2022 Subaru Outback v Kia Sportage

Ldmiffo on 30/12/2021 - 04:10

Hi

I am looking into putting in a deposit for a new car this week and am considering buying either the subaru outback touring with a CVT or the Kia Sportage GT line 1.6l turbo with a DCT for a car that I would have little driving (approximately 5-7.5k km per year) some of which towing either a box trailer or jetski.

I'm not sure which is the best transmission for my usage between the above 2 cars and would like your opinion on the better of these 2 for towing.

I am persuading towards the subaru naturally aspirated engine as appose to the kias turbo engine with the thought that the turbo components could be another thing to go wrong during the life of my ownership of the Kia should I buy this car.

I know that perhaps diesel would be the best engine power for towing, but wouldn't be ideal for me due to the little kms i would be driving right?

Please advise your thoughts.

Thank you

Automotive Car Kia Subaru SUV

Comments

  • apsilon on 30/12/2021 - 06:08
    +4

    The Kia would be better for towing I think based off having more peak torque and much lower in the rev range but I'm not familiar with it's transmission. The Subaru would definitely be better on dirt IMO if that matters. It's a shame Subaru Aust will only give us the dregs when it comes to engine choice. Turbos have been around for decades and isn't worth factoring in IMO. Of course you also get a 7 year warranty with the Kia and 5 with the Subaru. The diesel option, more expensive to buy but cheaper to run but in your case you'd be looking at a very long time for it to even out.

    I'd suggest driving both if you can and decide for yourself.

  • shrek4 on 30/12/2021 - 07:29
    +1

    I’ve a diesel GT on order. Far better gearbox than the petrol. Worth the extra.

  • Euphemistic on 30/12/2021 - 07:43
    +10

    You don’t do enough kms for diesel. You aren’t towing anything heavy enough for diesel or to worry about a transmission. You aren’t towing often enough to sway your opinion away from the car you like best to drive. If you are well under the manufacturers max tow load don’t worry about it.

    • websterp on 30/12/2021 - 11:05

      Without enough highway miles there is a very good possibility of you finding out one day that the DPF is clogged. Not fun! $$$

  • serpserpserp on 30/12/2021 - 08:42
    +1

    Which one will be delivered in 2022?

  • DarkOz on 30/12/2021 - 09:09

    That double boomerang Sportage front is so damn fugly. I tried hard to like it as I am interested in the top of the range model but it's not working.

  • Big Lenny on 30/12/2021 - 09:17

    outback by a country mile

  • CheapandUsed on 30/12/2021 - 09:22
    +1

    The Kia Sorento (4810mm length) is the size equivalent to the Subaru Outback (4820 length) whilst the Sportage is (4660mm length) a 'size' smaller.

    Or is it more shopping at a price point rather than a car size?

  • payless69 on 30/12/2021 - 10:30

    Test drive both.
    Subarus symetric drive has advantages in the dirt. But long term the marque is not sustainable.
    A Sorrento might even let you sleep inside. The Diesel is probably surprising you with bottom end grunt, proven box and you might feel getting more into the nature sitting higher up. Longer fingernalils and larger voice chords needed to enforce the warranty.
    CVT: sell when the warranty ends.

  • TruthNuke on 30/12/2021 - 10:41
    -2

    Don't get an SUV

    • Muzeeb on 30/12/2021 - 11:22

      SUV by definition but not by capabilities

  • Drakesy on 30/12/2021 - 12:09
    +3

    I'd go the sportage
    But honestly I've owned both a liberty and sportage and would say the value for money that kia is churning out is incredible.

    The subarus are still using 30 year old boxer engines that have been tweaked, these are admittedly reliable as ever though.
    Turbo and 7 year warranty any day of the week

    • payless69 on 30/12/2021 - 12:44

      Had 2 Liberty's and a Sportage Diesel.
      The 2.2l Subi was truly amazing. Probably the pinnacle. Kia sells Schreyer technology, get Audi brains for Korean pennies.
      Tested both on some grueling but low clearance 4WD tracks. Both cars were very rewarding for the driving skills. Either needs to be serviced once a year.

  • [Deactivated] on 30/12/2021 - 13:07
    -6

    I'd get neither, but if I had to choose, despite the super shit gearbox, the Subaru is less embarrassing to drive than the Kia.

    I wouldn't choose either of these to tow though. Towing with either of these gearboxes is asking for trouble. I'd only ever tow with a traditional torque converter gearbox and a 6 cylinder + diesel or petrol engine.

    • Euphemistic on 30/12/2021 - 17:50

      you can tow a JetSki with a corolla.

      • [Deactivated] on 30/12/2021 - 17:56
        -1

        Sure you can, but have you ever towed with a small car? It's downright dangerous.

        • Euphemistic on 30/12/2021 - 17:57

          Yes I’ve towed with a small car (Suzuki Sierra was one). It’s all relative. With a small vehicle and a smaller load it’s not dangerous.

          • [Deactivated] on 30/12/2021 - 19:51
            -2

            @Euphemistic: I towed a 7/11 caged trailer with a 2.0 Tiguan. It could do it, but it was sketchy as (profanity). I swapped over to a Jeep Grand Cherokee and it was like there was nothing behind thr Jeep, piece of cake. You can tow with shitty small cars, it doesn't mean you should.

            • brendanm on 31/12/2021 - 10:53
              +1

              @[Deactivated]: If you can't tow a small cage box trailer with a Tiguan, it's not the car that's the problem. Small things are fine for towing small loads.

              • [Deactivated] on 31/12/2021 - 10:59
                -1

                @brendanm: That seems pretty childish.

                • brendanm on 31/12/2021 - 11:12
                  +1

                  @[Deactivated]: A Tiguan weighs, what, 1300kg or so? A box trailer weighs a couple hundred kilos. This is no problem to tow, and if it was "sketchy as hell", or "downright dangerous", you have no idea what you are doing.

                  My tow vehicle is has 3500kg capacity, V6 turbo diesel with a torque converter auto. With a 3500kg load, the load weighs about a tonne more than the tow vehicle. A small vehicle has no issues towing something that weighs half what it does, apart from a possible lower power, safely.

                  I've towed many different things, with many different vehicles. The only time I've had an issue was towing a car trailer, where I didn't have the vehicle far enormous forward on the trailer, causing a light tongue weight and creating a "tail wagging the dog" condition. This was my fault, not the tow vehicles. Removed bumper, moved car forward, same tow vehicle, all good.

                  • [Deactivated] on 31/12/2021 - 11:15
                    -3

                    @brendanm: I know exactly what I'm doing. And clearly if you think a Tiguan weighs 1300kg your technical knowledge of cars (and towing) is probably pretty bad. Cars haven't weighed that little since the 1990s. Especially not a small SUV.

                    • brendanm on 31/12/2021 - 11:18
                      +1

                      @[Deactivated]:

                      I know exactly what I'm doing.

                      Obviously not.

                      if you think a Tiguan weighs 1300kg

                      Sorry, 1500. Made a wild guess. Makes my point even stronger, if you can't tow a few hundred kilos with a 1500kg car, you don't know what you're doing.

                      • [Deactivated] on 31/12/2021 - 11:24

                        @brendanm: This is moronic.

                        • brendanm on 31/12/2021 - 11:28
                          +2

                          @[Deactivated]: Yes, thinking you are unable to tow a couple of hundred kilos with a vehicle weighing one and a half tonne, is moronic.

  • nubzy on 30/12/2021 - 13:50
    -4

    Neither..

    Go and look at the new Citroen C4.. good value for 38k

    • Yorkshire-Man on 30/12/2021 - 14:26

      I dont think I would suggest one. Very low volume of sales, not many dealerships and parts would be harder to find. Actually amazed brands like Citroen bother with Australia.

      • nubzy on 30/12/2021 - 14:31
        -1

        Don't need parts for a new vehicle, and they are much better at keeping stock of common parts in Australia these days. 5 year warranty and capped price servicing. You can service with an indie no problem. I'd buy one, good value compared to alternatives, fuel efficient and you can't beat the comfort. Citroen and Peugeot have a very long history here, it would be a shame to lose them. The product is excellent, it's the lack of dealerships (outside of the cities) and marketing which is a problem.

        • [Deactivated] on 31/12/2021 - 11:01

          The product is absolutely not excellent.

          • nubzy on 31/12/2021 - 12:04
            -1

            @[Deactivated]: Lol.. whatever mate, you clearly have no idea. Go and buy your Korean car or whatever bland thing you are into. Hope it doesn’t catch on fire.

            • [Deactivated] on 31/12/2021 - 12:18

              @nubzy: I'd never buy a Korean car. I've owned a French car in the past, but I wouldn't now. I know that all Citroens currently are pieces of shit. They had one competitive advantage, which was their hydropneumatic suspension, and they stopped making that 5 years ago. Now they are poorly made, underpowered, and 15 years behind the times. And Peugeot are even worse, same formula, but built by the French government for a low cost.

    • jwh on 30/12/2021 - 15:54
      +2

      They're not even in the same class.

      Citroen C4

      • Wheelbase 2670mm
      • Length 4355mm
      • Engine 1.2L 3cyl Turbo 114kw, 240nm
      • Boot Volume 380L
      • Ground Clearance 113mm

      Kia Sportage

      • Wheelbase 2755mm
      • Length 4660mm
      • Engine1.6L 4cyl Turbo 132kw, 265nm
      • Boot Volume 543L
      • Ground Clearance 181mm

      Subaru Outback

      • Wheelbase 2745mm
      • Length 4870mm
      • Engine 2.5L 4cyl 138kw, 245nm
      • Boot Volume 522L
      • Ground Clearance 213mm
  • Bid Sniper on 30/12/2021 - 16:19

    Subaru

    I have a Kia Proceed hatch with 150kw 1.6L turbo engine. In the wet or red light on a uphill will spin its front wheels under light throttle, imagine will be much worse towing. No issue with traction with Subaru

  • dmiffo on 30/12/2021 - 19:29
    +1

    Hi Bill

    I test drove the sportage today and have decided on the outback

    I was the first to test drive it as it was only delivered yesterday afternoon.

    The sportage is a great vehicle. The 360deg camera view is amazing. It was also incredibly quick, especially in sports mode. However, as I'm in my early 50s, I'm not looking for speed off the mark. I prefer the constant 4wd, and stock availability for the Kia is over 12 months.

    Now finding the best deal is the next step.

    Thank you all for your feedback.

    • [Deactivated] on 31/12/2021 - 11:02

      It definitely was not incredibly quick.

  • Desmond out on 30/12/2021 - 22:02

    Better go for Mazda 2.5 all wheel drive with 6 speed auto

    • [Deactivated] on 31/12/2021 - 11:07

      6 speed auto? What is this 2005?

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