WRESTLING COUSINS

PHOTOS: JASPER YU

These 2-litre SUVs from sister companies are evenly matched on paper, but which one out-grapples the other and makes a stronger impression?

IT is common for first cousins to bear some resemblance to one another, whether it’s the shape of their face, eyes or nose.

But while this is true for people, it is a different matter altogether for automobiles.

Hyundai and Kia, for example, are sister companies whose models share platforms, but each brand’s cars look distinct.

Side by side, the Tucson and Sportage are as different as night and day. I find the Tucson, with its sleeker headlights and sharper lines, to be more attractive than the Sportage, which is more squarish and has a front end that you’ll either love or hate.

Only when you look closely at both cars’ rear ends will you notice that the shapes of their tailgates are similar.

Apart from their virtually identical instrument clusters, both the Tucson and Sportage have very different interiors.

Between the two, it’s the Tucson’s cabin which feels more upmarket, thanks to features such as Blind Spot Detection and an electric parking brake.

The Hyundai also has dedicated buttons for Bluetooth telephony, making it more convenient for the driver to make/receive calls while driving.

The Sportage may lack these features, but it’ll please more petrolheads with its sportier driving position and more drivercentric cockpit. The dashboard is angled towards the driver, making him feel more ensconced.

Both the Tucson and Sportage have the same 2670mm wheelbase length, so their backseats are similarly spacious, with generous legroom and headroom for passengers.

However, the Sportage has the edge when it comes to practicality, as it offers occupants a 12-volt outlet and USB point.

On road trips, occupants in the Kia will be more entertained, as they’ll be able to charge their devices while watching K-dramas.

When it comes to power and performance, the Tucson and Sportage are like two wrestlers who have the same build and strength.

Both SUVs have the same engines with the same outputs (155bhp and 192Nm). Even their century sprint times (11.1 seconds) are identical.

But if you assume that they feel the same from behind the wheel, you’d be wrong.

True to the “sport” in its moniker, the Sportage is livelier than the Tucson. Even when its Drive Mode Select is left in the “Normal” setting, the Sportage is so willing to pile on the revs that you’ll swear its zero-to-100km/h time might be a second or two quicker.

And the 6-speed automatic’s manual override function also feels a tad more responsive in the Sportage, despite both vehicles using the same gearbox.

Not surprisingly, it’s also the Sportage that has nimbler handling. In fact, its eagerness to be chucked into corners makes it feel like a big hatchback instead of an SUV.

Now, while the Tucson doesn’t feel as sprightly as its cousin, it will still impress drivers with its even higher levels of refinement. Its cabin is better insulated and its ride quality is more pliant.

You can’t hustle the Tucson around a series of bends as quickly as you would the Sportage. The Tucson responds better to a less hurried approach, which complements its smoother character.

The Tucson also holds another advantage over its cousin: price. The higher-spec variant we tested is listed at $132,599, which is $6.4k less expensive than the Sportage (at press time).

But in return for this premium, the Kia Sportage is covered by an industry-leading 10-year/200,000km engine warranty, as long as the car is serviced at Cycle & Carriage.

The Sportage may have gotten the better of the Tucson with regard to performance and the peace-of-mind that it offers buyers. But I would argue that the Hyundai Tucson, which has keener pricing, better styling and more refined manners, may have won more fans following this Korean wrestling match.