Medium SUV $45K to $65K: Australia’s Best Value Cars

If you want it all: the label, the space, and all the tackle then the Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson and Range Rover Evoque are worth a look.

Kia Sportage Platinum

The tables have turned – instead of wondering whether Korea can build a convincing high-end SUV, we’d now question whether it’s worth spending more on a premium Euro model.

A diesel, all-wheel-drive-only affair sees Kia’s priciest Sportage, the Platinum, triumph on the back of a catalogue of cash-saving credentials. The 2.0-litre oiler gives a stout 400Nm with 6.8L/100km cycle, backed up by cheap-as insurance, a convenient 12-month service interval and a confidence-inspiring seven-year warranty.

The only field it didn’t rank first in was depreciation. The Sportage Platinum’s value equation is as impressive as its cabin finish, refinement, luxury and active safety equipment, and efficient engine.

Hyundai Tucson Highlander

Picking between the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage is a matter of aesthetics and brand preference when you consider how closely they rate across every key value criterion.

Range Rover Evoque TD4 150 Pure

In the value domain, it’s Europe that should be praised for taking it to the Koreans rather than the other way round; the Evoque fights hard on fuel efficiency and retained value.

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