For all that this truck is a significant upgrade over what came before it, the changes only put it mid-pack in terms of mechanical sophistication
Then there’s Kia’s infuriating USB stereo interface, which has failed to work with any iPod I’ve plugged into it in any number of their test cars.
The suspension is easily unsettled by sharp bumps, however, and the resulting noises make the car feel unsophisticated over rough roads.
Another of Kia’s hallmarks is its touchy throttles, and that makes an appearance here: care is needed to make smooth exits from traffic lights.
averaged an unimpressive 10.5 L/100 km on a highway road trip, and 13.5 in all-city driving.
I just can’t help but think they could have spent more time on the improved part.
slow trans shifts -all these are the reviewers comments
so i'm thinking if i wanted to by one of these things ,suv's , with my hard earned doe , why would i pick one with all these flaws in it -- i'd find the best in class to buy , not a middle packer
saving money is one thing , being annoyed by your suv's flaws is another
So again, as there is NO vehicle without fault, what is the class leader? I'm sure anything can be picked apart for one reason or another. Having owned and driven a 2010 Santa Fe for 15,000 Kms, I can shed some light on some of the issues.
1) For us, AUX ipod has worked fine with an aftermarket generic-brand AUX cable. We have it in the car right now, connected to a fairly old iPod. Have not yet tested the USB so can't comment there.
2) Touchy throttle takes about a week to get used to, as every car has a different feel for gas/braking. Easing gently into traffic is not a problem, it just requires the driver to respond differently with their foot. The problem I DO have is the braking feel - pedal travel is long and nose dive feels significant. For such a stiff suspension I would hope for a more taut, controlled braking action.
3) We average 10-11L/100 km city/highway. Pure highway she'll pull 9L/100 km, but we have the FWD model. Perhaps the AWD adds weight/drag? Regardless I'm impressed for the power, size and weight of the vehicle - this is not a compact sedan after all.
The test vehicle had 3000 Kms, not even into the breaking-in point. Mileage gets better after the first 6,000 km service, and even better after that.