2017 Kia Sportage vs Subaru Outback

What's the difference?

Stop thinking of Kia as 'cheap and cheerful', because it doesn't apply any more. It's selling a lot of cars thanks in part to an industry-leading seven-year warranty, but they're also selling cars because they look good, they're well-specced and they're well priced.

The Sportage line is front and centre of this strategy, with smart specs and pricing right across the range. We'd like to see more driver aid safety systems added, while the update for the 2.0-litre petrol engine will also be welcomed. If you can stretch, the GT-Line is the pick for value and safety.

The Outback is a classic Subaru. Over the last two decades it has evolved from a cladding-and-ride-height Liberty special to a car in its own right. It looks like nothing else on the road and does it with a very good spec.

In the value for money stakes, it's almost unbeatable with advanced safety features (diesel manual excepted), plenty of standard equipment and surprisingly low prices. If you had to pick one, it would probably be the 2.5i Premium - it has all the safety gear without the penalty of the 3.6R's fuel consumption, plenty of comfort and is a bargain.

Kia's exterior design has come into its own in this current generation of models, with its designers adopting  the same large, hourglass-style grille across the range.

There's a deferential nod to the Sportage's SUV intentions, with thin black plastic overfender liners and covers, while the nose offers good clearance for cityscapes and parking blocks.

The Sportage is among the sharpest looking medium size SUVs out there at the moment, and the Si and SLi models don't let the side down. They do miss out on the distinctive quad LED driving lamps of the top grades, but the single halogen foglights still look okay.

The GT Line stands out even further, with concept car-like 19-inch rims, a body kit, blacked-out exterior and an unusually cool headlight/LED driving lamp arrangement.

As the interior photos show, it's quite dark throughout, thanks mainly to its GT Line status. Various shades of grey and black dominate, with a lighter roof liner adding some ambience to the interior.

Right from the entry level version of the Sportage, this SUV is spot on for everyday practicality.

When it comes to colours, 'Clear White' is available right across the range, along with 'Clear Silver', 'Sparkling Silver' – more of a grey, really - and 'Fiery Red.'

The range-topping petrol can also be had in 'Snow White' or 'Cherry Black', while 'Mercury Blue' is available across most of the range. Brighter hues like orange and gold aren't offered.

The Outback is looking less and less like the Liberty as the years wear on. With its high ride height (ground clearance is a lofty 213mm) it looks like an SUV, even though it's a wagon. It goes without a bull bar or nudge bar but, with lots unpainted black plastic, has a rugged exterior.

Sadly, despite its credentials as an adventurer, there's no panoramic sunroof option - you'll have to make do with a conventional one.

As you move up the range, some of that unpainted black plastic is swapped out for a satin metallic finish but there's not a great deal of visual difference if you're using that measure by way of comparison. One clue is a dark window tint on the upper models, and LED headlights.

As the cabin photos show, it's a classy, high quality interior. Again, as you work your way up the range, leather seats join the party to make a good interior even more comfortable. The dash is typical Subaru - clear, concise and packed full of information in its detailed trip computer.

Right from the entry level version of the Sportage, this SUV is spot on for everyday practicality, with a load of features that will be used regularly – and a lack of gizmos that will be ignored.

The 7.0-inch infotainment screen is one of the standard features across the range, and can be controlled either by a touch or via a clear, concise and easy-to-operate line of buttons on the centre console – though the deep-set screen means it can be a stretch to reach it.

A pair of traditional dials brackets a small digital screen in the centre of the dash. Again, it's a real nod to simplicity and ease of use. The steering wheel controls are comprehensive, even on the base Si, but again they are simple to understand and use.

Storage spaces are plentiful and clever in the Sportage, too. Two cup holders are in the centre console, there's room for larger bottles in all four doors, as well as a pair of (slightly small) cup holders in the centre rear armrest.

There's 466 litres of boot size with the seats up – more, in terms of boot space dimensions, than the Mazda CX-5.

A pair of ISOFIX baby seat mounts are fitted on the rear outboard seats, but the centre rear sash belt is mounted in the ceiling. It needs to be disconnected if you want to make the most of the large cargo space, which is a pain, to be honest. It diminishes from the car's otherwise good practicality.

If you're running a kid's sport team, there's one question you'll undoubtedly have; how many seats does a Kia Sportage have? Just five, and there's no option for a third row.

The 60/40 split rear seats flop down quickly and firmly with the pull of a lever on the sides of the seats. There's 466 litres of boot size with the seats up – more, in terms of boot space dimensions, than the Mazda CX-5 – and 1455 litres of luggage capacity in the down position.

One small annoyance is a lack of auto-up on the passenger side front window in the entry-level Si, but it's common across a lot of Kia and Hyundai cars.

There are plenty of places to charges phones and tablets across all Kia Sportage models, with a pair of 12 volt sockets for rear-seat passengers and a pair for the front, as well as USB and auxiliary in ports.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is coming for the Si, we're told, and will be able to be retrofitted by dealers with a simple software upgrade. This allows you to use your phone like an MP3 player, amongst other functions.

There's no CD player or digital radio for the sound system, though the standard speakers are surprisingly impressive. The GT Line also gets an inductive phone charging tray.

Despite the Sportage being a medium SUV in size, it fits four adults in absolute comfort and ease.

A cargo net and tie-down hooks are included in the cargo area of SLi and above models, and there's a full-sized spare underneath the boot floor. There are also LED lights throughout the cabin.

Despite the Sportage being a medium SUV in size, it fits four adults in absolute comfort and ease, and five when required; three kids across the back is no problem. The driving position is slightly higher than expected, but it's still perfectly suited to both small and tall drivers.

The full-length glass sunroof of the top-spec GT Line doesn't affect head height, but it also doesn't slide back; it only tilts up.

Controls in the GT-Line for oft-used switches like lane departure and blind spot warning systems, and even the illumination controls for the dashboard are well placed, rather than being buried in the multimedia system menu. The top-spec car also gets an electronic handbrake.

All Outbacks have cup holder count of four - two up front and two in the rear.

There is no third-row seating available in the Outback. As a result, the question of how many seats is easily settled - five. The generous interior dimensions mean plenty of space for passengers of just about any size, with good front and rear legroom.

Boot space is impressive, with 512L to start and when you fold down the rear seats, a massive 1801L of cargo capacity. Boot dimensions are identical across all five models. You can secure your luggage with an optional cargo barrier or take advantage of the space over your head using the roof rails or an approved roof rack. There is also a cargo cover to hide your stuff from prying eyes. If you need to keep your eye protection from rolling around the interior, there is a sunglass holder, and you can fit the owner's manual in the glove box - not something every car can manage.

The turning circle is reasonable at 11 metres.

The Outback price range stretches from $35,470 for a good honest diesel manual through to a flat-six auto at $48,740, with three distinct models sandwiched in between. Subaru likes to publish the drive-away price on its website, however we'll be dealing in list prices (before on-road costs) here.

The range breaks down into three petrol models and two diesels, for a total of five trim levels.

The 2.0D opens the range at $35,470 for the six-speed manual while the 2.0D Premium manual starts at $42,240. Add $3000 for the CVT automatic transmission.

Standard features on the 2.0D with manual transmission are 17-inch alloy rims, six speakers, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, reverse camera, rain sensing wipers, cruise control, daytime running lights, halogen headlights (no xenon, projector or HID headlights), a mild body kit with side skirts, power windows, cloth trim, full size spare tyre, hill holder and electric power steering.

Opt for the CVT diesel and you pick up EyeSight, which adds active cruise control and a suite of safety features as well as X-Mode which helps in the slippery stuff and includes hill descent control. This isn't an off-road review, but X-Mode is very effective on the slippery stuff.

If you're after a more premium package, the aptly-named 2.5i Premium sees the addition of Vision Assist to go with EyeSight.

Stepping up to the 2.5i yields larger 18-inch alloy wheels, standard CVT automatic transmission, leather steering wheel, rear spoiler, and it swaps out the turbo diesel for a non-turbo petrol four-cylinder. The 2.5i starts at $36,240.

If you're after a more premium package, the aptly-named 2.5i Premium sees the addition of Vision Assist to go with EyeSight, leather trim, sunroof, sat nav, powered heated front seats, a bigger touch screen at 7.0-inches, two USB ports, powered tailgate, keyless entry, push button start and LED headlights. It costs $42,240.

Finally, the 3.6R gets you the big-banger performance from the flat six and an 11-speaker stereo (including subwoofer). It costs $48,740.

The accessories range includes floor mats, boot liner and various protective parts.

Still missing across the range are Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, but you can plug in your iPhone or Android device to the sound system or pair via Bluetooth. Powered by Subaru's Starlink touchscreen software, the multimedia system comprises of a CD player and AM/FM radio (but no DAB across the range). Your multimedia needs can also be fulfilled with a USB port where you can plug in a phone or use the inbuilt MP3 player with a memory stick.

The accessories range includes floor mats, boot liner and various protective parts (underbody protection is limited to wheel-arch liners).

Missing from the standard spec lists are a DVD player, parking sensors (dealer fitted only), heated steering wheel, snorkel, bull bar, nudge bar, driving lights, seat belt extender, tonneau cover, canopy, chrome exhaust tips (they're hidden away behind the bumper), park assist, performance suspension or a high capacity spare battery.

Colours include Crystal Black, Dark Blue, Lapis Blue, Oak Brown Pearl, Tungsten (a sort of pink), Venetian Red, Dark Grey, Platinum Grey, Ice Silver and Crystal White. Sadly, the traditional green and gold combo of the original is no longer available. The vivid orange on the XV is - perhaps mercifully - also unavailable.

A regular question we get from prospective buyers is, "Where is the Subaru Outback built?". In the Australian case the Outback hails from Japan, while US buyers get theirs from Subaru's Indiana plant.

Three engine specifications are available across the Kia Sportage range, with a six-speed automatic transmission standard on all models. Manual variants were discontinued late in 2016.

The engine specs of the base 2.0-litre MPI petrol engine in the Si and SLi are starting to show their age, with a more modern direct-injection unit likely to power the car in the near future.

The current motor pumps out 114kW at 6200rpm and 192Nm at 4000rpm, and is backed by a six-speed automatic that drives the front wheels.

Kia's common rail direct-injection 2.0-litre turbo-diesel is a willing performer with excellent manners.

Kia's common rail direct-injection 2.0-litre turbo-diesel specs, meanwhile, are 136kW at 4000rpm, with 400Nm of torque available from as low as 1750rpm. Its horsepower is available across the range, and is a willing performer with excellent manners.

The top grade GT's engine size is a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol, and sports ratings of 135kW at 6000rpm and torque specs of 237Nm at 4000rpm, and is only available as an AWD. It's not offered with an LPG conversion, in case you're wondering.

Towing capacity of the 2.4-litre is 1500kg, the 2.0-litre can tow 1600kg, while the diesel can lug 1900kg of braked trailer; we'll bring you a towing review soon.

Kia's common rail direct-injection 2.0-litre turbo-diesel is a willing performer with excellent manners. Its 136kW peaks at 4000rpm, while its 400Nm of torque is available from as low as 1750rpm.

Its six-speed auto is linked to a front-biased all wheel drive system that can send 40 per cent of torque to the rear wheels for extra 4WD traction. There's also a remote button to lock the centre diff, while a drive-select switch allows for Eco and Sport modes for gearbox and throttle.

All Outbacks are all-wheel-drive. There are no LPG or plug-in hybrid models. So for fuel choice, it's down to diesel vs petrol.

Engine specs depend on your chosen model. The diesel motor is a 2.0-litre boxer four turbo developing 110kW and 350Nm. The diesel specs are identical between the 2.0D and the Premium. Being a Subaru, all wheels are driven through a six-speed manual gearbox or optional continuously variable transmission (CVT). Only the diesel features a centre differential with viscous limited-slip differential that can be locked for better off-road capabilities, but it does go without X-Mode torque vectoring.

Manual vs automatic figures for the 0-100km/h dash are 9.7 seconds for the former and CVT 9.9 for the CVT, so acceleration is brisk rather than startling.

The torque specs of the diesel make it ideal for long trips, with a towing capacity of 1700kg (braked) and 750kg (unbraked).

For a bit more horsepower at the expense of torque and fuel economy, there are two petrol options, but if you like a clutch, you're out of luck.

The flat-four 2.5-litre petrol's specifications come in at 129kW and 235Nm, which is a little skinny for this engine size because it's not turbocharged. The 0-100 argument is over in 10.2sec, a little slower than the diesel.

If you have a tow bar, the load capacity for the 2.5i will haul 1500kg braked and 750kg unbraked.

Stepping up to the 3.6-litre flat six, probably the last engine like it in the world, you get more power at 191kW and a torque figure identical to the diesel's at 350Nm (although without the advantage of diesel fuel economy).

Towing ratings for the 3.6-litre are 1800kg unbraked and 750kg braked. Across the range, the Outback's gross vehicle weight is 2130kg.

From a claimed combined fuel economy figure of 7.9 litres per 100km, we saw a best combined fuel economy figure on the dash of 9.1L/100km over 350km in the 2.0-litre petrol Si.

Our diesel test, meanwhile, returned a best combined fuel economy mileage figure of 7.9L/100km over 350km, versus a claimed combined fuel consumption figure of 6.8L/100km.

The 2.4-litre engine is claimed to return a combined fuel economy figure of 8.5L/100km.

All Kia Sportage models have a fuel tank capacity of 62 litres.

Diesel fuel consumption weighs in at a claimed 5.7L/100km for the manual and 6.3L/100km for the CVT.

The petrol consumption figures vary between the four and six cylinder units. The 2.5i delivers a claimed 7.3L/100km while the 3.6 rises to a claimed 9.9L/100km.

In our hands, the 3.6's mileage was a fair way off the claimed, delivering 16L/100km. Part of that is attributable to the extra weight of the 3.6i, which is a hefty 1702kg. This one may leave you wishing for a larger fuel tank size - fuel tank capacity is 60 litres.

The Sportage is built for a life around town, and the lighter front-drive petrol powered Si is perfect for it.

The 2.0-litre engine gets thrashy and noisy when acceleration is needed up hills, though, with the automatic occasionally confused by which ratio to pick and hold. Despite its age, it's still a very smooth and tractable unit when coasting around on light throttle, even though its 0-100km/h performance figures won't worry even a warm hatch.

The Sportage GT Line diesel is light on its feet, even with the addition of the heavier AWD/diesel drivetrain.

The 2.4-litre engine fares much better, although its AWD drivetrain takes the edge off its ability to nip up hills.

The Sportage GT Line diesel is light on its feet, even with the addition of the heavier AWD/diesel drivetrain. It's also impressively quiet, letting minimal road noise into the cabin, despite larger, wider and lower profile 19-inch tyres.

All Sportages benefit from a localised tuning program for the MacPherson strut front suspension and multilink rear suspension that imparts a ride and handling set-up that leans towards firm and supportive.

With a few bodies and a bit of gear aboard, the occasionally sharp edges of the ride are nicely rounded out. A tight turning circle of 10.9m is also useful.

The Sportage is a predictable, stable and simple car to drive.

This is not an off-road review; after all, the capability of a crossover in the rough stuff is minimal at best. The ground clearance of 172mm, for example, is about 50mm less than that of a Subaru XV, and it doesn't suggest a safe wading depth.

Overall, the Sportage is a predictable, stable and simple car to drive, without the compromises that sometimes come with a taller SUV.

The Outback driving experience is a good one - it's a very quiet car. If you had to pick the loudest, it would probably be the diesel, but even then it's not bad. Tyre and road noise are well suppressed, although we have experienced a bit of cabin noise on dirt roads at speed in some versions of the car.

Without resorting to trickery like air suspension, the Outback is excellent both on the road and off it. The diesel and 2.5-litre petrols provide adequate performance while the 3.6-litre, especially in S# mode, is very quick - if not a sports car in the handling department.

The Outback's steering is unusually quick for both a Subaru and a car of this type. The body hangs in pretty well, but will eventually start to roll in higher-speed cornering through wide radius corners.

Off-road performance is better than most, with CVT cars equipped with X-Mode and a good ground clearance for moderately adventurous manoeuvres. Subaru doesn't list a wading depth, but with the usual caution, the Outback will be good for shallow water crossings.

When fitted, the EyeSight system can be a little on the scaredy-cat side. White lines can confuse it and oncoming vehicles on winding roads give it palpitations. And a thing that annoys me across all Subarus is the key fob - the Subaru logo unlocks the car and is the most prominent and easily pressed button.

Standard safety features include seven airbags (including driver's knee airbag), ABS, brake assist, stability and traction controls (sometimes known as ESP) and brake force distribution adding up to a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating.

With the exception of the diesel manuals, all Outbacks feature Subaru's own EyeSight safety system. Together with the Vision Assist package (not on 2.0D manual), you get blind-spot monitoring, high and low speed forward collision mitigation (auto emergency braking), lane change assist, lane departure warning and rear cross-traffic alert.

Depending on which type of baby car seat you have, there are two ISOFIX points or three top-tether child seat anchor points.

Kia's seven-year warranty is the best in the automotive business at present, and includes roadside assist and a free first service at three months.

Capped-price servicing covers the warranty period, too, with $419 the lowest and $726 the highest service costs over four years for the diesel powered cars, with a seven-year total of $3695. That's an average of $528 per service.

The petrol service program costs between $306 and $711 per service. The majority of services are under $400, with seven years of maintenance costs equalling $2942. Don't forget to get your owners manual ticked.

When it comes to diesel problems, clutch problems or transmission problems, the new Sportage has shown no dramas.

If you are wondering if the Kia Sportage uses a timing belt or chain, all variants of the engine use the latter. A chain is preferable to a timing belt as it gives a longer life.

When it comes to diesel problems, clutch problems or transmission problems, the new Sportage has shown no dramas. A JD Power reliability rating study ranks it well, with few problems, complaints, issues or common faults.

Resale value for most Korean brands is still not as good as some of their Japanese rivals; a 2015 Sportage Platinum diesel, for example, will have lost about 30 per cent of its new value if trading in, or about 12 per cent on a private sale.

Waiting time on new cars is minimal, according to Kia.

The standard warranty is three years/unlimited km, and a dealer will no doubt happily supply an extended warranty at a cost.

Capped-price servicing is available to help keep down per service cost. You'll be returning to the dealer every six months or 12,500km. There's an extra maintenance cost on the 3.6R, with a $253 service after the first three months/5000km.

Oil consumption should not cause issues on any engine type, with previous complaints on earlier models having been address by Subaru. Buyers often ask whether the engines are fitted with a timing belt or chain - all are timing chain engines, meaning no regular replacement required. Oil capacity and oil type is dependent on the engine and fuel.

Resale value statistics are good - Subarus generally hold their value well and as the Outback is a popular model, with little in the way of reliability issues or faults. Common problems and complaints tend to be minor if you have a quick skim of the usual internet forums and we have a page to cover any diesel problems, automatic transmission problems or diesel engine problems. Suspension problems only ever seem to arise when the car is heavily abused.

Overall, we think the reliability rating of the Outback to be better than average.