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Kia Sportage, Mitsubishi ASX or Subaru Forester?

By Botchi Santos —

Hi, Botchi!

I'm a big fan of your column and I just joined your site recently. I always read your articles. I think it’s great that a guy like you--an expert in cars--help people like us who have little knowledge. 

Though I consider myself to be a car enthusiast, I need help on something. My dad recently bought a Mazda CX-7, and we currently have a 2006 Toyota Fortuner, an Isuzu Crosswind Sportivo and a 1996 Toyota Camry. The Camry's my dad's first luxury car and I'm the one using it now.

I live near the University Belt and España in Manila and I go to school in Katipunan, Quezon City. We're looking to sell the Camry and buy a crossover sport-utility vehicle. I can only think of the Mitsubishi ASX (it's similar to the RAV4 we used to own), the Honda CR-V (best in class but gas guzzler), Subaru Forester (said to be the safest in its class), Kia Sportage (stylish), Hyundai Tucson (not really a fan) and Toyota RAV4 (no knowledge about this). 

I cannot choose the perfect car for me and my dad because we will both be using it. But here's my lifestyle: I go to school five times a week and I go out on weekends. I want a car that I can be proud of in terms of looks, performance, ride and features. 

Thank you so much!

Rob

Hi, Rob!

Thanks for your email! You have a good list of compact SUVs here. They're all good but let's narrow the list down to the ones I can really recommend. 

Subaru Forester XT 2.5 Turbo. If you're looking at getting a compact SUV that is fun to drive, has very good street cred and is something that will get a lot of "oohs" and "aahs," then this is for you. The Subaru Forester XT 2.5 with a turbocharged engine and symmetrical AWD transmission offers a mind-boggling grip. It feels like a sports car on stilts. This one drives the most like a car, and a sports car at that! Just make sure you get the turbocharged variant as the normally-aspirated model is slow and thirsty--not fun at all. It has a rather plain-looking interior but it’s very well built, very solid inside and out, and feels tight and ready to party! There's a new one coming out in about 12-18 months, but the current Forester is still really as good as it gets.

Kia Sportage. This one is the looker of the bunch. Penned by Peter Schreyer, formerly of Audi, the Kia Sportage offers the freshest, newest, most modern and global design that just transcends its humble Korean origins. It just looks fantastic. People really do a double-take whenever a Sportage, especially the Deluxe variant, passes by. Build-quality has improved immensely, it feels almost like a European car in design, layout, interior and feel. The Deluxe is what you want, with a panoramic glass roof, big 18-inch wheels and the LED strip up front. It's expensive but worth it. It's rare, too! Diesel-engined variants of the Sportage are coming sometime this year, so if you can hold out before buying, wait for this. It's worth it!

Mitsubishi ASX. Technically, the ASX is a vehicle-size smaller than the other two. It's the narrowest of the bunch as well, so fitting it into the tight city streets where you live will be easiest (it's even narrower than the Lancer where it is based). It's also quite tight and it's not as roomy as the others but will also be the least expensive. With the ASX, skip AWD and get either of the FWD versions in either manual or automatic. The CVT isn't very responsive at low speeds and the AWD transmission weighs it down a lot. It handles really well though. We got to try it at the Clark International Speedway and it was amazing as compact SUVs go. It would also look good when you fit aftermarket wheels on it. 

I'd have recommended the Hyundai Tucson with the diesel engine as it drives really well, but since you're not a fan, it's out of the list. But it's still worth a good look as it ticks all the right boxes for compact-SUV comfort and performance. 

I hope this helps! Good luck, God bless and study hard to make your Dad proud. Don't make him regret getting you a nice SUV!

Botchi Santos
Consumer editor

Lost in a sea of cars and not quite sure which one to get? Click here to email your car query so Botchi can help you pick the right vehicle!

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Called-Out Comments All Comments
  • dsobreo Mar 24 2012 @ 10:20am
     
    Tucson VGT sana kaso di mo naman concern ang FE, so go for the Sportage... Looks, performance, ride and features FTW!
       
    • meganekon Mar 24 2012 @ 10:26am
       
      Tama! Sportage na lang! Maganda rin performance, and premium ang look & feel niya!
         
    • barry Mar 26 2012 @ 01:17pm
       
      pwede rin ang kia sportage. but if you have the patience, just wait for the VGT variant...
         
  • meganekon Mar 24 2012 @ 10:22am
     
    Tama si sir Botchi, go for the Subaru Forester XT 2.5 Turbo, kung kaya ng budget, if not, settle for the manual-tranny ASX. It's light on the feet and gives an air of confidence when you drive it. For the Sportage, it'd be really well worth it to wait for the diesel variants. Too bad Columbian Autocar doesn't sell it yet. Anyway, good luck Rob!
       
  • suvfan93 Mar 24 2012 @ 10:25am
     
    Medyo Mitsu fan ako, ala Kyoichi Sudo, kaya irerecommend ko ang ASX para lang sa 'yo. Tingnan mo na rin ang Montero Sport, masarap rin i-drive.
        4
  • regiusace17 Mar 24 2012 @ 10:28am
     
    Wanna try the RAV4? Joke, GO FOR THE SUBBIE that Botchi recommends. It's a good SUV for you :))
       
    • meganekon Mar 24 2012 @ 10:32am
       
      LOL. Dapat sa EU ka kapag RAV4 :P
         
      • regiusace17 Mar 24 2012 @ 11:05am
         
        Oo nga eh outdated na kasi nilalabas nilang RAV4 dito sa Pinas.
           
        • meganekon Mar 24 2012 @ 11:06am
           
          Kulang ang variants ng RAV4 dito sa Pilipinas. Sa EU, may mga diesel at manual-transmission variants!
             
  • jabroni Mar 24 2012 @ 10:34am
     
    Patience is indeed a virtue, so if you can wait for a couple more months your wish of having a nice looking loaded with features car should be granted. The Subaru XV and Mazda CX5 are coming to town so if I were you I'll wait for these cars and test drive them.
       
  • jabroni Mar 24 2012 @ 10:40am
     
    It's been a long time since I've seen a RAV4 without license plate.
       
  • markdejesus76 Mar 24 2012 @ 11:01am
     
    Why not take a look at Nissan X-Trail 4wd? Not as sporty as the Subaru but better all around performance and efficiency than the others. And considering your area is flood prone, Nissan's 4wd will help you get home. If not the X-Trail, it should be the Subaru.
       
    • jabroni Mar 24 2012 @ 11:06am
       
      Sales agent ka ba sa Nissan? Men mas matanda pa kay Santino yang X-trail kaya mga mayayamang magsasaka na lng ang bibili nyan.
          1
      • markdejesus76 Mar 24 2012 @ 11:23am
         
        Wala naman yan sa tanda nung model ng sasakyan. Nasa capability naman yun at usefulness. Bago nga model ng kotse mo, talo naman sa capability ng mas lumang model ng ibang brand, wala din
            1
        • dsobreo Mar 24 2012 @ 11:29am
           
          Just stick sir kung ano gusto ng letter sender
              1
        • jabroni Mar 24 2012 @ 01:19pm
           
          Oo nga wala sa tanda yan pero hndi din naman todo angas ang performance nyang xtrail para ibandera mo pa sa ibang suv ngayon. hndi din naman masama mag suggest pero sana binasa mo muna lahat ng gusto ng letter sender, looks and features parang ala ata masyado xtrail nun?
             
          • markdejesus76 Mar 24 2012 @ 01:54pm
             
            May Xtrail CVT kapitbahay ko eh maganda naman tgnan. Hinsi naman mukhang luma. Features, wala naman masyado kung hindi mo lalagyan nung options. Suggestion lang naman.
               
            • jabroni Mar 24 2012 @ 02:08pm
               
              Okay peace
                 
            • dsobreo Mar 24 2012 @ 02:51pm
               
              Actually maganda yung rear lights, may mga angles.... Kaso di sya tugma sa needs... Kung malayo travel nya baka pwede pa lalo na kung sa province
                 
    • dsobreo Mar 24 2012 @ 11:19am
       
      He wants a looker!
          1
    • vansxtrme23 Mar 24 2012 @ 12:54pm
       
      ford piera na lang bro mas ok.hahaha
         
  • Kyoichi Sudo Mar 24 2012 @ 11:26am
     
    There's a lot of choices here but the best choices here Rob are these: Sportage(wait for the diesel, its worth the wait), Forester 2.0XS(the 2.5 Turbo is very expensive, mag-Mo2ntero Sport GTV na lang ako sa price nun), and the ASX, of course Mitsufan ako eh. Too bad the ASX Diesel can't really make it here in our shores, its diesel is Euro 5 if i can remember it correctly, our diesel fuel here is only Euro 2 that's why pero kung Euro 5 lang Diesel natin dito matagal nang nandito ang ASX Diesel.
        1
    • alxnd21 Mar 25 2012 @ 10:41pm
       
      Great choice na sana ang ASX, kaso maliit masyado ang interior niya... Wala nga lang diesel variant. Or Mas maganda pa sana ay kung available pa yung Outlander na mas malaki ang interior niya kesa sa ASX. Di ba? =)
         
      • Kyoichi Sudo Mar 25 2012 @ 11:21pm
         
        mid-2013 pa yata sir dadating d2 sa pinas ang all-new outlander depende po sa mapag-uusapan ng MMPC
           
    • barry Mar 26 2012 @ 01:20pm
       
      just go with the kia sportage with a VGT-equipped.
         
  • Kyoichi Sudo Mar 24 2012 @ 11:27am
     
    @suvfan93 lol!
        1
    • Kyoichi Sudo Mar 24 2012 @ 11:27am
       
      hehehehe...........
          1
  • matmat Mar 24 2012 @ 11:29am
     
    Natawa naman ako don sa nag-suggest ng X-Trail. College pa ko yun na design ng x-trail...ngayon ganon pa din..naiba lang yung headlight. With your list, go for the Kia Sportage or the Subaru Forester XT.
       
  • dsobreo Mar 24 2012 @ 11:33am
     
    "I want a car that I can be proud of in terms of looks, performance, ride and features. "
       
    • jabroni Mar 24 2012 @ 01:20pm
       
      Pare xtrail dw sabi ni mark de jesus! Hahaha
          1
    • warak1422 Mar 24 2012 @ 01:27pm
       
      then try BMW X1 xDrive 28i,,,8 speed auto 258hp,,,350Nm......never mind the above mentioned list... hehe
         
  • dheezhee Mar 24 2012 @ 12:08pm
     
    My vote is for the ASX. Then you can use any leftover case to get a power package and rims :)
    Subaru siguro ang best all-around for me but the look doesn't get my heart to flutter
       
  • joab565 Mar 24 2012 @ 12:41pm
     
    KIA SPORTAGE DIESEL! PERIOD!
        1
  • macpro Mar 24 2012 @ 12:46pm
     
    I would definitely go with the forester 2.5 turbo. A family member has one and it is really very fast. Handling is extremely good also. It has that solid feel when I drove it. Maintenance cost is my only concern as it might be a bit high when the car gets older. My second choice would be the sportage because of its good looks.
       
  • 17Sphynx17 Mar 24 2012 @ 01:23pm
     
    Top pick is also Forester Turbo as long as it is within budget =) It is rock solid. I have a friend who accidentally feel asleep behind the wheel on the provincial highway and crashed his car at the rear end of a truck. Eventhough the car was a total wreck (because the engine was totalled), he came out unscathed. So safety and performance for this one are at the top for me compared to the other choices.

    I can't recommend a second choice because I am confused as well with every other vehicles own pluses and minuses. I would prefer Hyundai though if it were personal experience as the Koreans have a leg up in the performance category and the built-in accessories. Hyundai just happens to be (for me) a bit better in after sales than its sister company Kia.

    As for your comment of the CRV being guzzler though, I would have to disagree if you are pitting it against the ASX. Fuel economy of both is roughly the same in city or highway, but you get more oomph in the CRV compared with the ASX. The ASX for me is more of the looker though.

        1
    • dsobreo Mar 24 2012 @ 01:29pm
       
      ASX 1 over the CRV
         
      • 17Sphynx17 Mar 24 2012 @ 01:38pm
         
        @dsobreo

        Hehe! For driving experience of coasting and when you are not in a rush, the ASX is a great car. I really just don't like that start stop button that just detects the key FOB.

        My sister once let me drive her ASX and she forgot to leave the key FOB with me. I dropped her off before stopping off another stop. Luckily it was just nearby so I walked over there to get the key to start the car.

        Haha! Funny experience but I am really used to having to use a key to start the car. =) So that's a quirk I really don't want to have in my car in the future. Hopefully it doesn't stick.
           
        • dsobreo Mar 24 2012 @ 10:01pm
           
          Haha yari pag namatay makina sa EDSA or Commonwealth
             
  • jmsantz Mar 24 2012 @ 02:34pm
     
    I can only think of the Mitsubishi ASX (it's similar to the RAV4 we used to own) ... ... and Toyota RAV4 (no knowledge about this). -- Dear Rob, it won't matter. I think you have Alzheimer's.
       
    • dsobreo Mar 24 2012 @ 02:49pm
       
      hahahaha
         
    • strking Mar 25 2012 @ 08:47am
       
      I think he was referring to an old RAV4 that they used to own that's why he has no idea about the new RAV4.
         
  • rupert Mar 24 2012 @ 02:45pm
     
    Go for the Kia Sportage na Diesel! The best looking in its class! :D
       
  • mindkinetic Mar 24 2012 @ 04:22pm
     
    @rob arguably the best pick in your enumerated choices is the subaru 2.5 turbo. the forester has been designed to a "top them all" level. firstly it's symmetrical awd, handling is the best in this segment its tantamount to driving a sports sedan. negotiating meander roads(zigzag ) is effortless. the boxer engine is likewise exclusive in this segment ; there are tons of positive attributes of a boxer engine but to discuss it here will be cumbrous, for brevity let me just mention that the engine seats low hence the center of gravity is likewise lowered, this translates to a more stable ride. to incite the the powerful force
    of the turbo forester you can simply shift to sports mode and feel the g-force immediately. and yes it has the best safety features endowed in a compact sports vehicle. ZERO casualty since it's inception in the local market . the features of the other compact suv is a shared commonality but the faeture of the Subaru forester (symmetrical awd and boxer engine is the exclusive dna of subaru). you will also love the colossal sunroof/moonroof for a more panoramic ride.however; all of these best of the best characteristic of the forester comes with a price. so if you weigh the features as a value equal if not greater than the price tag, no need to look further the forester sir is your best bet.
       
  • Kim John Mar 24 2012 @ 05:38pm
     
    kia sportage for me. maporma talaga to!
       
  • jbits Mar 24 2012 @ 06:29pm
     
    forester..
       
  • yokam888 Mar 24 2012 @ 09:06pm
     
    the letter sender thinks the sportage is stylish but he is not a fan of the tucson? imho the tucson is one of the prettiest cuv's available right now. the 2wd manual gas engine is also one of the cheapest priced cuv's in the market.
       
    • dsobreo Mar 24 2012 @ 09:56pm
       
      Kanya kanyang taste lang yan sir
         
    • Kyoichi Sudo Mar 24 2012 @ 10:03pm
       
      yeah, dsobreo is right sir yokam.
         
    • gogogo Mar 24 2012 @ 10:38pm
       
      agree ako kay dsobreo. taste mo yan iba ang taste ng letter sender. para sakin mas stylish yung sportage. :)
         
    • dsobreo Mar 24 2012 @ 11:03pm
       
      I'm a Hyundai fan pero ayoko maging bias. Mas stylish for me yung Sportage kesa sa Tucson. Pero di ko sinasabi di sya pogi
         
  • gogogo Mar 24 2012 @ 10:42pm
     
    forester! pwede na yung 2.0 X sobra sobra na yung 2.5 XT. hehe!
       
  • Kyoichi Sudo Mar 24 2012 @ 11:25pm
     
    Mr Rob i hope you can read this early as this night, there's an ASX on display at MOA and i think hanggang bukas na lang (March 25), the variant displayed is the GLS spec and you might wana check it out...
       
  • dhryfusc Mar 24 2012 @ 11:38pm
     
    the best thing to do by the letter sender........ test drive the car which he likes or maybe also test drive the car he doesnt like..... and judged it through his heart what kind of car.... take note all the comments of pros and cons of every brand of vehicles because it helps him a lot to choose his future car. To letter sender: post mo kung anong car ang binili mo at ano mga basehan kung bakit yan ang pinili mo (reason: to add information also to the next buyers)
       
  • John Rigor Mar 25 2012 @ 08:41am
     
    I think the Subaru Forester suits our letter sender's needs. He wants something that he could be proud of in terms of performance, ride and looks, and for me, the Subaru Forester 2.5 XT fits all of these.

    The Kia Sportage is also good. It looks really nice, has lots of features (cooler glovebox, daytime running lights, etc.) and performs well. :)

    The ASX also looks really good! (This is my favorite here in terms of looks), and would probably be the most fuel efficient of the bunch, and it does so without sacrificing driving feel. But with the letter sender's wants, I guess this is out of the picture.
       
  • rarq23 Mar 25 2012 @ 05:44pm
     
    Forester. Based on my experience driving it, I'll never have to ask for a better car to drive. I used it for extremes and it delivered. I had to drive a relative to the hospital in the province - a route that usually takes me an hour to drive because of the corners and the terrain changes - I was able to do it in 30 minutes with a Forester but still felt very safe. As Botchi said it has a mind-boggling grip - that's very true. Add about 300kgs of cargo, it's insane. In some reviews they even say it's very refined but can be a b*tch if your ask to.
       
  • atmar Mar 25 2012 @ 07:19pm
     
    this is easy....subaru!
       
  • GBfive Mar 25 2012 @ 08:35pm
     
    #1: Forester, #2: ASX.
       
  • jbedpan Mar 25 2012 @ 09:53pm
     
    I agree i have to go for the Subaru Forester turbo-charged. No second best for me. If budget is a concern then wait until you have the money to buy the best. Waiting is a virtue, and the fruits are very sweet (this is based on my experience).
       
  • alxnd21 Mar 25 2012 @ 10:38pm
     
    For that 3 cars choose a Subaru Forester Turbo 2.5 with all good features and power but high maintenance services and its parts... But I recommend to you to choose Hyundai Tucson or Santa Fe e-VGT GLS Premium 4x4 for a great power, interior-exterior design and comfortable ride. or Toyota Fortuner 3.0 D-4D V for power, higher re-sale value, durability, and reliability with low cost maintenance even it is already a full-SUV. Good Luck and Think many times before you buy your new car. =)
       
  • kyrejohn Mar 26 2012 @ 09:50am
     
    OMG. andali naman pumili dito, Forester! naman!
       
  • padayonbuboy Apr 20 2012 @ 09:37pm
     
    (Your thoughts on the article...)
       
    • padayonbuboy Apr 20 2012 @ 09:44pm
       
      kia sportage.. its my ride..
         
  • rndiv1 Apr 26 2012 @ 06:11pm
     
    hintayin mo muna yung sportage diesel o kaya mag asx ka na...parehong timing chain. wag kang kukuha ng forester timing belt ang makina nyan before mag90 to 100k kms magpapalit ka na ng belt..mahal ang timing belt ng subaru.
    kapag timing chain yun ang matibay hindi mo kayang putulin yun maliban na lang kung lalagariin mo. wag ka padala sa porma dun ka sa matibay...maliban na lang kung sobrang afford mo magpalit ng sasakyan kapag naputulan ka ng timing belt.
       
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