Kia Sportage vs Hyundai Tucson
We checkout the difference between the siblings
Some of KIA’s offerings have been truly delightful. For instance, recently we got our hands on KIA’s Carnival, the MPV that would probably take on the likes of Toyota Innova, which has over the years carved a niche for itself in the market. Then there is the Rio X-line, perhaps targeted towards the overtly edgy buyer. One thing that cannot be denied, is the fact that both KIA and Hyundai share the same platforms, engines and drivetrains for their model range. But are they identical? If not, then how do they differ? That’s where we step in. There seems to be plenty of curiosity not to forget the questions that need to be answered when it comes to both the above. So we decided to make the choice slightly simpler for you as we pit two SUVs—the KIA Sportage and the Hyundai Tucson against each other. Read on to
see what differentiates the two and which one is more suitable to your liking.
DESIGN
Let’s begin with the obvious first, since the exterior is the first thing a customer looks at before going into the showrooms. The Tucson now in its third generation has adopted Hyundai’s Fluidic 2.0 design philosophy and as a result is sharper than it has ever looked before. The front end is unique with a threetier light console comprising of dual barrel projector lamps with integrated static cornering lights, a fog lamp unit and then daytime running lights. The large chrome hexagonal grille makes it unmistakably a Hyundai. In profile too there are plenty of plastic claddings to ensure that it looks like a proper SUV complete with the overall rugged look. The Tucson also rides on 18-inch wheels and Hyundai has opted for high profile tyres which are perfectly suited for harsh Indian road. At the back, the wrap around tail lamps are attractive and there is a spoiler too which adds to the overall buff look. The Sportage on the other hand identifies itself clearly as a KIA thanks to the signature ‘Tiger nose’ grille treatment. Adding to the overall flair of the design are the light consoles up front. They have a rather sporty hue to them and we love the way they are mounted. Being the top Euro spec GT Line model, our test Sportage came with 19-inch alloys and low profile tyres.
Quite clearly this spec will not be launched in India as the Sportage will also have to deal with the Indian roads. In profile the flared wheel arches and blacked out pillars look brilliant. The theme continues at the rear where large wrap around tail lights reside. Quite simply then, both KIA and Hyundai have drawn a serious line of demarcation in differentiating themselves as far as design goes.
INSIDE THE TUCSON LOOKS BRIGHT THANKS TO THE DUAL TONE FINISH. IN THE SPORTAGE BLACK IS THE DOMINANT
COLOUR THEME INSIDE THE CABIN
DIMENSION CHECK
Both the Tucson and the Sportage will go head to head (that is if and when the Sportage is launched in Inida). Dimensions reveal that both SUVs are more or less the same size, barring slight differences in length and width, where the Sportage comes out as a bigger SUV by 5mm. The Tucson gains in this comparison in the height department as it stands taller at 1,660mm. Largely, the length and the breadth are the result of the unique design philosophies followed by the brand.
INTERIOR/CABIN
Moving on to the interiors of the car, inside the Tucson looks bright thanks to the dual tone treatment that is offered by the company. The dashboard is large and spacious and there are plenty of cubby holes and bottle holders strewn
around the cockpit. The all new touchscreen infotainment device also supports Android and Apple Car Play. When it comes to fea-
tures, there are enough found in the Tucson though my personal favourite by far is the electric tail gate which automatically oper- ates with gesture movements from the outside. The same can be operated from within the cabin and from the key well too. There is plenty of space within the cabin—be it up front or at the back, the Tucson will keep its passengers comfortable all the way. The boot too is substantially large and the seats can be further folded to increase cargo space. KIA on the other hand, tells a different story internally. Black is the dominant colour theme inside the cabin and the dashboard and panels are all black. The centre console positioning is different in the Sportage and the infotainment system not as attractive as the Tucson. The screen is small and there are plenty of buttons surrounding the unit. Hyundai in the mean time have tried hard to reduce the number of buttons used on the
console over the past few years. The Sportage though features a piano black treatment around the infotainment system as a result making it look posh. The instrument panel of the Sportage is also more interesting than the Tucson; it’s sportier and offers all the information a driver can possibly need. The Sportage also gets more luxury features like ventilated seats and an adjustable steering wheel, a massive sunroof and even an added safety feature like the lane assist. All this ob- viously has to be attributed to the origin of this particular model as mentioned earlier. Space too is at par with the Hyundai and we would have to try quite hard to find a fault in the Sportage’s interior.
THE DRIVE
We drove the 2.0-litre diesel powered automatic version which churns out 185bhp and 400Nm of torque. The first thing that majorly impressed us was the NVH pack- age. The engine is barely audible inside the cabin and even on-the-move one will be hard pressed to believe that there is big diesel engine under the bonnet. There are three drive modes and putting the SUV in Sport mode surely changes the feel and character of the car as one can immediately feel the punch. However, one surely gets to feel the power thanks to the brilliant tug it offers. The gearbox and transmission too are seamless and works well even when the foot
SPORTAGE FEELS FASTER ON THE GO AND MORE INCLINED TOWARDS PERFORMANCE. THE PADDLE SHIFTERS ADD TO THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE
is pressed hard down. The Sportage no doubt comes with the same motor and displaces 1,995cc. The motor is mated to a 6-speed automatic and keeping to the sporty GT Line variant, one also gets paddle shifters. The drive modes are identical to the Hyundai and switching changes the character of the car significantly. This one feels a tad faster on the go and more inclined towards performance. The paddle shifters add to the drive experience and downshifts are relatively quick. Overall the KIA feels smooth and refined. This is what we like about it; It morphs well in tune with the conditions and performs brilliantly.
RIDE AND HANDLING
The Tucson is a fairly decent ride and handles beautifully. The set up is in sync with Indian requirements and hence is soft in nature. It then absorbs bumps well, however on the downside, it does display more body roll than its counterpart. The steering feels light, once again much needed in India. The Sportage alternatively is stiffer set and demonstrates good cornering capabilities. The steering too provides more feedback and therefore we think the Sportage offers a more involving drive, while the Tucson is higher on the comfort quotient.