2012 Subaru Forester 2.0 XS vs. 2013 Kia Sportage 2.0 CRDi?

**mda** · December 24th, 2012 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by gabster_26

Was considering the CR-V din but it seems so stripped compared with the features of the Sportage and Forester, plus it's more expensive. It would actually have been a good choice, since I have a slight discount if I get a Honda...

Didn't realize you mentioned 1.3M max.

The 2 A/T CRV variants would fit your budget if you want to stretch the budget a little.

CR-V 2.0 V AT PHP 1,325,000.00
CR-V 2.0 S AT PHP 1,390,000.00

The 2.0 S isn't all that stripped I think, lalo if you get a discount for it. I'd think it also has more space compared to the F'ster and the Sportage.

The incoming RAV4 (sabi, January 2013) should be at around 1.4 daw (according to the article on kotse.com).

I still don't like how the CRV looks though.

Just trying to give you more options I guess.

**April_Ryan** · December 24th, 2012 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by gabster_26

Thanks - will check it out! Are you talking about McKinley-level traffic? That's good since I might be moving to that area later this year...do you feel like your Forester's 7km/liter mileage is too low? I assume you have the 2.0XS model too...

Yes. Via McKinley or Buendia or Pasong Tamo extension. Horrible.

I think 7km/l is reasonable. I was at around 9km/l with my 1.8L MT RAv4 so I think it's not bad. I don't know about the mileage of the CRDis though.

**sachiel** · December 26th, 2012 06:30 PM

If the Forester still has their discount scheme, I would go for it. If you want to test drive, try driving in uneven roads or slight potholes. You will know how well the car drives this way.

**tr1ck5h07** · December 26th, 2012 07:43 PM

If you decide on the Forester, better reserve yours quickly. I hear the stock of the current model will be all out by the end of January.

Like you, my budget for a new SUV capped at around 1.3M. The upcoming Forester is targeted to be in the 1.5M price range.

Best thing to do is to test drive both and check their cargo capacity.

**gabster_26** · December 26th, 2012 08:02 PM

I am still so torn! Spent the past two days mulling this over. I actually have quotations in hand na for both. Kia already gave me a free upgrade to the head unit, so the only edge the Forester now has, on paper, is the large sunroof. And it's still ***ier than the Sportage for me, hehe.

The Sportage looks like it's going to win via a landslide...less expensive by 8K pesos, a more powerful and economical diesel engine, a spare tire that's a fifth wheel, and it has most of the comforts that the Forester has, except for the sunroof...which I like very much. The Subaru is like the ***y girl you can't stop looking at. Lol.

What still troubles me about the Forester is the potential costs of ownership...read the whole Forester and Subaru PMS threads, umaabot raw ng 90K ang ilaw, for example? And the PMS costs can reportedly get expensive at around 7-9k, with the 40k package going for around 30k pesos. I haven't been able to find comparable info on the Sportage - can anyone give feedback on their PMS costs so far? This will be my first car and I am not sure if the Forester's PMS cost is typical or mas mahal lang talaga siya imaintain.

Lastly, there's that nagging feeling pa rin when it comes to Korean cars...ok na ba talaga quality nila compared to the past? Am I overlooking anything? I want to find stronger reasons to consider the Forester, but the practical man in me is leaning - at this moment - toward the Sportage.

Kainis, nakaleave pa ung purchasing manager namin, di ko tuloy mapaandar ung proceso hehe

**tr1ck5h07** · December 26th, 2012 08:37 PM

Yes, the headlight assembly costs 90k, but how often are you going to replace your headlight? And in the case of an accident, your insurance will cover the cost and your participation will be just 3K (for the first 3 years of ownership).

PMS costs are roughly 5-10% more than other Japanese makes, so it's not that high really.

I don't know about the PMS intervals and rates for KIA so I'd defer that to our KIA brothers.

**April_Ryan** · December 26th, 2012 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by gabster_26

What still troubles me about the Forester is the potential costs of ownership...read the whole Forester and Subaru PMS threads, umaabot raw ng 90K ang ilaw, for example? And the PMS costs can reportedly get expensive at around 7-9k, with the 40k package going for around 30k pesos. I haven't been able to find comparable info on the Sportage - can anyone give feedback on their PMS costs so far? This will be my first car and I am not sure if the Forester's PMS cost is typical or mas mahal lang talaga siya imaintain.

Since the current gen Sportage was introduced in 2011, and the CRDi even more recently (I think middle of 2012), you won't get any data on 40,000kms PMS yet. At most, maybe 5,000-10,000kms lang. See this thread --> http://tsikot.com/forums/kia-cars-ta...58/index4.html Maybe you can ask owners of older gen Sportage and other Kia diesels to chime in?

It will really be a leap of faith, either way, so good luck. I think you won't go wrong with either choice, as there are a lot of posters here who love the Sportage, particularly the CRDi variant.

In the interest of full disclosure, I was in the same boat a few months back, faced with the same choice as you, and ended up with a Forester. I figure I will get to 40,000 kms in 5 years, which gives me 5 years to save P30,000

**gabster_26** · December 26th, 2012 09:26 PM

I see - good point. Hopefully the 2.0 is not as underpowered as people make it out to be. I test drove it, ok naman ako sa performance nya. Di ko nga matell ung difference ng ride nila ng Sportage :p

At this point it looks like a toss up, I'll probably get whichever our car plan person is able to find the best deal for...go for the creature comforts, handling, and dream sunroof of the Forester (but face more expensive fueling and potentially PMS costs), or get the bang-for-the-buck Sportage (but face uncertainty about Korean quality and parts, as well as the potentially more delicate CRDi and its associated costs).

I should have a decision na by next week...

**gabster_26** · December 26th, 2012 09:48 PM

Originally Posted by April_Ryan

Since the current gen Sportage was introduced in 2011, and the CRDi even more recently (I think middle of 2012), you won't get any data on 40,000kms PMS yet. At most, maybe 5,000-10,000kms lang. See this thread --> http://tsikot.com/forums/kia-cars-ta...58/index4.html Maybe you can ask owners of older gen Sportage and other Kia diesels to chime in?

It will really be a leap of faith, either way, so good luck. I think you won't go wrong with either choice, as there are a lot of posters here who love the Sportage, particularly the CRDi variant.

In the interest of full disclosure, I was in the same boat a few months back, faced with the same choice as you, and ended up with a Forester. I figure I will get to 40,000 kms in 5 years, which gives me 5 years to save P30,000

Understood :D saw nga that you use it as your daily driver, which is what I plan to do with the vehicle I get. What was the ultimate deciding factor for you in picking the Forester?

I'm currently digging up as much info on the Forester's gas consumption - you mentioned it was around 7 km/l in heavy traffic - and hopefully it won't be as bad as my old gas revo was. Now that was a gas guzzler..

**vwaudimb** · December 27th, 2012 01:20 AM

Same boat 3 weeks ago, but in a different level of a vehicle. Choices were innova, montero sport, Subaru. Both diesel and gas. What I like about the subby is more on features and safety. For features like the sunroof, hid headlights, the avt navi with sub and rear camera. For safety the seven airbags and subaru's signature awd. But the other 2 fits my life style more because of more room in the innova or montero sport. Subaru wins this round. So far loving the xs.