I was going to informative  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Or just swiss ! 

Got a curve ball for you, Have a look at the third generattion Kia Sportage.

I work for a Kia dealer and i have just been on the launch day for the car and all i can say is that I am so impressed it is untrue. Designed by the same man who did the Audi TT and the Q series, it looks like a Q5. He was there today and i belived him when he said it was the best car he has ever done1

The 2.0 diesal comes in a 6 speed manual or auto. Direct competitor for the Kuga, that Nissan Qashqui and Hyundai IX35. To get the kit this car has in the Ford or Nissan you would have to be paying around £28000.

Similar sort of 4x4 system as the Freelander, mainly front wheel drive until you need it when it splits 50/50. Can be locked into 4x4 upto 25 mph. Obviously it is not going to be as good off road as the Freelander but the interior, standard features, price and warranty beat the Freelander hands down. I wanted to hate this car but i have fell for it big style.

18inch Alloy wheels
Full quality leather interior not the usual Asian rubbish
seperate lights that come on when you indicate to help you round corners (like the mercs and audis)
Heated front and REAR seat
Led running lights
Electric powerfold mirrors with LED indicators.
Heated front windscreen
Reversing camera
Hill asist (bit like HDC on Freelander )
Hill Start assist (wont roll back when doing a hill start)
full ipod compatability
Voice activation and proper bluetooth that works :
Parking sensors

If you are gong to tow anything it can pull 2 tons and has a ball nose weight of 80kg

Best of all it has a 7 year warranty which is not a con likle people think, it covers everything for the full seven years apart from the battery.

The price, only £20777. I cannot praise the car enough and it drives like a dream, admittedly it wont be as good off road but on it, i think LR will have a problem

Check outthe link below for the full spec of the vehicle, and more importantly go and have a look at it, dont be put off by the badge

http://www.kia.co.uk/New-Cars/Range/SUVs/New-Sportage.aspx Gone S383 ABA Freelander 2.0 XEDI Rioja Red
Gone NT02 CUA Freelander 2.0 TD4 ES Blue
Gone ND06 URU Freelander 2.0 TD4 Rimini Red
Gone NA56 VJN Freeelander 2.0 TD4 Black
HERE OE07 JRX Freelander 2.2 TD4 XS Rimini

Last edited by Bone on 28th Jul 2010 9:15 pm. Edited 2 times in total

christo the lord wrote:

the santa fe looks better and has 7years warranty try that pluss its bigger than a freelander

I saw a pic of the sportage the other day and thought it looked loads better than the one I used to have


http://www.auto-car-shop.com/2010/03/the-n...ith-video/ Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

The best way i can descibe it is that it is like comparing a DI Freelander 1 with a reelander 2. You can tell they are related but they are a world of difference.

When i drove it, i thought it was going to be £26k to £28k for the spec we were in, ie the one on the website, could not believe it when they said £20777 for manual and £22000 for Auto.

Its a bargain, even better that i am getting one as a demonstartor so it will cost me nowt  Gone S383 ABA Freelander 2.0 XEDI Rioja Red
Gone NT02 CUA Freelander 2.0 TD4 ES Blue
Gone ND06 URU Freelander 2.0 TD4 Rimini Red
Gone NA56 VJN Freeelander 2.0 TD4 Black
HERE OE07 JRX Freelander 2.2 TD4 XS Rimini

Can't believe this, on the Freel 2 site and seeing members praising the virtues of Kia.

Have a look at one in the flesh and i dont think you will fail to be amazed at the level of kit and the warranty package for the price Gone S383 ABA Freelander 2.0 XEDI Rioja Red
Gone NT02 CUA Freelander 2.0 TD4 ES Blue
Gone ND06 URU Freelander 2.0 TD4 Rimini Red
Gone NA56 VJN Freeelander 2.0 TD4 Black
HERE OE07 JRX Freelander 2.2 TD4 XS Rimini

The only problem with the Kia is it will never be regarded as a premium SUV, it will always be put up against the likes of the Quashqui and Koleos etc and so LR, Audi and BMW drivers wont even give it a second glance. I know its wrong and must admit I like the look and spec of the Kia but its fighting a losing battle trying to get in the premium SUV market

My freelander is due for replacement at the end of this month and i started looking 6 months ago.

I looked at the Disco D4 and loved the engine and power but i am not a fan of air suspension and found it too bouncy and my children flet sick in the back.

I looked at BMW but i am not a big BMW fan they are too hard and not right for me.

I looked at the Kia Sorrento and you get a lot for your money but again i am a bit image driven and couldn't see me driving a Kia.

I like thr Freelander but i have been put off by the problems mine has had, new rear diff, new gearbox and going on fire. If the facelift had been announced sooner i would probably have considered it especially with the increased power and lower emmisions.

In the end i test drove a Q5 3.0 tdi and although i didn't expect to like it i was impressed. it is due for delivery next week and i cant wait. I may regret the choice but the power from the 3 litre is great and fit and finish are very good.

I'll post my views once it arrives.

ad210358 wrote:

Can't believe this, on the Freel 2 site and seeing members praising the virtues of Kia.

What's next...C*r*v*ns

mcphersonstrut wrote:

What's next...C*r*v*ns

thats enough,go stand in the corner mr strut At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

That's the first post that you've actually made any sense CG - OK I'll go...but in two weeks....I'LL BE BACK

can we move the forum somewhere else while he's gone?, he will never find us again


Imagine the mood he will be in on his return after 2 weeks sleeping in a wooden box  At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

I went from my Vauxhall to a KIA, had reservations on the badge, but for the money it ticked the boxes

I would not really want to downgrade to one now though, but if costs had to be cut for whatever reason, i would still look towards the jap/korean market

If cost can be increased at the time to swap, i'm looking towards something larger, maybe a D4, but most likly a FL2 Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis