Wheels Australia — August 2016

60 WheelsMag.com.au

Headtoohead

A FAST ’N’ FURIOUS FACE-OFF

VERDICT

The aesthetic pick will be a matter of taste. Kia’s industry-best

warranty, on the other hand, is no grey area – seven years beats

Hyundai’s five hands down. They both offer a lot of standard

equipment, but what do you want more – leather (Sportage) or

keyless entry and start (Tucson)? And you have to go for the

flagship in either showroom to get all the advanced safety

The $38,990 Sportage SLi turbo-diesel gets front parking

sensors, leather rather than cloth seats, a crisp colour

TFT-LCD instrument cluster, and LED tail-lights. However,

you don’t get a smart key or start button, nor a powered

tailgate, and the infotainment system’s 7.0-inch colour

touchscreen is an inch smaller than its rival’s. 17/20

Kia’s diesel is thriftier (6.8L/100km versus a respectable 7.7
for the Hyundai) and torquier (some 400Nm) but not as
smooth, and without the techno appeal of a downsized
petrol turbo and dual-clutch ’box, or the green credentials.
You’ll have to deal with greasy bowser nozzles, but won’t
have to see them as often, despite identical 62L tanks. 15/20

In keeping with its sportier slant, the Kia is the more

obedient steer that offers a bit more precision and feel from

the wheel, while dispatching corners with a little more

verve. The Sportage sits flatter, responds more faithfully to

control inputs and maintains its composure when the going

gets lumpy. Test-drive and you will be surprised. 14/20

Dash design is appealing and the cabin is finished nicely.

Seat comfort and ergonomics are excellent, and it’s nice to

have leather (even if some of it is synthetic). You get a

roomy, comfortable back seat in both, with rear air-con

vents. The Sportage cargo bay holds 466 litres, expanding to

1455 litres with the seatbacks folded flat. 17/20

The Sportage strikes a sportier ride/handling compromise.

These are ‘Sports’ Utility Vehicles, but they’re usually used

as family cars so comfort is a priority. Despite seemingly

firmer spring and damper calibrations, the Kia still rides

with both comfort and control, which might make it a better

country tourer, as well as the enthusiast’s pick. 15/20

gear, such as AEB. The Tucson is a slightly smoother proposition,

with a less rich-looking cabin, while the slightly tauter Sportage

feels both sportier and classier. If you want a keen little turbo-

petrol engine with a dual-clutch gearbox, your choice comes

down to the Hyundai. If you’d prefer a turbo-diesel, you could

have either one of them, but we’d pick the Kia. Just.

These mid-spec, mid-sized Korean SUVs represent the value

sweet spot and share many features (cruise control, dual-zone

air-con, rear parking sensors and reversing camera, auto

headlights and wipers, 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat

and six airbags). But the $38,240 Tucson is unique in offering a

1.6 turbo-petrol and seven-speed dual-clutch ’box. 17/20

Drivetrains are the great differentiators with this pair. Yes,

you can have a 2.0-litre atmo petrol or turbo-diesel in either,

but only the Tucson offers a smaller 1.6-litre turbo-petrol

and a dual-clutch transmission. Torquier than the atmo 2.0

but not as grunty as the oiler, the 130kW/265Nm 1.6T does

its best work at middling revs. 15/20

Yes, you lose some agility – and outright handling ability –

in an SUV compared with a regular sedan or hatch, but the

modern soft-roader drives well, and our Korean duo are

among the best. The Hyundai’s steering isn’t quite as crisp

(though there’s not much in it), but it handles bends with

palpable balance while gripping the road surely. 13/20

Hyundai cabin is plainer than the Kia’s; it’s all laid out neatly

and intuitively, but it doesn’t look as classy. Cloth seats offer

terrific comfort and grip occupants well, though lack the

wipe-down convenience of leather. Both SUVs have Isofix

attachment points in the outer rear-seat positions. The

Tucson offers 488/1478 litres of cargo capacity. 16/20

The Hyundai has a more absorbent ride than the Kia, which

makes it better at ironing out sharp-edged urban intrusions

and joins in the road, as well as country-road lumps and

bumps. It’s more difficult to separate them for quietness

and NVH suppression as they’re both quite adept at

shutting out tyre, suspension and wind noise. 16/20

PRICE &

EQUIPMENT

20 POINTS

INTERIOR &

VERSATILITY

20 POINTS

PERFORMANCE

& ECONOMY

20 POINTS

RIDE &

REFINEMENT

20 POINTS

STEERING

& HANDLING

20 POINTS

78/100 POINTS SCORE 77/100

WORDS JAMES WHITBOURN

HYUNDAI TUCSON ELITE TURBO

SPORTIER

DIESEL

CUSHIER

PETROL

KIA SPORTAGE SLi DIESEL