Ford Kuga 2wd or Kia Sportage 2wd?

[Grahamh]

Want to change the towcar this year for something a bit higher. The price (and warranty) of the Kia is the sensible option but is it the best one?

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Graham,
Choosing a car yet alone a tow car is very much a personal choice, and you are in the best place to make that decision. Try both, and if possible see if the dealer can supply test cars with towbars, so you can test for towing. After all thats what many of this type of vehicle is purchased for.

There will be very few if any forumites who have owned both of these models, so I wouldn't expect may comments based on any extended experience.

 

[RogerL]

Hyundai/Kia are firmly established in the mainstream sector along with Ford, etc - gone are the days of budget cars, both the build quality and price has continued rising.

The Kia Sportage is of course "just" a Hyundai iX35 with different styling - which you prefer is up to you - the Hyundai warranty is "only" 5 years but is unlimited mileage apart from the clearly specified limits on wear/tear items - the Kia warranty is 7 years but limited to 100,000 miles with vaguely worded exclusions for wear/tear.

If you change vehicles routinely at 3 years old, the differences in warranty will be irrelevant.

Go and get test drives in all three and see which you like best - then look at their relative costings.

 

[Grahamh]

Thanks for that. Went and looked at both today. Disappointed with the Kuga. Seemed to be almost the same as the Modeo (but on steroids). Ford seem to have gone backwards with some features. ( to check the steering fluid you have to remove one headlight) Liked the Sportage but not the latest model - too much like the Evoque - windows too small for the car. Thanks for the info on the Hyundai but they don't appear to do a 2wd version of the 2.0L engine and the 1.7 has neither the power or the towing capacity - too light. Think I will stick with the Kia and try to find one with the trim level(2or3) that has the cruise.
Thanks again

 

[intransient1]

I currently tow with a kuga and it really tows well, my van weighs 1500kg.
Before this i towed with a qashqai which at it's maximum towing capacity of 1200kg was very stable pulling to its maximum capacity.
Also ssanyong do a fine range of vehicles that tow well.

 

[Murrayp]

I Use an IX35 and its tows our 1200kg caravan ok and this is the cars max weight, Im careful when loading but you can feel the weight of the van on the back. Am considering some spring assist rubbers this season, any one used them? Other than that the cars does the job well.

 

[ProfJohnL]

I Use an IX35 and its tows our 1200kg caravan ok and this is the cars max weight, Im careful when loading but you can feel the weight of the van on the back. Am considering some spring assist rubbers this season, any one used them? Other than that the cars does the job well.

No modern car needs spring assisters.
If you think your car is too low, then before going down the spring assisters route, check what you asking it to do. You might actually be putting more load than the car is designed to take. Spring assisters do not increase a cars legal or safe carrying capacity - One of the other potential pitfalls of trying to modify a modern cars suspension characteristics, you can interfere with the safe operation of the the cars stability control systems which use sensors to detect body motion under adverse conditions.

 

[Grahamh]

I fitted them to my Mondeo as the rear springs were too soft. Tried upgrading the springs but the ride was too harsh. I fitted the rubber type that you wind on to the rear spring. the advantage is that it only makes a difference when the car is loaded. Lightly loaded they have no effect. Also a lot cheaper and easier to fit than changing the springs (£20-£30)