The Kia Sportage has lengthy been fashionable in Australia – and driving the GT-Line 2.0D AWD I can see why.
The Sportage competes with the likes of the Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-5, Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan X-Path and Toyota RAV4. It shares a few of its bits with the Tucson; though, its cousin comfortably outsells the Sportage by over 5500 items, based mostly on VFACTS figures from January to November 2023.
The Sportage possesses a whole lot of nice options however does Kia miss the mark on consideration to element? Little issues that might make an enormous distinction in practicality appear to be missed. For a household flagship SUV the dearth of rear window shades, local weather controls within the second row, engine cease/begin performance and head-up show certainly should mix to have an effect on the car’s rating…
Let’s get into it and see.
How does the Kia Sportage fare vs its opponents?
View an in depth breakdown of the Kia Sportage in opposition to equally sized autos.
Kia
Sportage
How a lot does the Kia Sportage price?
The flagship Kia Sportage GT-Line Diesel is priced from $52,720 earlier than on-road prices.
This places it intently in keeping with the Mitsubishi Outlander Exceed AWD, Honda CR-V VTi L AWD and cousin Hyundai Tucson Highlander N Line AWD.
It’s price mentioning that whereas Kia is but to launch the Sportage Hybrid – due right here in 2024 – the GT Line Diesel competes on pricing with the Honda ZR-V e:HEV LX and Subaru Forester Hybrid S.
2024 Kia Sportage pricing:
Smartstream G2.0 FWD
- Sportage S: $32,795/$34,795 (6MT/6AT)
- Sportage SX: $35,350/$37,350 (6MT/6AT)
- Sportage SX+: $41,850 (6AT)
Smartstream G1.6 T-GDI AWD
- Sportage SX+: $43,850 (7DCT)
- Sportage GT-Line: $49,720 (7DCT)
Smartstream D2.0 AWD
- Sportage S: $40,195 (8AT)
- Sportage SX: $42,750 (8AT)
- Sportage SX+: $47,250 (8AT)
- Sportage GT-Line: $52,720 (8AT)
All pries exclude on-road prices.
To see how the Sportage compares with its rivals, line it up side-by-side with any automotive you need utilizing our comparison instrument.
What’s the Kia Sportage like on the within?
Being the top-spec mannequin, Kia has put about each function attainable contained in the cabin. Let’s begin with the seats.
The Sportage’s seats seem respectable high quality and are extremely adjustable however for me the seats are most snug when the lumbar help just isn’t engaged. I suppose this defeats the aim, however nearly each time I’ve pushed the GT-Line my expertise stays the identical.
Seat heating and air flow are good options, and it units an expensive tone to the automotive and does really feel particular over the SX+, which solely provides heated seating.
There’s a mixture of suede and leather-based upholstery within the GT-Line which, if I’m being sincere, I didn’t even discover at first – I don’t assume it makes a serious distinction to the automotive and maybe this was Kia making an attempt to separate this mannequin from the SX+. To me at the least, it fell on deaf ears – or blind eyes on this case.
There are twin 12.3-inch infotainment and instrument cluster shows that are housed in a curved casing. It does really feel extra luxurious than what I’d count on from a Kia, so factors for that. Remembering the automotive is lower than $60,000 earlier than on-road prices, any such instrument setup is one thing I’d count on to see in a BMW or Mercedes-Benz.
Below the air vents and woodgrain insert is a touchscreen to manage local weather and infotainment settings like media and navigation. Amongst the controls there’s a small button that can choose whether or not local weather or infotainment settings are displayed, however to me it was a bit too small and fiddly in operation.
I discovered whereas driving I typically by chance pressed the mistaken button as a result of the right alternative was nestled in between quite a lot of different digital buttons. It’s not best to take your eyes off the street for any period of time, not to mention continuously shifting them throughout rows of infotainment controls – at instances I discovered working these controls a bit unnerving.
Two dials are positioned on both facet of the button show, and these controls can change a number of settings, relying on which fundamental controls are chosen i.e. temperature or quantity controls.
I ought to point out that I’m pretty small, so I needed to lean ahead from my driving place to achieve the infotainment system every time I wished to make an adjustment. Whereas I bought used to this after some time, I haven’t have this concern with opponents and it was a bit annoying.
The centre console space encompasses a wi-fi cellphone charger, two USB ports (together with a USB-A and USB-C) in addition to a 12V socket. I did discover it redundant to have a wi-fi cellphone charger however wired cellphone mirroring, which meant my iPhone wouldn’t comfortably match within the house and would shift round as I used to be driving.
The centre tunnel doesn’t really feel crowded with buttons and provides the motive force a great variety of controls and settings to select from.
I discovered the cup holders a bit annoying, too. Kia provides a retractable semi-circle that kinds the cup holder – which is able to stow away once they aren’t wanted – so you’ll be able to retailer different issues like keys or a small pockets. Beware nonetheless, the compartment isn’t rubber-lined and may imply more durable objects can rattle about.
The again seats are a number of the most spacious throughout the section with reference to leg room. I used to be additionally in a position to match three little one seats throughout the second row; nonetheless I’d counsel when you have younger ones, use compact automotive seats particularly when selecting child capsules.
Talking of youngsters, facilities within the second row options two air vents, hooks for small luggage, USB-C ports, seatback pockets, and the centre seat reveals an armrest and two cup holders. There may be one small drink bottle holder in every door bin and a big hanger on the headrest of the entrance seats.
The panoramic sunroof makes the automotive really feel greater and extra spacious and proves to be fairly entertaining for the youngsters at night time, particularly star gazing as you’re driving house.
The boot may be very spacious, I used to be in a position to match a single pram alongside 4 or 5 luggage of groceries. A full-size spare tyre is stored beneath the boot flooring. Quoted quantity is 543L-1829L (VDA).
I discovered loading issues into the boot was simple as a result of the boot top was round hip top. This made it simple to get prams, groceries and so on. into the automotive with out pressure.
Though Kia might enhance on little particulars like window shades, a heated steering wheel, a head-up show and tri-zone local weather management; the cabin as a complete has so much to supply.
What’s underneath the bonnet?
Mannequin | Kia Sportage 2.0D AWD |
---|---|
Energy | 137kW (4000rpm) |
Torque | 416Nm (2000-2750pm) |
Transmission | 8-speed automated |
Pushed Wheels | All-wheel drive |
Weight | 1759kg (kerb) |
Gas economic system (claimed) | 6.3L/100km |
Gas economic system (as examined) | 7.3L/100km |
Gas tank | 54L |
It’s price mentioning that whereas the mixed gasoline economic system was 6.3L, the city declare was 7.7L/100km. I believed the 7.3L/100km I achieved was honest contemplating I used to be doing largely metropolis driving.
How does the Kia Sportage drive?
The very first thing I realised is the seating place and transmission shifter felt a bit awkward, and took fairly a little bit of adjusting.
It’s not uncomfortable however I did discover it took some getting used to – and that was earlier than I even turned the automotive on. Ultimately I bought issues sorted and hit the street.
The diesel engine felt easy to drive when you’re off the road. You hardly ever should put your foot all the best way down from a visitors gentle however within the circumstances the place I wanted to have a greater probability of merging, I discovered the automotive lagged off the mark a bit greater than I’d have appreciated.
The Sportage feels stable and assured on highways although, and is simply as succesful on the varsity run or weekend sport.
I discovered after constantly driving the GT-Line I grew to become very reliant on the Blind Spot View Monitor cameras which venture a stay facet digicam feed into the instrument cluster whenever you point out. Though it’s a “luxurious” gimmick it did make me cease and assume the way it encourages lazy driving behaviour.
Drivers shouldn’t be reliant on cameras across the automotive to easily change lanes or pull out of a carpark. Somewhat than help, the tech turns into a chunk of expertise drivers change into dependent upon – and that doesn’t sit nicely with me.
The Sportage GT-Line has an auto-hold perform. In stop-start visitors it’s an essential function for me and I’m glad Kia has it working easily.
Talking of stop-start driving – Kia nonetheless doesn’t supply fuel-saving idle begin/cease expertise on the majority of its Australian vary. It’s a disgrace, given these vehicles will probably spend a whole lot of their time on the town.
There are a number of drive modes obtainable within the Sportage. I discovered driving in Eco or Regular to be the picks, and located them very responsive.
Among the security options could be a little intrusive and aggressive. I discovered the lane-keep help disruptive – typically it could aggressively pull you in or out of a lane even after I had my indicator on.
The adaptive cruise management was responsive and under no circumstances clunky. It really works so much higher than in different SUVs, notably Chinese language-branded rivals.
The Sportage fortunately doesn’t have the annoying velocity restrict alert, which was an enormous turn-off in Kia’s newer fashions just like the Seltos. The 360-degree digicam is nice when getting out of tight parking spots or ensuring there aren’t any youngsters bikes (or youngsters for that matter) in the best way whenever you’re reversing out of the driveway.
What do you get?
Sportage S highlights:
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Apple CarPlay, Android Auto (wi-fi)
- DAB digital radio
- 6-speaker audio
- ‘Primary’ digital instrument cluster
- 4.2-inch TFT show
- LED headlights (reflector-type)
- LED daytime operating lights
- Partial-LED tail lights
- Full-size spare wheel
- Leather-based-accented steering wheel, PVC shifter
- AEB with pedestrian, bicycle owner, junction help
- Blind-spot help
- Rear cross-traffic help
- Lane Comply with Help
- Lane preserve help
- Clever velocity restrict help
- Adaptive cruise management**
- Electrical park brake**
- Reversing digicam
- Rear parking sensors
- Tyre stress monitoring
- Entrance-centre airbag
**not obtainable for guide variants
Sportage SX provides:
- 18-inch alloy wheels (machine face)
- 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (wired)
- Energy driver’s lumbar adjustment
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Twin-zone local weather management with auto de-fog
- Auto up/down home windows (entrance)
- Leather-based-wrapped shifter
- Distant-folding second-row seats
- Gloss black inside trim
- DAB radio
Sportage SX+ provides:
- 19-inch alloy wheels (machine face)
- 8-speaker Harman Karon premium audio
- Fake leather-based seat trim
- Heated entrance seats
- LED entrance fog lights
- Energy driver’s seat with energy lumbar
- Electrical tailgate
- Electrochromic rear-view mirror
- Keyless entry with push-button begin
- Steering-mounted paddle shifters
- Rear privateness glass
- Entrance parking sensors
- 2x USB-C chargers in entrance seat backs
Sportage GT-Line provides:
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- 12.3-inch instrument cluster
- Leather-based seats with suede higher
- Driver’s seat with reminiscence perform
- Energy passenger seat adjustment
- Heated/ventilated entrance seats
- Twin-LED headlights (projector kind)
- Full-LED tail lights
- Shift-by-wire gear selector (dial kind)
- Wi-fi cellphone charger
- Ambient inside lighting
- LED inside lighting
- Panoramic sunroof
- Alloy sports activities pedals
- Blind Spot View Monitor
- Parking Collision Avoidance (reverse)
- Distant Sensible Park Help (diesel solely)
- Encompass-view cameras with 3D view
- Metallic scuff plates
Is the Kia Sportage protected?
The Kia Sportage wears a five-star ANCAP security ranking based mostly on exams by Euro NCAP in July 2022.
It scored 87 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 87 per cent for little one occupant safety, 66 per cent for weak street consumer safety, and 74 per cent for security help.
Commonplace security tools consists of:
- 7 airbags incl. front-centre
- Adaptive cruise management
- Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
- Pedestrian, Bike owner detection
- Junction help
- Blind-spot help
- Clever velocity restrict help
- Lane Comply with Help (centring)
- Lane preserve help
- Rear cross-traffic help
- Rear parking sensors
- Reversing digicam
Sportage GT-Line provides:
- AEB in reverse
- Blind Spot View Monitor
- Distant Sensible Park Help (2.0D)
- Encompass-view cameras
How a lot does the Kia Sportage price to run?
All Kia fashions are backed by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee with seven years of capped-price servicing.
The primary seven companies for the two.0L turbo diesel fashions are $346, $537, $416, $790, $389, $675, and $412.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Kia Sportage
I feel the Sportage is a good automotive for fogeys who’re slowly rising their household. It’s enjoyable, it’s trendy and offers you options historically obtainable in costly luxurious European vehicles.
It’s good worth for cash if you’re evaluating with the Nissan X-Trail, Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, and its cousin the Hyundai Tucson; which all ask a few thousand {dollars} extra for his or her respective flagship variations.
The Sportage GT-Line has a number of options that deduct factors for practicality, however with the quantity of tech and kit it had for underneath $60,000 it’s one of many higher SUVs within the section. I don’t know if ready six months or extra for this automotive is justified nonetheless; particularly when there was no stop-start expertise or hybridisation.
I’d take into account check driving different fashions which will supply a stop-start perform to scale back gasoline consumption, or maybe look forward to the Sportage Hybrid which is because of arrive in Australia someday within the early phases of 2024.
The GT-Line does at the least tick a whole lot of packing containers and will positively be short-listed. Intently test the options listing; although, as maybe the satan is within the element.
Click on the photographs for the complete gallery
BUY: Kia Sportage
MORE: Everything Kia Sportage