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Review 1 of 2
Price Paid:
$17500.00
from Charles Hurst Moters Year / Model Reviewed:
2007 XS Summary:
trying to make a discission on the Sorent or sportage had me stumped but I ended going for the sportage which I thought would be my answer to the hilly area where I live and beat the bad weather conditions we got in this country (Northern Ireland).
I dont know if I got a bad car or it was just my luck as they say, but from the second day of owning the sportage it smoked heavly from the exhusts to the point my passengers thought it was on fire. For the next few months it smoked on and off and as the dealer didnt belive me I decided to take videos on my phone to back up my story, I belive I am not the only person to have this problem and can supply videos to support this issue.
I was on a grassy slope with my children in the car and decided to try the 4X4 only to panic when the car locked up & we thought someone had run into the side of us as the car rolled on its tyres from side to side. The dealer said it was a flaw with the 4X4 as the drive train was twisting as the wheels could not move & when the drivetrain unlocked that is what was throwing the car from side to side. So my mind is made up by saying it is NOT a 4X4 it is in fact a 4X2. While parked I put it into 4X4 & the same thing happened again only it was on lose gravel so the wheels should move easiy, if I moved the steering wheel in any direstion the sportage felt like an elistic band tighten and then let go. It dosn't do much for my confindance with this car.
To rub sault in the wounds my heater stopped working and only blow cold air so even when I put it up to `high` it had heat but only slighty, not what you would expect from a popular car.
I have had this car 8months and I can say I have been in the dearlers 8 if not 15 times about these issues and they are stumped. I left it in for 2wks and when I got it back the hose from the terbo came off as someone had joined a clip together and over tightened it hence it did not hold the pipe in place.
The only other thing I can say about the Kia Sportage is although it is 138bhp it felt more like 120bhp as there is not the lift or pull I expected from it. I have a trailer (single axel)& I feel that although it pulls it it could do a lot better. But on the plus side it could be the probllems I am having with the smoke that is in some way part of the pulling problem. If I came to a juntion & I wanted to pull out on a rolling start at about 10mph to 15mph. I found it didnt have the legs to pull the car out onto the main road. It would either stall or worse still I had to come to a halt select 1st gear and then move out.
More importantly I feel the fact that it does not have an on board computer to select distance traveled, fuel used, etc etc is a massive let down in a car of todays standards. Another nick nack or gadget would be to have roll back mirrors when the car or wanabe jeep alarm is selected. In fact Im surprised they didnt put in a ashtray `full` sign as you seem to have more of what you don't need, rather then what you do need.
Strengths:
Strengths would have to be compact, sturdy. Good use of the rear split doors & luggage net. Goog seating arrangments and a good use of a fold down front passenger seat if you have a little office work to do on a long journey. There are compartments for verious nick nacks. Also have the advantage to lock all the doors fron the passenger seat can be handy when the little mights try to escape.
On the plus side change the wheels for better roadholding to 17" and drop down one size in tyres you will feel a bit more bumps but believe me it is worth the handling takes a new edge to the car. Weaknesses:
Does not do what it says it can do on the tin sort of speak. No folding mirrors. No computer. Not enough hidden compartments as the ones supplyed at crampy and unles you want to hold a bag of sweets in them as they are to small for anything else.
The drivers side electric window could have had a little more thought put into it as it has a auto down but as we all know an auto `up` with a safety sensor to detact objects would have made all the difference, while trying to juggle one last thing as you drive away.
If you want to throw you sportage into a corner be prepared for the roll & if not used to this type of car you might end up with being caught out half way round the bend. Similar Products Used:
Rav4, X-Trail
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