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Hi there,
I need to buy a small 4WD SUV. After test driving various cars and looking at specs I've narrowed it down to the Hyundai Tucson or the Kia Sportage, around 2006. I drive around 25,000kms/yr with work, with a reasonable amount of that being on gravel roads and off-road. I also prefer a smaller car for driving/parking in the city, but would like a change from my current Rav4. The Tucson and Sportage seem to be very similar in terms of safety, handling, size, efficiency, with the exception that the Sportage is much less common than the Tucson. I have the following questions:

1) Because the Sportage is less common would it be more difficult/expensive to source parts? Is it generally better practice to buy a car that is more common?

2) Which is better to use off-road, or are they both much the same?

3) Diesel or petrol? Considering fuel efficiency, fuel costs, road user charges, and maintenance over the vehicle lifetime (I hope to own this car for 5yrs+).

4) Any further comments about which would be better suited to my driving needs?

Much thanks,
Michelle

These vehicles are identical under the skin so the only thing to compare would be visually and the equipment levels. They both share the same platform from the Hyundai Elantra.

The Hyundai Tuscon is a tad better looking than the Kia Sportage and this alone will help when it comes time to re-sell the vehicle.

Parts shouldn't be a problem either way and reliability will be identical.

Diesel SUVs are popular choices these days and normally do a better job in the towing department but you should avoid high mileage diesels as they can be costly to repair if there's a major mechanical failure. Check for a full service history too.

These AWD models are considered soft off-road vehicles and are better suited to dirt roads than serious off-road excursions. For serious 4x4 excursions you should consider a Toyota Prado.

Thank you for your response. If you could please clarify a few things:

I had read in a few other reviews that the Kia engines are behind Hyundai, technology wise. So would a Tucson and Sportage (of the same age) have the same engines? Or is the difference only for diesel engines?

You also say to avoid high mileage diesels, although it was my understanding that diesel cars held their value more than petrol cars. Does this mean that once a diesel becomes high mileage it's value is less than the petrol version? Or are high mileage diesels more likely to have mechanical issues?

They use the same engines but Hyundai will in most cases introduce a new engine to the new car market before Kia (behind by time).

Any vehicles that have high mileage will have a higher risk of major mechanical failure as parts do wear and diesel motors can be more expensive to overhaul compared to a petrol engine.