This may just be a mis-perception on my part, or maybe it's a local phenomena here in the US Pacific Northwest. I drive a second generation 2006 Sportage and I must see a dozen just like it every day on the way to work. I think I've seen a total of one new 3G in the past 4 months. I've never seen a TV or print ad for the 3G Sportage. Last week I got an unsolicited letter from the dealer telling me it's time to trade in my '06 Sportage because they had "great prices" on...Optima, Sorento, Forte. Hello??? If I'm driving a Sportage you'd think they might conclude that I'm probably the type of person interested in a small 4WD SUV...like the Sportage. But not a mention of it at all. It's like they don't even want to sell one. What's the deal with that? I checked the Edmunds site and it appears that Kia still makes them as of yesterday. The list price appears to be reasonable, less than the Sorento. When I went to the dealer last November to buy my wife's Optima the dealer looked at my Sportage and said, "Boy, we sold a TON of those a few years back!" So what's the big secret about them now? I could understand the lack of advertising if they were selling themselves like the 2G apparently did. But I don't even see them on the road. Weird.
3G not being pushed much by Kia?
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I see them enough I guess, more than the OP does apparently. But I must admit, he makes a point about the lack of ads for the Sportage. I see Optima and Sorrento ads all the time, and of course the Soul.
LOL, njerald, did you really put chrome piping on your door edges?
LOL, njerald, did you really put chrome piping on your door edges?
They are becoming more popular. Now that you mention it though, there is a lack of advertising, I just never really noticed it. The dealer I work at does sell all the Sportages we get in, but it still seems like they push the Sorentos more. Most people want to get the most vehicle they can get for the money, and the larger Sorento for not much more $ is an easy sell.
I see more Sorento everyday, rarely a Sportage of any gen, the dealers I visited also try to sell Sorento rather than Sportage, also there has been $1000-$1500 manufacturer cashback on Sorento all models for a year.
Demographic difference, RAV4 and CRV are everywhere here.
When the dealer showed me the Sportage I ultimately ended up buying I knew nothing about them. He pointed it out, took me to it, and never even mentioned the Sorento.
I had originally gone in to look at the Optima SX and told him I wish it was available as a wagon so the Sportage is where he pointed me. Worked out pretty good.
I had originally gone in to look at the Optima SX and told him I wish it was available as a wagon so the Sportage is where he pointed me. Worked out pretty good.
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Ive been wondering this also. I have been seeing more on the road lately but the sportage is one of kia's low volume sellers and it's been decreasing over the last few months. Maybe they aren't shipping enough to meet demand like someone mentioned above. I know the sportage is extremely popular oversees right now. I wish they would advertise more...it's one of their best vehicles in my opinion.
Ive been wondering this also. I have been seeing more on the road lately but the sportage is one of kia's low volume sellers and it's been decreasing over the last few months. Maybe they aren't shipping enough to meet demand like someone mentioned above. I know the sportage is extremely popular oversees right now. I wish they would advertise more...it's one of their best vehicles in my opinion.
I seriously doubt it's selling well that they can't keep it up, or might be it's by region.
I rarely see a Sportage in Los Angeles or if they're all hiding in garage.
I've been waiting for silver Sportage AWD SX in Southern California since last Oct, there is none in this region but plenty of those in East Coast. There is one in Davis, Northern California, last time I checked autotrader, it is still sitting there after 2 months.
US sales of the Sportage is not decreasing over the last few months.
Only about 38% of the Korean Sportage output comes to the US and another 8% to Canada.
Monthly US sales is between 3,000 - 4,000 vehicles.
Maybe???????????
I'm starting to see more Sportages in my area, but its still not as popular as other new model brands. It could be the segment. People want either bigger or smaller, and there is brand loyalty to the Honda CRV and Toyota RAV4. Its still a tough market to contend in, but I'm also not seeing any Sportage marketing on TV or in publications. There is a lot of push for the Sorento.
Spotting a new Hyundai Veloster is daily occurrence now, as well as the new Ford Focus. I hardly catch any of the new Optimas.
Spotting a new Hyundai Veloster is daily occurrence now, as well as the new Ford Focus. I hardly catch any of the new Optimas.
Some people buy a crossover for interior space and cargo volume, the Sportage (and Tucson) is the smallest among the competitors, not much more than some compact wagons. That could be one reason the sales will push you to Sorento if many buyers might also be considering RAV4 or CRV. In my area, there are many more Sorento and even Tucson (as Hyundai has better name) here than Sportage. Also have seen more Optimas these days (I asked th salesman which car was best selling, he told me it's Optima)
The sales of the dealerships I went to test drive kept pushing me for Sorento, while I kept telling them I didn't want a big car and a V6 (sunroof is available only on V6)
Same thing here in Seattle - Optimas are everywhere. Of course you always tend to notice what you own. I'll tell you one thing - having both an older 2G 4cyl Sportage and a new Optima, I'd sure love to drop the Optima's engine into my Sportage. That 2.4GDI in the Optima is one sweet machine and the mileage is great. 200HP and averaging over 30mpg - I'll take that any day.
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