Kia Sportage Problems

The camper trailer isn’t a heavy one, so most compact SUVs would handle it comfortably, and would have the space for your fridge and extra battery. A Toyota RAV4 would do the job, so would a Suzuki Vitara, or a Kia Sportage.

It’s not a common problem, with the Sportage or AWD vehicles in general. Even though yours is well out of warranty it’s still covered by the consumer protection laws, so it’s worth asking Kia for at least part of the cost of repairs.

You can call Kia’s customer assistance service on 1800 600 010, but I suspect you won’t get the satisfaction you’re looking for. I believe you’ll find that the accessories you are waiting for are aftermarket items fitted by the dealer, and not from Kia.

So many things affect road noise, which makes it difficult to fix. There’s the road surface itself, the tyres, and the noise insulation in the vehicle. The Honda CR-V might well be quieter, but could still be noisy on the roads you drive on. If the road noise is the thing that is making you switch vehicles, then it might be worth talking to a tyre dealer about a tyre that might be quieter than the ones on your Kluger. If you want to go down that road, you could try a Mazda CX-5 or CX-7, a Kia Sorento or Sportage, Toyota RAV4.

If the shorter warranty of the Subaru is a major concern for you then certainly look at others, like the Sportage or Eclipse, but I would buy the Outback with confidence it will give you a good run beyond the warranty.

There are three engines available in the 2018 Kia Sportage: a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 114 kW in the SLi, Si Premium and Si, a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 135 kW in the GT-Line, and a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine with 136 kW.

Because you want to travel to the snow, and visit farms, I would suggest an all-wheel drive compact wagon, and with your need for low running and service costs I would suggest that it be an Asian brand. Models to consider would be a Subaru Forester, Nissan X-Trail or Kia Sportage.

All cars have some degree of lumbar support, but whether that’s enough for you is something only you can determine. I’m not aware of any carmaker that offers anything to increase lumbar support. I would suggest you consult a company that specialises in seats for people with special needs, a company such as Recaro.

It's hard to give you a definite recommendation, as most cargo measurements are in litres rather than floor length, but I reckon most mid-size wagons and large SUVs would do the job for you. 

Most of these have a flat boot floor with the seats folded, and likely have ample body length for sleeping. 

So Mazda6, Skoda Superb or Ford Mondeo wagons are worth a look, plus large SUVs like the Mazda CX-9, Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe. 

Don't be afraid to try them out for size at the dealers either. You'd certainly test out a mattress before buying right?!

Both would be well suited on the basis of what you have told us. The top Sportage is more expensive than the top XV, but it’s more economical, the service intervals are a little longer, and it comes with a 7-year warranty compared to the XV’s 3-year deal. If you planned to keep the car for a number of years I would suggest the Sportage is the better choice, but if you turn your cars over regularly I would probably go for the XV.