same comments about driving it as the Subaru though. Plus I know that the RAV4 suspension made my daughter feel sick when we drove one for a couple of weeks on holiday. The Hyundai was pretty good but the suspension was rock solid (and I mean rock solid, it would shake your teeth out going over a speed bump, slowly. What would it be like on a dirt road) The interior decor was not a nice as the KIA (it felt a bit cheaper). We looked at the KIA as we were getting desperate.. very good move. Even though the Sportage is very similar to the iX35 as it uses the same drive chain and chassis, it seems to be a little bit more refined.
I'm not going to go through the myriad of features that the manufacturer extols about the Sportage as I am sure that if you are looking at this review you have already read all the online brochures. I will give you the standouts though. I decided on the diesel engine as it has much more power than the petrol version. This makes a huge difference out on country roads when you tap the accelerator and the turbo kicks in and you have overtaken before you know it. I will have to do more than 100,000 Km before the price difference between then engines evens it out, however it is much more fun. While we are talking kilometres, it has an unlimited Km 5 year warranty. The gearbox is smooth though it does hesitate dropping down gear to overtake. It is sometimes better to drop down with the semi-automatic gearbox so you are in the right gear if you want to get almost instant power (turbo lag). That said the gearbox is no worse that other autos I have driven in this respect. With respect to fuel economy, on a trip I am now getting around 6.5 l/100Km which is great, but in town I am getting around 9.5-10.5 l/100Km which is average. Still it is a lot of car to pull around
Inside it is very comfortable. Love the cooled drivers seat. I thought this was just a gimmick but it is really great on longer trips. I use it all the time. The integrated bluetooth is great. Don't forget you have to pair your phone with the car for it to work. The sound system in the platinum model is great as well with a sub located in the boot area (trunk for North American readers). Obviously all the controls for the stereo, bluetooth and cruise are located on the steering wheel as you would expect in a modern car. I wish the trip computer button was also on the steering wheel as well as it is a bit of a stretch if you want to cycle through the information. The rear camera which is integrated into the rear view mirror is a must in this car. The visibility out of the back window is very poor, without it reversing would be a nightmare. It just makes it so simple backing into a car parking space and the sensor let you know when you are getting close.
Likes:
- Engine.
- Sound system and iPod/MP3/USB connectivity
- Cooled drivers seat
- Rear view camera
- Very comfortable
- Lots of room for passengers
- space around the spare tyre for storage
- rear tilt sunroof as well as fully opening
- Auto rains sensing windscreen wipers, activation and speed
Dislikes:
- Not a lot really
- Wish the trip computer button was on the steering wheel or indicator
- Would have liked the option of a manual gearbox
- I would have said lack of satnav but if you read a previous review I have found a great phone app that replaces that. (grabbed a small phone holder from Harvey Norman for $14 to stick it to the dash, really worth it)
Conclusion:
In the six month I have had the car I am really happy with it. We have done a bit of distance driving but not a lot. It is a great car for traveling, it is quiet and relaxing to drive. The cooled seat keeps you alert to the road conditions and the mirrors are excellent for changing lanes. The handling is very predictable even on winding mountain roads with ample road holding and power to easily keep up with traffic. More the opposite really, they hold you up.
The interior is great and the passengers have plenty of leg room in the back. It could do with a couple more storage bins at the front, maybe under the seats. Apart from that, no complaints.
I have not had it serviced yet so not sure what the cost will be in that department. When I get to the first service at 10,000 Km I will add a comment on the cost of the first service.
I definitely would make the same choice again on its current performance.
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