Kia SPORTAGE "QL" ; Dedicated Discussion, Owner/ Fan Club Thread

[wasiqshahab94]

Yes I've heard, but they won't even be able to hold a candle to the global behemoth that is land cruiser.

But to be fair, with the Land cruiser dropping the v8 and possibly taking the electrification route next generation, it will be losing some of its bulletproof reputation too.

[Xulfiqar]

Yes true

Land cruiser had built its reputation over decades, its actually built like a small version of a HD truck. Meaning that there is more than just meets the eye.

Kia/hyundai are banking on “looks and paper spec” which is laughable as land cruiser owners dont fall for either,

[mgalaxy3]

Saw this on FB...

Some people suggesting to buy the "ELITE" Sportage.. and sell their corollas..

@Xulfiqar brother when are you getting this ELITE vehicle?

[fazalwahab11375]

This shahid sahab is lol.. I had a direct interaction with him and then there is a long story.

[fazalwahab11375]

Parts Unavailability..

A Sportage owner visited dealership on Murree Road Rawalpindi with few issues which includes rattling/ vibration sound from the muffler / Exhaust as well as for damage to the front axle CV Boot. The customer was told that the exhaust issue will be fixed in warranty while CV boot is damaged due to external effects [ KITE STRING] , it will be fixed at cost.

The dealership initiated the workorder and the work which should have been completed the same day is still pending. Its now THREE LONG weeks that the dealer cant put the new CV Boot on the subject Sportage and reason is the dealer don’t have the part. The simple part which should always be in dealers part inventory is not there. Because the CV joint is an important part and the owner don’t want a damage to the axle, the vehicle is grounded for three weeks now and cant be driven. The owner is with contact with the dealer on daily basis and the dealer is either not responding to calls or respond with the answer that part could not be arranged.

Not only this, the dealer also told the owner that part is ordered from factory and when after many days the part didn’t arrive, the owner called the factory warehouse directly and came to know that the part in fact is not ordered at all. According to the owner, it looks like the part is not even available at factory store.

We can assume a delay for the exhaust system issue and replacement although even that is not acceptable after 3 weeks BUT in case of the RUBBER BOOT, its extremely disappointing. I am not sure why it is taking that long to make available a simple rubber part , KIA PART # 49641D7000 which is priced at PKR 7241/- as per KIA list price to customer.

A customer who paid over 5 Million for a vehicle , cant drive it because a 7200 rupee part is NOT available for 3 weeks now. KLM must look into these matters because sales of vehicle in thousands is not the success , the overall success comes with customer satisfaction @ after sale service level as well.

It's NOW 26 days and the vehicle is parked because, NO CV BOOT. I just had a chat with the owner and you can understand his anger and concern.

[omer.akhtar]

The party is just beginning. Buckle up guys.

[Luke_mani]

Since it's basically the same car, the owner should contact Hyundai dealership and just buy the damn part from there. He is paying for it anyways....

[fazalwahab11375]

Hyundai dealership are not equipped with parts inventory either .. infact they dont have a parts list either. Nothing different there.

[Taimur92]

Shameful. I have usually come across such availability issues in new Chinese entrants in Pakistan. However, to see KLM operating in a similar manner is shameful, to say the least. Two recent incidents come to my mind.

One with the Changan dealership in Karachi. Needed a right side indicator cover for Changan M8, they did not have it in stock so placed an order one month ago but still nothing, I have stopped following up now. Also, when the vehicle went for periodic maintenance at 5K km, I asked for a bottle of genuine Changan coolant to keep one in spare in case a top-up is needed but that wasn't in stock either.

Another incident almost a year ago with a brand new Toyota Fortuner in Karachi. Its original key-less entry key was lost so I contacted the dealership for a replacement key. Went there with the spare key and the key serial number to get a new key made. They didn't have any blank keys in stock so an order was placed and in the meantime, I drove the car with a spare key. 3 months passed by, I kept following up with the dealership but they had nothing but excuses and time-delaying tactics for me. "Sir there is a shortage at the backend, the key is coming by cargo ship from Thailand which is why it is taking time, etc". I even reached out Indus Motors directly but all they did was redirect me to the said dealership's parts department and give empty reassurances. Finally, after much frustration, I imported a blank key from Dubai and had it programmed locally in Karachi, all done in 3 days.

In the absence of any regulatory authority and standards, seems like this has become the norm for auto assemblers in Pakistan. Keep minimum inventory in stock so as to have a minimal investment at any given time.

[asimdr78]

KLM should increase the availability of spare parts and with pasage of time local spare parts dealers will start importing as now there are many Kia vehicles on road and when they get older there will be luceritive businesses opportunity

[mian.z.arain]

He is retired army officer. Kia ko tou aesy uthaya hua ha uncle ny jesy....

[mian.z.arain]

Elite vehicle k fans new ideas market me laty hoye..

[UAHMAD]

Only one year old vehicle (no matter how abused it's been), costing 5.5 million having two problems:

1. Rattling/vibration sound coming from the muffler

2. Torn front axle CV Boot (due to a kite string)

I shall not say another word and keep my mouth shut so as not to annoy our Kia fans.

[asimdr78]

There is no such thing of elite cars i beleive. A suzuki mehran can be elite for someone or may be a merc cannot be elite for someone.
Criticism on issues in sportage actually help owners of kia as it will put pressure on KLM to improve quality issues and parts availability.
Kia is selling as there is 3 months waiting time on AWD but surely it wont make it successful unless they give quality products with availability of spare parts and service.
Nothing is perfect and there is always a room for improvement let alone as a new entrant we welcome KIA motors but they should increase the level of compition but providing better products.

[fazalwahab11375]

Updates:

The owner called evey other dealer and was able to buy and arrange on his own the CV boot from KIA Clifton. The owner lives in Twin Cities and his dealer could not arrange the CV boot for over 3 weeks.

After 28 days the vehicle is back on the road with new CV boot BUT the rattling muffler.. the owner has been informed that it will take another 2 to 3 months atleast.

[UAHMAD]

If someone knows the poor owner, he should be advised to write a well drafted letter to KLM CEO to complain against the Murree Road Pindi dealership. Although not relevant to the discussion here, but a couple of years ago I wrote to a prominent bank's CEO (without knowing him at all) and got my long outstanding complaint handled within the speed of lightning.

Secondly, if I were him I would have gone to any desi silencer workshop and get it fixed and have a peace of mind from the rattling noise for the next 3 months (till the time KLM imports a new one). And of course, to avoid the wrath of relatives and neighbors (due to buying a new vehicle which rattles like a 1990 model).

[fazalwahab11375]

The muffler is not available even at factory warehouse as a replacement warranty part. The 2 month time is given by the KLM not the dealer.

[UAHMAD]

Of course any import of a spare is done centrally by the company, not by the local dealership.

But the replacement of the rubber boot was responsibility of the dealership, in which it failed. So a complaint of it should be registered with the company, as I see it.

[goldenheart121312]

dear fellows, currently i posses honda civic oriel and thinking to shift to sportage FWD.

I want an honest opinion as to whether this jump seems correct as sportage might be better in built quality due to being imported and have more features and ground clearance than civic?

as per my knowledge and views, civic look is better than sportage and power also

i am also considerate about resale and reliability factors of sportage

[asimdr78]

Sportage is not imported. It is made is Pakistan. It has good ground clearence as compared to civic. Looks are subjective some ppl like high rides (crossovers) some likes sedan. Resale value is not established at the moment as it will depend on durability and availability of spare parts amd service network in years to come. Right now it is selling in good numbers and it has some own on it.
I m using it and i m happy with it so far.
U have kept civic now u can try new thing in market and use it for sometime if u dont like it u xan always move on in year or so.