Help Buying 2024 KIA Sportage

I need some advice from a mechanic that may know about the new GDI engines in the KIA Sportage. My wife and, I have a ‘2019 Hyundai Veloster Turbo’ we purchased it at the dealer in 2018 brand new. Recently we have been experiencing oil consumption in the past 40k miles. it has 119,000 miles. It failed a oil consumption test at the dealership… but Hyundai said they will not cover the engine since the warranty is over… its burning almost 2 qtrs. every 1000 miles. it’s not leaking, nor smoking nothing at all! it’s just vanishing! Hyundai said that a combustion chamber cleaning may help a “little” but pretty much there is nothing they can do…Seemed like they were very aware of this issue, I did some research on this model GDI engine in the 2019 Veloster and this seems to be “normal” but not “normal” at the same time. some cases worse than others. But we are in the market for an SUV and, my wife likes the Sportage are these new GDI engines having this same issue in the 2024 2.5L GDI vs the earlier 2019 1.6L Gamma GDI?

I had a Kia Optima several years ago but I would not buy a Kia or Hyundai now.

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i was leaning more towards Subaru…lol… no way should this 1.6L engine be burning oil like a Diesel. especially at 119k

Just in case you are not aware of it. The Subaru all wheel drive system can require 4 new tires if one is damaged that can’t be repaired.

That is the case for most if not all, all wheel drive vehicles.

There is a recall for oil rings ( NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V301000) and a manufacturer communication ( NHTSA ID Number: 10177127). If you never received the recall notice you still might qualify for the remedy if your engine is part of the recall. You can check your VIN at NHTSA.gov or call the dealer and have them check if you haven’t done so already. Not all engines are part of the recall, so you have to check.

Although I dislike the idea of GDI engines, and would NEVER buy a vehicle equipped with one, the problem of high oil consumption is not unique to GDI engines. Unfortunately, in the quest to squeeze out higher (i.e. unrealistic) fuel efficiency and emissions standards, manufacturers have replaced high-tension ductile iron piston rings and cast iron engine blocks with low-tension piston rings and aluminum engine blocks–often with unlined cylinders. Many modern engines have higher oil consumption when new than older engines did at 150,000 miles or more.

The basic question boils down to how much you like the car, and whether or not you still owe money on it. If you still like this car, and/or if you still owe money on it, I would suggest keeping it, and making sure to check the oil level frequently and top off as needed. It is possible that even with high oil consumption, the engine will run fine, and last for many more years, provided that you never run it low on oil.

If you are tired of this vehicle, and do not owe money on it, you might consider selling it, or trading it in toward something else. Of course, this will cost you much more money, and you might still end up with similar problems in another new vehicle. I also would NOT buy a new Hyundai or Kia at this time.

I would not buy any Hyundai or Kia, way to many issues with them…

ALL manufactures have issues here and there, but the Kia/Hyundai family lines seem to have way more then most…

If you want reliability, buy a Toyota/Lexus or Honda/Acura…

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… or a Mazda.

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The 2024 Kia Spoetage and the twin Tucson have the 2.5 GDI engine that has dual port injection which “should” prevent a lot of the previous gen GDI engines. That is what Toyota is also using. You will still have some fuel dilution and the jury is out on the long-term reliability.
At the end of the day, cross shop with a Toyota and see how much you save buying a similarly loaded Kia.