2019 Kia Sportage test drive

**bloowolf** · April 24th, 2019 07:37 AM

Originally Posted by sparc179

As in pinapa-ubos na lang nila, tama po ba sir Bloo? With a tempting discount to boot.

Still, I'm going to wait for the 2019 version. The specs appeal to me more.

Back in September 2017 when I started browsing around for a new car, most dealers had on display the GT Line FWD w/o a sunroof (sr), an LX gas & rarely an LX crdi. When I had decided come Nov, no LX crdi were available in all dealerships. CACC had ordered & expected units to arrive sometime 2018. By Dec, I decided to place a down to reserve a unit & color. The agony of waiting will really test your nerves. By Jan 2019, dealer relayed the news that the shipment had arrived but it will still take weeks to move out of the port (Batangas). My guess is, these units being sold now are not ACI’s, but still CACC’s, who still has a minority share in Kia Phl. Remember I told you before that CACC expected ACI to buy all units from them but ACI declined & wanted to make an impact by offering all new 2019 models? They will still help out CACC by promoting these stocks. I was just surprised that the GT Line CACC brought in is the AWD/SR version.

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**sparc179** · April 24th, 2019 07:46 AM

Originally Posted by bloowolf

Back in September 2017 when I started browsing around for a new car, most dealers had on display the GT Line FWD w/o a sunroof (sr), an LX gas & rarely an LX crdi. When I had decided come Nov, no LX crdi were available in all dealerships. CACC had ordered & expected units to arrive sometime 2018. By Dec, I decided to place a down to reserve a unit & color. The agony of waiting will really test your nerves. By Jan 2019, dealer relayed the news that the shipment had arrived but it will still take weeks to move out of the port (Batangas). My guess is, these units being sold now are not ACI’s, but still CACC’s, who still has a minority share in Kia Phl. Remember I told you before that CACC expected ACI to buy all units from them but ACI declined & wanted to make an impact by offering all new 2019 models? They will still help out CACC by promoting these stocks. I was just surprised that the GT Line CACC brought in is the AWD/SR version.

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Same old story from the dealerships then sir Bloo. The last convo I had with one SA, she told me last week of March or first week of April. It's now almost the end of April and no updates at all. One would think that after all my follow-ups they would be more than happy there's already one sure buyer here just waiting. Then again they can't control what happens with the shipment of cars, the red tape that has to be dealt with and the inevitable changes coming from the new distributor.

My deadline is June of this year anyway, if nothing happens by the end of June, than I'll probably look elsewhere.

**bloowolf** · April 24th, 2019 07:50 AM

^just a suggestion though. Have you guys tried inquiring with the Kia distributors in Global, since this is owned by Ayala Corp. themselves?

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**sparc179** · April 24th, 2019 07:59 AM

Originally Posted by bloowolf

^just a suggestion though. Have you guys tried inquiring with the Kia distributors in Global, since this is owned by Ayala Corp. themselves?

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I guess it's time I do it. I was hoping one of the dealers closer to me would suffice, thanks for the suggestment sir Bloo.

Checking out their FB page now.

**Mecs** · April 25th, 2019 11:31 AM

*sparc179

Did you place a reservation already? I placed mine at Kia Carmona before Holy Week started and they said that they will order it from the plant in Laguna prior to the long weekend and will advise me this week once available. Wondering if the delivery of the unit will take as long as the wait time in your case bro. I test drove the crv s variant last Monday and I just don't feel the connection. It was a good test drive but the missing shifter replaced by the push button just made me feel disconnected from the car. And the difference in power response was really noticeable. It was adequate but not quite to my liking. But a long wait time makes the crv a more acceptable 2nd choice.

**Egan101** · April 25th, 2019 11:48 AM

In case there is limited stocks of the Sportage AWD model, I guess it is a better option to go for the Sorento 4x2 model instead if there ready stocks available. Less than 100k lang ata price difference and you got a more premium ride with the Sorento. The CRV Diesel S model is also around the same price as these two.

**sparc179** · April 25th, 2019 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by Mecs

*sparc179

Did you place a reservation already? I placed mine at Kia Carmona before Holy Week started and they said that they will order it from the plant in Laguna prior to the long weekend and will advise me this week once available. Wondering if the delivery of the unit will take as long as the wait time in your case bro. I test drove the crv s variant last Monday and I just don't feel the connection. It was a good test drive but the missing shifter replaced by the push button just made me feel disconnected from the car. And the difference in power response was really noticeable. It was adequate but not quite to my liking. But a long wait time makes the crv a more acceptable 2nd choice.

That's just it Doc, I'm still waiting for my test drive so I can also place my reservation. The 4 SAs I've spoken to can't seem to schedule it. Ang excuse nila lagi dahil wala pa daw yung variant na inaantay ko.

I've test driven the Forester-S, Xtrail and the CRV-S, yung Sporty na lang inaantay ko so I can finally decide. But on paper, at least and for what I plan to do with it, the Sporty is still the front-runner.

**sparc179** · April 25th, 2019 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by Egan101

In case there is limited stocks of the Sportage AWD model, I guess it is a better option to go for the Sorento 4x2 model instead if there ready stocks available. Less than 100k lang ata price difference and you got a more premium ride with the Sorento. The CRV Diesel S model is also around the same price as these two.

AFAWK the 2019 versions do not have AWD Master E. It's not on my list of requirements anyway, no worries.

In my case, the Sorento and CRV Diesels will be too long and too big for our garage with 4 other cars, and besides we don't need 7 seats.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

I guess all good things come to those who wait.

**Egan101** · April 25th, 2019 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by sparc179

AFAWK the 2019 versions do not have AWD Master E. It's not on my list of requirements anyway, no worries.

In my case, the Sorento and CRV Diesels will be too long and too big for our garage with 4 other cars, and besides we don't need 7 seats.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

I guess all good things come to those who wait.

If you check the dimensions of the Sportage and Sorento, there is not much difference. The Sorento just has a longer wheelbase thus a foot longer but less than 2 inches wider, less than 2 inches taller.

Length: Sorento (4800mm), Sportage (4480mm)
Width: Sorento (1890mm), Sportage (1855mm)
Height Sorento (1685mm), Sportage (1655mm)
Wheelbase: Sorento (2780mm), Sportage (2670mm)

However, the Sportage will be lighter and more agile.

**sparc179** · April 25th, 2019 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by Egan101

If you check the dimensions of the Sportage and Sorento, there is not much difference. The Sorento just has a longer wheelbase thus a foot longer but less than 2 inches wider, less than 2 inches taller.

Length: Sorento (4800mm), Sportage (4480mm)
Width: Sorento (1890mm), Sportage (1855mm)
Height Sorento (1685mm), Sportage (1655mm)
Wheelbase: Sorento (2780mm), Sportage (2670mm)

However, the Sportage will be lighter and more agile.

Yup yup! Did that Master E, that's why one of my biggest, non-negotiable requirements is the length. Otherwise, all the 4 cars that park in our garage won't fit. There's only about a foot to spare on the sides and less than 6 inches on the front and back.

Also, like I mentioned, I don't need anything bigger, 5 seats is more than adequate for me, my wife and 2 children. We aren't big people anyway. The Rav4 is quite spacious for us as it is.