You can use far more of a powerful cars performance on the road tho (legally or otherwise) than you can a 4 x 4's ability.
Really? Legally the extra couple of seconds saved to get to 60, and the occasional semi power slide round a corner is pretty much akin to the 4x4 users ability to jump up a curb when needed, or go a bit faster over those speed bumps/rutted road. Hence the point I made. There's very little difference IRL in the amount each one is really used remotely to it's full potential. You have to go on the track or a closed road to really see the difference, and I'd wager the number of performance saloons used on them is probably less than the number of people using a 4x4 offroad (or in inclement weather).
It's also a bit short sighted to say saloons have no place, long boots are actually pretty useful, refinement is better than a hatch (generally) and they typically drive much better than any suv type vehicle. We had a crv in the family for a while and it didn't drive anything like as well as say the Accord that preceded it. Fine, but felt heavy and cumbersome by comparison (because it was). Doesnt need to mean driving on the door handles so will extend a bit beyond people who particularly want a quick/ well handling car. Think you're overestimating legroom a bit too tbh, something like an ix35 is tiny in the back, particularly average boot but has the higher roof and walk in load position.
I didn't say they have no place, in fact I said the opposite. The refinement you speak of is great for people that sit and drive a lot - the "rep", and the better handling is great if you're a performance nut, but for the average family they are that awkward middle ground, and people have voted with their feet, with saloon sales plummeting as crossovers/CUV and small "city" car sales have increased significantly. That higher roof and walk in/load position is also what draws a lot of people to them.
We're actually in the market for either a small/mid hatchback or smaller crossover/CUV* at the moment and have been looking at them over the last couple of weeks. We actually tested the Tucson (the replacement for the ix35) last weekend and had no issues with rear legroom - in fact that's one of the first things I check on new cars, and there was plenty for 6'2 me. The Tucson is also one of the smallest crossovers out at the moment. I've also been driven thousands of miles in the back of an X Trail and the legroom was always plenty and have rented a CRV for a period too. All had more space in the back than our current VW estate or the two longer term saloon rentals we had (one a small and one a larger).
Plus I personally think they're vastly better looking than a jacked up soft roader - albeit I can totally see the appeal of those too (for some people) for the reasons you've already pointed out. The UK just seems to generally prefer a hatch, pretty much always has and now there's even more choice
Agreed, to an extent. Out of all the vehicles we've looked at I actually prefer the Cherokee because it's actually a 4x4, but then I find most saloons boring as sin styling wise - although the Kia (and a lot of performance saloons away from the German marques) does look sharp. The Hatch is here to stay and the non performance saloon is being replaced by the more practical (IMO and I'm guessing many others considering sales) crossover is replacing the saloon.
*Because we want AWD/4x4 for winter in the mountains.
Anyway, way OT, sorry, just responding to Nasher!
Going back to the Kia, I assume their aim is to have a "prestige" vehicle that will hopefully pull the marques name up and increase desirability of the lower models. It may actually be beneficial for them to have it priced the same as the german marques, to make it look like they are comparable, even if very few sell. It's a "halo" car IMO, it doesn't need to sell well, just make people admire it so they are more likely to buy the new Rio/Optima/Sportage or Soul.
I tend to disagree. I just got a fully loaded used Qashqai but seriously considered a Kia Sportage GT Line which, even brand new, offered an excellence balance of styling, equipment and practicality for the price point.
In fact, if I was buying brand new I'd have the Sportage over more prestigious brands. Mostly as to get the same equipment / trim levels as the Kia you are spending mental money on options.
Kia have come a long way. It's nothing like what Ssangyong and Dacia are currently for example.
The GF wants to look at the new Sportage for our next car as well. I can't shake the brand name though, and the horrible experience of older Kias (looking mostly at you Sedona :/).
Managed to talk her out of it.
