Blog Tag: Kia

Small SUVs under $15,000

 

Now, you need an SUV but it needs to be compact, efficient, safe, enjoyable to drive, reliable and hopefully not plummet in value yeah?

Also it can’t be more than 15 thousand dollars and would be nice if it were a little stylish too yeah, what should you get? Here’s our Top 5.

 

5. Hyundai ix35

In fifth place, it’s the Hyundai ix35

 

Ok it is getting a bit old and it might not be the most stylish of this list, but hence why it’s in 5th.

 

The good news is that the ix35 is proving to be very reliable, it’s efficient, practical and it’s nice to drive plus $15 grand should easily get you into the petrol powered top spec Highlander meaning you’ll get some delightful alloy wheels, a sunroof, leather interior and a host of other extras.

 

4. Subaru XV

In fourth place, this one comes with a condition, it’s the Subaru XV or depending on where you are, the Crosstrek

 

15 grand will get into a first-gen 2012 to 2017 XV in most likely in the base spec 2.0i but do try to find a 2.0i-S as it’s the sweet spot of the range.

 

We’ve actually done a review on one it’s just up here.

 

The XV is a great looking and genuinely capable little SUV but all is not perfect, if you need an SUV with an automatic transmission, avoid the XV.

 

These are fantastic with a manual gearbox but we know of far too many horror stories with the CVT auto, they’re best to be avoided.

 

3. Kia Sportage

In third place, it’s the Kia Sportage.

 

Avoid the earlier models and stick with the very handsome third generation 2010 to 2015 Sportage.

 

This generation Sportage marked Kia’s transition from cheap, unfortunate looking and uninspiring forms of transport to genuinely attractive and very satisfying vehicles that you’d no longer be embarrassed to be seen in.

 

The Sportage drives really well, it’s super practical, is proving to be really reliable and if things do go wrong, parts and labour shouldn’t cost a fortune. 

 

The one to get for 15 grand is the All Wheel Drive Sportage Platinum with the 2.4-litre petrol engine. 

 

2. Mazda CX-5

In second place, it’s my personal favourite, it’s the Mazda CX5.

 

The CX5 for large chunks of time has been Australia’s most popular SUV and with good reason. It’s attractive, it’s practical, the interior is a lovely place to be and it’s really entertaining and enjoyable to drive.

 

And now with a few years under its belt it’s proving to be really reliable.

 

For 15 grand you’ll be looking at pre-facelift CX5’s from 2012 to 2015 and we’d recommend finding a Maxx Sport with the lowest kilometres and best service history that your budget will allow.

 

1. Toyota RAV4

Right, in the top spot, it’s the Toyota RAV4 but, a very specific model.

 

It might be getting a little long in the tooth and it’s not exactly a looker but the third generation 2006 to 2012 RAV4, and here’s the important bit, with the V6 engine, is a cracker of an SUV.

 

That bulletproof 3.5-litre V6 is not only found under the bonnet of the RAV4, it’s used to power everything from Toyota Camry’s to various Lexus models and even certain Lotus Exige and Evoras.

 

The V6 adds a level of maturity to the RAV4, it’s torquey and enjoyable around town and soaks up highway and country driving with ease.

 

Plus, being a RAV4 it’s still ultra practical, incredibly reliable and arguably invented this category of car in the first place.

 

And you can pick up a good condition one for as little as 11 grand, leaving 4 thousand dollars left over to update the infotainment system, fit some nice tyres and maybe upgrade the suspension. Brilliant.

 

We’ve reviewed versions of the Subaru XV, Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5.

 

In the market for a used car? Check out all our ReDriven Cheat Sheets.

 

Find all our video reviews over on YouTube.

Most underrated used cars

 

Why don’t people make a bigger deal about these cars? Maybe it’s that they were ahead of their time or maybe the marketing department dropped the ball, but here are our top 5 most underrated used cars.

5. Kia Pro_cee’d GT

In fifth place, it’s the Kia Pro_cee’d GT. While this isn’t exactly a hot hatch, it’s definitely on the hotter side of warm.

 

150kW of power and 265Nm of torque in a superbly balanced, beautifully designed yet practical hatch body from a manufacturer that’s quickly becoming renown for excellent quality and reliability, what’s not to love. 

 

Throw in the fact that these can be had for as little as $14,000 and it seems crazy more people aren’t snapping these up. Also, I have it on good authority that if you ‘massage’ the ECU on these, they come alive, I think I want one.

 

4. Honda Accord Euro (Acura TSX)

In 4th it’s the Honda Accord Euro. This is one of the first cars that truly blended Japanese reliability and engineering expertise with European styling and good looks.

 

These things are the car equivalent to fitting a bulletproof Japanese Seiko watch movement in a stylish European Omega watch body and now 15 years on, can be had for the car equivalent of Casio watch prices.

 

That’s right, these beautifully designed, fun to drive, practical and incredibly reliable sedans are asking as low as $5000.

 

Sure they’re lacking in modern tech, may not be as safe as even the cheapest modern hatchbacks and aren’t going to set any land speed or acceleration records but now that they’re so affordable, and still so good, why have they been forgotten?

 

3. Ford Kuga

Now in third place it’s the Ford Escape. This thing has a very punchy turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, it’s all-wheel drive, it’s a compact yet stylish European SUV that’s fun to drive and has a full leather interior. Why aren’t more people buying these?

 

Maybe Ford’s marketing department just dropped the ball on this one because, as long as you get the 2-litre ecoboost variant, these things tick so many boxes. But, it seems like everyone has forgotten they exist.

 

It’s ultra practical and its leather-lined interior is a lovely place to be yet, even when standard, is respectably quick and awesome to drive

 

Like the Kia in 5th place, we have it on good authority that even with some mild attention paid to the ECU, this thing can put out over 230kW and over 500Nm of torque, that’s properly quick. 

 

2. Lexus IS350

In second place it’s the second generation Lexus IS350. Even when new, this thing was often overlooked and even then it made no sense because it was and still is truly one of the most complete packages for a car in its class.

 

What’s not to love about the IS350. A powerful, smooth and refined 233kW V6 engine, excellent driving dynamics that can become genuinely fun when pushed, superb value for money, stylish good looks that are ageing gracefully and the peace of mind that comes with Toyota, sorry Lexus reliability.

 

Here in Australia, these second-generation IS350s will set you back at worst 30 grand but we’ve seen good examples go for as low as 17 grand. 

 

Sure these are pushing 10 years old now but remember these things were around 70 thousand dollars when new, so 20 grand for such a superb car feels like a bargain to us.

 

1. Mazda 6

Now in first place, thanks to everyone falling in love with SUVs over the last few years, these brilliant cars are far too often ignored, it’s the Mazda 6.

 

In particular we’re talking about the face-lifted and turbocharged 2018 to current Mazda 6 Atenza or GT spec 6s.

 

Seriously, go drive one of these and tell us it isn’t on par or if not better than a load of luxury brand alternatives costing tens of thousands of dollars more.

 

Plus with Mazda’s excellent reputation for reliability and longevity, the 6 will probably outlast its more expensive European competitors

 

Actually, check out our Mazda 3 and Mercedes S-Class reviews to see how a Mazda hatch could teach even the flagship Merc a thing or two about interior quality.

 

We can’t put this strongly enough, the Mazda 6 deserves far more attention than it receives and if you’re in the market for a used 3 Series BMW or C-Class Merc, go check these out before you hand over your cash.

 

We’ve reviewed versions of the Kia Pro_Cee’d GT, Ford Kuga & Honda Accord Euro.

 

In the market for a used car? Check out all our ReDriven Cheat Sheets.

 

Find all our video reviews over on YouTube.

Family SUVs under $35,000

 

We get it, you’ve got a bunch of kids, they have a bunch of friends, they’ve all got a bunch of scooters and you need to haul them all around.

 

But, you’re not ready to announce to the world that you’ve given up on life and become a glorified taxi driver for your offspring and their accessories.

You’re still cool, you still have some style and you need a car that communicates that, but it still needs to be practical, reliable and dependable and not cost more than $35 grand. Here’s our top 5.

 

5. Toyota Kluger

In fifth place, it’s the Toyota Kluger or if you’re not in Australia, it’s a Toyota Highlander.

 

For 35 grand, the variants to go for are 2014 to 2018 models in either all-wheel drive, mid-spec GXLs or front-wheel-drive top-spec Grandes.

 

Klugers, or Highlanders, have been a sales success due to their ability to swallow 7 humans pretty easily with their practical and efficient use of space, good looks and Toyota’s reputation for reliability and their incredible support network. But it’s last on our list for a reason, a few reasons actually.  

 

Firstly the infotainment system is rubbish, yes it can be upgraded with an aftermarket system but the lack of Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and even any decent navigation system just isn’t good enough.

 

Then you have the lack of USB ports. If you’ve got a bunch of kids, you’re going to need a bunch of USB ports, all over the car. These things have 1 USB port and it’s towards the front of the car in the centre console.

 

And finally, yes that V6 engine is smooth, refined and reliable but once you’ve loaded up with a few kids and all their stuff, the big Toyota can feel heavy and cumbersome to drive. Plus, it has quite the appetite for fuel, especially once it’s loaded up.

 

4. Kia Sorento

 

In fourth, sort of, it’s the Kia Sorrento. We’ll get to why it’s a ‘sort of’ soon.

 

The one to hunt for is a post-2017 Sorento Platinum as you’ll get all the lovely mid-life update editions to what is already a superb family hauler. 

 

A budget of 35 grand may require some serious haggling but it’ll be worth it.

 

The Sorento is loaded with kit, it’s lovely to drive, it’s spacious, safe, fuel efficient, it’s ageing really well in terms of fit and finish, it’s showing superb reliability and thanks to ex-Audi designer extraordinaire Peter Schreyer, it looks very stylish too.

 

Add to that Kia’s 7 year warranty and what’s not to love, which brings us to why it sort of came 4th.

 

3. Hyundai Santa Fe

See, we pretty much had a tie between 3rd and 4th place as these two SUVs are very nearly the same thing. In 3rd, by the tiniest of margins, is the Hyundai Santa Fe.

 

Hyundai and Kia are two brands owned by the one parent company and under the skin, the Santa Fe and Sorrento are incredibly similar and they share a lot of common underlying engineering.

 

So what pushed the Santa Fe ahead of the Sorrento in this top 5?

 

Well with a budget of $35 grand, it’s going to be easier to get behind the wheel of an updated 2016 to 2018 top-spec Santa Fe Highlander than it will be a Sorento Platinum. You might still need to haggle, but it should be much easier to get in the Hyundai.

 

Like the Sorento Platinum, the Santa Fe Highlander is drenched in equipment, safety tech and an intelligent use of its interior space. 

 

Its drivetrain is refined and reliable and its locally-tuned suspension makes for a comfy and bloody enjoyable driving experience.

 

The Hyundai Santa Fe does just about everything right.

 

2. Mitsubishi Pajero

Now, in second, we felt we needed to include a more adventure ready SUV on the list, something that can easily tow a boat or climb a mountain in the middle of nowhere, something that really embraces the SUV name.  It’s the Mitsubishi Pajero.

 

If you’re after a civilised, refined urban runabout that can accommodate a bunch of humans and tackle some very light off-roading, maybe the Pajero isn’t for you.

 

But if you want a truly off-road-capable SUV with serious towing ability, a post-2015 GLS or Exceed Pajero should be at the pointy end of your list.

 

The Pajero has been around since the Pyramids of Egypt were just some pharos wild property development idea but in that time, Mitsubishi has tweaked, adjusted and honed the Pajero into a bulletproof, yet quite refined off-roading monster.

 

Plus the Pajero is about 20 grand cheaper than an equivalent Prado so it excels when it comes to value for money too.

 

1. Mazda CX-9

Taking out first place and let’s be honest, it’s the looker of this group, it’s the Mazda CX-9

 

The CX-9 provides a more luxurious fit and finish and offers more tech and a more engaging driving experience than the Kluger.

 

Its very clever turbocharged 2.5-litre four delivers really strong performance while still offering excellent fuel economy without having to turn to diesel like the Kia and Hyundai.

 

Its interior is more spacious, luxurious and comfortable than the Pajero and the whole car feels about 300 years newer, although the big Mitsubishi will take you much further off-road.

 

Plus now they’re populating the used car market, they offer incredible value for money.

 

The CX-9s to look for for under 35 grand are the 2016 CX-9 GT or Touring and preferably with all-wheel drive however, if you’re keeping on the black stuff, the front-wheel-drive variant is still a fantastic thing.

 

We’ve reviewed versions the Toyota Kluger and the Mitsubishi Pajero.

 

In the market for a used car? Check out all our ReDriven Cheat Sheets.

 

Find all our video reviews over on YouTube.

Road trip cars under $15,000

What if you’re not ready to live in something the size of a walk in wardrobe but still want to travel and explore your own backyard without committing to buying a van.

What you need is a road trip car, and here’s our top 5 picks under $15 grand.

 

5. Honda CR-V

In fifth it’s the 2007 to 2012 Honda CRV

 

The one to get is fabric-trimmed, mid-spec Sport as the leather in the Luxury spec isn’t ageing all that well and in our opinion, the leather isn’t as comfy on a long trip.

 

The CRV makes for an enjoyable drive, it’s supremely practical with a huge boot, is quite fuel efficient and being a Honda, is extremely reliable.

 

Plus with on-demand all-wheel drive, will handle some off-road adventuring, as long as that off-road is basically just a dirt road, or a normal road with some dirt on it.

 

4. Kia Sorento

In fourth place, it’s the 2009 to 2014 Kia Sorento

 

The one to get is a diesel 4×4, preferably the top-spec platinum trim as this will get you excellent fuel efficiency for those long trips, a spacious and very comfy interior and the ability to do some off-road exploring with its all-wheel-drive system.

 

3. Toyota Kluger

In third it’s the 2007 to 2009 Toyota Kluger.

 

Like the Sorento, the one to get is a higher-spec, all-wheel-drive version like a KS-S or Grande and being a Toyota, these things are bullet proof and have an excellent support network.

 

Plus, the Klugers interior is spacious and comfy, the higher-spec models have loads of extras and they soak up kilometres with ease.

 

But, there is a negative, being powered by a V6 petrol engine means they’re not the most fuel efficient.

 

2. Nissan X-Trail

In second place it’s the T31 Nissan X-Trail

 

The one to get is the post-2010 Ti as you’ll not only get the full suite of X-Trail upgrades and features but you’ll get the X-Trails robust yet comfy interior, willing and efficient engine and, as long as you get a manual, as the CVT auto has had a few issues, pretty decent reliability.

 

On the used market, these T31 X-Trails offer great value for money and nails that balance between decent on-road dynamics and capable off-road ability.

 

1. Subaru Outback

If ever a car offered the perfect recipe for a road trip, it’s the Subaru Outback and for $15 grand, you’ll want a 2009 to 2014 3.6R Premium.

 

Even Outbacks from back in the late 90s and early naughties still make excellent road trip cars, but these 4th-generation Outbacks, especially with the superb 3.6 litre flat 6, exude refinement, quality and offer even more interior space than previous generations.

 

Throw in the fact the Outback steers and handles more like a car than an SUV yet still retains decent ground clearance and superb tractions with its symmetrical and constant all-wheel-drive system and you have yourself an excellent road trip car that will embrace your adventures just as easily as it tackles your day-to-day needs.

 

We’ve reviewed the Toyota Kluger & Nissan X-Trail.

 

In the market for a used car? Check out all our ReDriven Cheat Sheets.

 

Find all our video reviews over on YouTube.

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