In the Kia-Hyundai concern, Kia was the more conservative brother who played the safe card. And then the new Sportage came and showed that it was time to take a big step forward
One thing is certain – this car will certainly not leave anyone without a reaction. Simply, there is no middle ground. Either he disarmed you at first glance, or you are an angry critic. When it comes to Kia’s designers, this is quite a bold move, especially considering that this is a car from which a lot is expected, especially on European soil.
The front part is dominated by two led lights in the shape of a boomerang, along with a huge radiator grille and diamond-shaped main lights that one only notices on a “second look”. Light clusters have already been seen as the main scene of conflict over whether this car is beautiful or not. We believe that the essence of the whole story was that the new generation stands out from the crowd at any cost and that there are no indifferent ones. After the striking front part, the passions subside: the sides appear robust and muscular, while the rear part stylistically draws its roots from the Stinger model with a slight flirtation with the EV6 model. All in all, quite harmonious, modern and what is most important – original.
Another big step forward can be seen in the interior, which practically has no points of contact with the old generation. The cockpit is dominated by a huge instrument panel in which the driver’s screen and the screen of the infotainment system are implemented under the common glass. Depending on the equipment package, the sizes and layouts of these screens vary. The driver’s screen is certainly digital, and in the LX Fresh version, the digital instruments do not have the ability to change their appearance, but only their color. The multimedia screen has a diagonal of 12.3 inches and has a very useful option of dividing it into three parts according to the user’s wishes.
This can be very convenient in a variant when you use two-thirds of the screen for navigation, for example, and on the third part there is a screen displaying radio stations, media players or phone contacts. Below this screen is another multifunctional strip with air conditioning controls, navigation and media controls. It is a solution that Kia is proud of because they have placed a large number of commands in one space, in a very simple way, which are easily accessible without the need to scroll through various submenus while driving to get to the function you need. All instruments are slightly angled towards the driver for easy access.
The position behind the wheel is quite good. The seats are satisfactory, and there is room for taller passengers as well. The rear bench also has the possibility of adjusting the backrest, so that the passengers in the back can also “lean back” on longer journeys. The support, it seems to us, is a little softer compared to its predecessor, and we believe that the 17-inch rims have an influence, which are certainly more comfortable than the 19-inch alternative. On the other hand, a larger wheel and smaller tire profile guarantee better driving dynamics. The choice is up to the customers.
It is also interesting that the automatic parking brake in the version with a manual transmission is located on the left side behind the steering wheel. This move freed up space on the central console between the driver and passenger. However, not everything is so great. The center console caught our eye as soon as we sat down – it is made of hard plastic, there are no sharp edges, the quality is in place, but it seems that the designers focused all their attention on the appearance of the console for the version with an automatic gearbox in a circular shape. This, the most expensive variant, looks incomparably better than the one intended for versions with manual gearboxes.
Hand on heart, the basic function is satisfied, there is enough space to store glasses, keys and phone… Speaking of pampering, we think that the third Sportage equipment package could also include keyless engine start. Car prices have noticeably gone up, so perhaps importers, by creating an equipment package, could make some kind of concession.
We start the engine and immediately notice that the clutch control is very light, which is very relieving in city traffic. The manual gearbox has six gears and precise gears. Under the hood, on the test model, there was a gasoline turbo engine with a volume of 1.6 liters and 150 horsepower. In fact, the complete motorization of the new “sportige” on our market is made up of gasoline and diesel versions of the engine with a volume of 1,600 cubic meters. Diesels have a power of 116 and 136 horses, while gasoline engines are more powerful and have 150 and 180 hp, respectively. Light hybrid drive variants are available for both gasoline and diesel engines. The basic petrol unit met expectations.
It’s not an athlete, but with its 150 horsepower, it had no problem carrying about one and a half tons of cargo. The engine is elastic, so it does not require too much work with the gearbox and it “pulls” solidly even from lower revs. The declared acceleration is about ten seconds, and the maximum speed is 189 km/h. We would also like to praise the sound insulation, which makes the ambience in the cabin pleasant even for longer journeys. In sixth gear, at a speed of 130 km/h on the highway, the number of revolutions was between 2500 and 3000, which is optimal for moderate consumption and low noise level. In the curves, as with all SUVs, there is a tilting of the body, but the “sportage” keeps the given direction nicely. We finished the test with a consumption of about 7.5 liters per 100 km, which is the expected result. In the city, the consumption stayed below ten liters, while on the open road it was around six.
As the “Sportage” is largely a family vehicle, the volume of the trunk is also a very important aspect. With its 591 liters of basic volume, this car also meets the expectations of more demanding users. The trunk has a so-called double bottom, and the floor can be placed on two levels. If the need arises, by simply folding down the seats from the luggage compartment itself, it is possible to obtain a useful volume of as much as 1,780 liters.
Although, unfortunately, a large screen means more to the domestic buyer than security systems, the Sportage has a lot to brag about in this field as well. The list of safety systems is literally on the entire A4 page, with the cheapest equipment package having two-thirds of the safety items listed. If we skip the already standard airbags, airbags, ABS, ESP and hill control, the tested model with the “fresh” equipment package also has a system for keeping the vehicle in the traffic lane, a collision prevention system with the function of recognizing vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. and automatic dimming of high beams when another vehicle approaches you. There is also a system for recognizing traffic signs and signaling when the vehicle in front of you in the column starts. The more powerful equipment packages also have assistance when moving on the highway, a system for preventing collisions in a queue, a system for detecting obstacles in the blind spot with a display on the driver’s screen, as well as assistance when parking with a collision prevention function.
The initial price of the new “sportige” starts at around 25,699 euros. The tested model costs 27,299, while more than 40,000 euros should be set aside for the most equipped versions with diesel engines and all-wheel drive. Very, very serious money, but that seems to be the “new reality”. The positive side of the story is that if money is not a problem for you, you will not have to wait for your Sportage because the vehicles are in stock and the importer claims to be able to ensure continuity in stock replenishment. Price stability is more difficult to maintain, so it is important to say that the prices and delivery dates refer to vehicles that are in Serbia and that are about to arrive.
Armen Derbogosian
Two versions for the first time
In the past thirty years, Kia has developed as many as five generations of the “Sportage”. However, for the first time we have different variants for Europe and the rest of the world. The test version is the one intended only and exclusively for Europe. Although they are visually similar, the European one is somewhat more compact and seems more dynamic. Relatively speaking, the European Sportage leans more towards “crossovers” (although it also has the option of all-wheel drive), because this category of vehicle breaks all sales records in Europe. The international version is slightly longer and its shape gives the impression of a classic SUV.
Camera yes, sensors no?!
Although we have no major complaints about the new “Sportage”, one thing really surprised us. Hand on heart, the problem was not in the car itself, but in the strangely tailored equipment package. Namely, in the “fresh” equipment package, which we believe will be the most sought after, you have a reversing camera with an excellent display, but… there is no parking sensor! By reviewing the equipment package, we saw that already in the next package, “moushn”, you get front and rear parking sensors and a camera and parking assistance with a collision prevention function.
Champions of space
The Kia Sportage is one of the champions of luggage space in its class. Compared to the previous generation, you now have a whole 111 liters more at your disposal! With a trunk of 590 liters, it ranks better than, say, the Kashqai, Tiguan, Mazda CX-5, and even the Citroen C5 Aircross and Toyota RAV4. Only the Hyundai Tucson has a larger luggage space, and that’s only 7 liters (598 l).
The seat backs can also be folded using the levers in the luggage compartment, which makes loading easier. With the seats folded down, the trunk volume increases to a full 1,780 liters.
Excellent sound system
We were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the standard audio system in the “Sportage”. The audio atmosphere in the first three packages is provided by two speakers each in the front and rear doors and one centrally placed tweeter. More expensive packages come with another tweeter, and the top of the range is Harman-Kardon’s premium sound system. However, the standard variant will satisfy the majority of audiophiles, especially if you play music via digital DAB radio, or via a streaming service with digital sound quality. There is no additional subwoofer, so there is no “separation” of the door panels, but the sound is full and without distortion even at higher volumes.
Tom-Tom in charge of navigation
When developing navigation systems for its vehicles, Kia cooperates with the world-famous cartographic company Tom-Tom. Through the Kia Konektid application, the driver receives relevant traffic information, speed camera locations, local search and weather data. The maps are transparent and have the option of displaying objects in 3D. Maps of Europe are delivered with the vehicle and seven years of free map updates are provided.
| Model | Kia Sportage 1,6 T-Gdi LX Fresh |
| Motor | Regular four-cylinder gasoline turbo engine with a volume of 1,598 cc |
| Force | 110 kW (150 KS) at 5,500 rpm |
| Torque | 250 Nm at 4,000 rpm |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 4.515 x 1.865 x 1.645 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.680 mm |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive |
| Maximum speed | 189 km/h |
| Acceleration 0-100 km/h | 10,3 s |
| Trunk volume | 591 / 1780 liters |
| Average consumption | 6.6-7.0 lit / 100 km (on test 7.6 lit / 100 km) |
| CO2 emission | 150-159 gr/km |
Equipment
Standard: ABS, ESP, EBD, seven airbags, lane keeping device, intelligent traffic sign recognition system, 17-inch alloy wheels, LED front and rear lights, automatic high beam dimming, , multimedia system with navigation and screen from 12.3 inches and seven years of free map updates, DAB radio, reversing camera, cruise control, bluetooth connection for the phone, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, electronic parking brake, all four electric windows, heated front seats and steering wheel…
Source: www.magazinauto.com
