by "mazda616" (mazda616)
Published 06/06/2017 at 20:22
by "mazda616" (mazda616)
Published 06/06/2017 at 20:22
Tags: Kia Sportage
STARS: 0
Dropped the 6 off for replacement of the loose chrome trim on the trunk (under warranty, of course) and the dealer sent me home in a 2017 Kia Sportage FE.
The 40 mile drive home was pretty uneventful. It’s decently peppy (not dog slow like the 1.6 equipped Kia Soul we got from them in the past), has great brakes, and averaged 28.5 MPG.
Pros: Decent fuel economy, aforementioned good brakes, the SiriusXM is still active, decent power (what you’d expect from a four-cylinder CUV), good build quality (or so it seems), and incredibly easy to sync Bluetooth.
Cons: Visibility is meh out the rear due to the sloping roof. The stereo sounds like an old AM/FM clock radio on a bedside table. Not the most comfy seats in the world, but not the worst, either.
My 6 has Bose speakers (which I’ve always heard are terrible) but apparently they’ve spoiled me because the radio in this Kia is laughable as far as sound quality. No amount of fiddling with the audio settings made a noticeable difference, either. Oh well.
TL;DR: If you want a cheap CUV, the Sportage might work.
"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
06/06/2017 at 20:26, STARS: 0
I’m not a SUV or CUV person, but I don’t mind the look of the most recent Sportage...especially that interesting tailight strip across the back, and the low-down bumper turn signals on the rear. Interesting details!
"Phyrxes once again has a wagon!" (phyrxes)
06/06/2017 at 20:30, STARS: 0
I couldn’t get past the front end of those to even test drive it.
"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
06/06/2017 at 20:31, STARS: 1
I don’t mind it either, but to me it seems the entire design idea was to stretch a 991 onto a CUV shape.
"daender" (daender)
06/06/2017 at 20:39, STARS: 0
People seem to always bitch about the Bose stereos in Mazdas beeing too “boomy” when all you have to do is turn down the bass. Honestly, I enjoy my Bose setup in the Miata more than I enjoy than pop’s Ranger with four Kenwood speakers (but that could be due to the shitty BOSS headunit he stubbornly installed).
"Vicente Esteve" (vicente-esteve)
06/06/2017 at 20:49, STARS: 0
In top trim it looks way too good.
"Logansteno: Bought a VW?" (logansteno)
06/06/2017 at 20:50, STARS: 3
Bose has gotten good in the last couple years imo. It’s not B&O obviously, but it’s a good upgrade over base speakers.
On another note: I’m really digging everything Kia is putting out lately.
"not for canada - australian in disguise" (for-canada)
06/06/2017 at 20:54, STARS: 0
As a Kia fanboy, I think Kia screwed up the front styling of the Sportage big time. The Niro is far more attractive, and it’s the one I’d go for.
Although the lack of AWD on the Niro is a bit of a turnoff. Supposedly there will be a non-hybrid variant to slot under the Sportage under a different name, and that will be AWD.
"P5guy now GTIguy" (p5guy)
06/06/2017 at 21:12, STARS: 0
Decided to check the trim pieces on my dad’s 16 after reading your post, and they are loose too. Did the dealer give you any trouble ? Or did they warranty claim it pretty quickly?
"mazda616" (mazda616)
06/06/2017 at 21:13, STARS: 0
They warranty claimed it super quickly. Even tried to fix it once and couldn’t get it right so they reordered parts and are fixing it again. All without me having to ask.
"P5guy now GTIguy" (p5guy)
06/06/2017 at 21:17, STARS: 0
Good to know. His is also going in for the clear coat peeling on the gunmetal wheels at 30k mi (he has a GT), dealer was cool about it and submitted the claim for four new wheels. Have you curbed any of your wheels ? The 19's are pretty low profile and the car has a long wheelbase imo.
"mazda616" (mazda616)
06/06/2017 at 21:36, STARS: 1
The Grand Touring wheels are notorious for that. Something in the finishing process didn’t go right, I guess.
I haven’t curbed the wheels thank God but I have scraped the tires against low curbs at work. Thankfully, I missed the wheels. I’d have cried otherwise.
"Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94)
06/07/2017 at 10:44, STARS: 0
Why is a Mazda dealer consistently loaning Kias?
Alternately, why is a Kia dealer honouring a Mazda warranty?
"mazda616" (mazda616)
06/08/2017 at 08:44, STARS: 1
The dealer is called Evansville Kia Mazda Volvo. I’ve gotten a Mazda loaner from them before (a 2016 Mazda3 sedan). Just depends on what they have available. I was hoping to get a Volvo but no luck.