Help me decide between CX-5 and Sportage

[ColoradoDriver]

Even the non-turbo lagged so hard when I test drove it and tried to get on the highway.

My parents had a 2008 Hyundai Elantra that eventually got wrecked. It was a decent car for gas mileage. But hard plastics abounded and eventually even the visor broke and rattled horribly. It was a stick shift, and maybe I'm used to Jeeps, but you couldn't just leave it in gear and coast it down a hill without it speeding up. Got a ticket this way since I was used to driving the Jeep. Put it in gear and coast it down the hill without the need to brake! But back to that Elantra, it was an Econobox and the price reflected it.

My dad has a 2006 Kia Sportage. It's a V6, but even so I felt like it was never as responsive as my CX-5, and I have never enjoyed the few times I've had to borrow it. Feels like a big lumbering brute by comparison to my CX-5 which is precise, poised, and agile.

The 2013 Sportage I test drove didn't feel as big and lumbering, but good luck trying to gun it up a hill! Performance was terrible! And like that Hyundai, hard plastics everywhere. And certainly not the feel of the CX-5 as I described above.

 

[Tccox]

Rented one on our last Visit to Perth, ahhhhh it was OK, nothing special. Fit and finish not so good but it was a rental. Biggest complaint they had put the dad gum steering wheel and controls on the wrong side of the vehicle

 

[CX-5um]

I don't think you have driven one. It was the first cuv i drove. Solid chassis- good handling and drove better than Subaru. But DCT issues and hard plastic. It was selling 90% better YoY till June. Then DCT issues dragged sales down.

Imagine Mazda with just 1/4th the budget Kia has.

 

[xtrailman]

Yes it is.
I prefer the TUCSON for looks, and its not bad to drive, but again the interior isn't as good as the Mazda. And in the UK these cars are no longer cheap.

The Kia's interior is IMHO 1 or 2 levels below the CX-5's

 

[Monterra]

Even the non-turbo lagged so hard when I test drove it and tried to get on the highway.

My parents had a 2008 Hyundai Elantra that eventually got wrecked. It was a decent car for gas mileage. But hard plastics abounded and eventually even the visor broke and rattled horribly. It was a stick shift, and maybe I'm used to Jeeps, but you couldn't just leave it in gear and coast it down a hill without it speeding up. Got a ticket this way since I was used to driving the Jeep. Put it in gear and coast it down the hill without the need to brake! But back to that Elantra, it was an Econobox and the price reflected it.

My dad has a 2006 Kia Sportage. It's a V6, but even so I felt like it was never as responsive as my CX-5, and I have never enjoyed the few times I've had to borrow it. Feels like a big lumbering brute by comparison to my CX-5 which is precise, poised, and agile.

The 2013 Sportage I test drove didn't feel as big and lumbering, but good luck trying to gun it up a hill! Performance was terrible! And like that Hyundai, hard plastics everywhere. And certainly not the feel of the CX-5 as I described above.

Yeah the non-turbo was clearly underpowered but I was invited back (shocking I know) to drive the SX turbo as they had one inbound. I declined because power was only one of my issues and I was told by salesperson that the suspension/steering set up was identical. To me the CX-5 is on a different level and the new Sportage doesn't live up to its name or styling..Sportish would even be a stretch but as always YMMV..oh yeah and good luck w/the mileage on the turbo- heard it sucks. Kia/Hyundai has come a long way but I was only fully convinced when I sampled the loaded V6 Sorrento but the price certainly reflected their effort to the point that I'm simply not ready for a 45k Kia SUV but I could understand if some were.

 

[Red MC]

Sounds very much like an appliance

Certainly more so than the CX-5. Although I'd put the RAV4, CR-V, and Equinox/Terrain higher on my personal appliance-o-meter.

The 2013 Sportage I test drove didn't feel as big and lumbering, but good luck trying to gun it up a hill! Performance was terrible! And like that Hyundai, hard plastics everywhere. And certainly not the feel of the CX-5 as I described above.

The interior materials of the current SX didn't seem too cheap to me. Then again, I don't care a whole lot about hard plastics vs. soft plastics as long as they fit and don't squeak.

 

[xtrailman]

I drove a 2013 sportage when my first cx-5 was having engine repairs.

Wasn't impressed, but later models are improved, but so is the cx-5.

As someone who traded in a 2012 Sportage EX, I can tell you they’re pieces of junk! Everything inside the car is hard plastic, I had tons of rattles, road noise, and just overall a “cheap” car feeling. I traded mine in for a 17 GT. I couldn’t that the Sportage any longer!

Also, the resale value of that vehicle is utterly poor. So, if you intend on keeping it for 10 years go for it, otherwise, I would HIGHLY recommend the Mazda!

 

[CX-5um]

The new turbo one with its long list of features does look good on paper.

 

[Natey]

My wife's ex boss, a super rich lady drives a Kia. I guess she doesn't want to be pretentious or something. Anyway I drove it around for a day. It was surprisingly nice inside and it's a good looking car.
It also had plenty of power, but the way it went about it...buzzy, touchy, loud, pushed like a shopping cart around corners...It felt like a Kia or Hyundai once I drove it.

Drive the two side-by-side (and maybe drive that 6 while you're at it..it's faster, smoother, more quiet, better mileage, better looking IMO than any quasi-minivan, Mazda's offering huge rebates, etc) and I'm sure the creme will rise to the top.

 

[GJ-Molestor]

there are huge discounts on a brand new Mazda 6 right now. That is what Id buy

 

[Anchorman]

The Sportage is a well engineered car. However, there isn't much that will out handle a CX-5 on the market unless you get into expensive German stuff like Porsche and then you have dig seriously deep.

 

[Monterra]

Best reason yet to consider Hyundai/Kia:

http://autoweek.com/article/car-news/five-ways-genesis-g70-can-beat-german-3-and-two-ways-it-cant

If they can get the details right they could really give the Germans fits w/this one.

 

[GJ-Molestor]

Best reason yet to consider Hyundai/Kia:

http://autoweek.com/article/car-news/five-ways-genesis-g70-can-beat-german-3-and-two-ways-it-cant

If they can get the details right they could really give the Germans fits w/this one.

Yea, no thanks. Ill pay the premium for the established Germans on this one or buy a Japanese luxury car.

 

[CX-5um]

Best reason yet to consider Hyundai/Kia:

http://autoweek.com/article/car-news/five-ways-genesis-g70-can-beat-german-3-and-two-ways-it-cant

If they can get the details right they could really give the Germans fits w/this one.

Pros: Kia has deep pockets its just that they haven't invested in their auto division until the mid 2000's. Largest ship builder in the world at one point.

Cons: Kind of rough around the edges in terms of refinement and pureness.

At this pace yes expect Kia to minimize gaps in quality and performance. Don't sleep on them for too long. All it takes is for them to put together a better engineering team for production models. They have money to do so. I watched racing modified Kia Optimas dominate the GTS class of the 2014 Pirelli World Challenge. The next up car were the Ford Mustangs. I believe the GTS class has limits on internal engine and turbo modifications. Finishing the race showed reliability and dominating the other cars shocked me.

Then you see news like this: http://blog.caranddriver.com/hyundai-and-kia-recall-1-2-million-cars-for-engine-failures/
where production engines could fail.

 

[dougal]

Best reason yet to consider Hyundai/Kia:

http://autoweek.com/article/car-news/five-ways-genesis-g70-can-beat-german-3-and-two-ways-it-cant

If they can get the details right they could really give the Germans fits w/this one.

This is a true competitor to the Lexus/Acura/Infinity brands. The Genesis cars are interesting and priced high.

 

[Xeler8ing]

Yes it is.
I prefer the TUCSON for looks, and its not bad to drive, but again the interior isn't as good as the Mazda. And in the UK these cars are no longer cheap.

Over here they always seem to have specials going

 

[Xeler8ing]

Certainly more so than the CX-5. Although I'd put the RAV4, CR-V, and Equinox/Terrain higher on my personal appliance-o-meter.

We don't get the Equinox/Terrain here but all the others are pretty much the same... boring but reliable white goods appliances

 

[Xeler8ing]

Best reason yet to consider Hyundai/Kia:

http://autoweek.com/article/car-news/five-ways-genesis-g70-can-beat-german-3-and-two-ways-it-cant

If they can get the details right they could really give the Germans fits w/this one.

(yawn) they are about 30 years too late.

Lexus LS400 was the game changer but now even that (newer LS500) doesn't have the impact it once did.

 

[Xeler8ing]

Pros: Kia has deep pockets its just that they haven't invested in their auto division until the mid 2000's. Largest ship builder in the world at one point.

Cons: Kind of rough around the edges in terms of refinement and pureness.

Kia's input comes from Hyundai as most of their models are shared with them.

"During the Asian financial crisis, Kia declared bankruptcy in 1997; and in 1998 reached an agreement with Hyundai Motor Company to diversify by exchanging ownership between both companies. Hyundai Motor Company acquired 51% of the company, outbidding Ford Motor Company which had owned an interest in Kia Motors since 1986. After subsequent divestments, Hyundai Motor Company owns about one third of Kia Motor Corporation. While Hyundai Motor Company remains Kia's largest stakeholder, Kia Motor Company also retains ownership in some 22 different Hyundai Motor Company subsidiaries"

Source: Wikipedia

I've probably mentioned it before but Kia and Hyundai are probably where Japanese car makers where in the late 90's early 00s, they make decent cars but they are a rung below the opposition.

I've driven a Kia Optima and compared it to my 6, it's interior is a step down, the steering is way too heavy, didn't handle that well and a yes the engine was responsive but it was a gas guzzler.

Looking at the Sportage and the CX-5, the differences are probably similar and I'd at this stage put the Sportage one rung below the CX-5.

 

[murky]

...I've probably mentioned it before but Kia and Hyundai are probably where Japanese car makers where in the late 90's early 00s, they make decent cars but they are a rung below the opposition.
...

Who was Honda behind in the 00s?