The fourth generation Sportage adds substance to Kia’s latest motto “the power to surprise.”
Overall Score 84/100
The fourth generation Sportage adds substance to Kia’s latest motto “the power to surprise.” Its predecessor was a breath of fresh air and showed an unexpected direction for the brand, but this latest one just takes that to new heights.
However, this time it’s not about the dashing looks or surprisingly high-quality of the build, but just how well it works as a package. From the very instant you climb aboard, it feels rock-solid, with good plastics extending much lower down the dash than you would expect in a non-premium brand.
The exterior and interior ambiance are undoubtedly Teutonic and very sober, with a hint of extra liveliness and passion on the outside.
This character is perfectly mirrored by the driving experience, which is reassuring, surefooted and restrained. A shout should go out to the engineers who sorted the steering calibration, as it’s actually very positive and not lacking in feel.
IN BRIEF
RECOMMENDED FOR:
Families, Managers, Sales Agents, Seniors
CREATED FOR:
All Terrain, Highways, Urban Driving
HATS OFF FOR:
Comfort, Engine Power, Ergonomics, Modularity, Passenger Space, Road Handling
BANG FOR THE BUCK:
Excellent
DRIVE
Powertrain 8/10
The Sportage can be had with a selection of petrol and diesel engine, of which all but the base 1.6-liter are turbocharged, while all-wheel drive is available on higher-spec models and power plants. The model we drove came very high in the range: the 180 hp 2.0-liter diesel with all-wheel drive and a manual gearbox.
The combination is good, as the 2.0-liter unit has plenty of urge to move the Sportage, and it seems set up for long distance cruising. However, there is a big gap between first and second gears and this, on top of first being quite long (and making it a chore to crawl at low speed over uneven ground).
Handling 7/10
Don’t expect the Sportage to feel like a spritely hatch on the road, because it isn’t. Moderate is the word that would best describe its dynamic abilities, in a sector where this is actually the norm (unless the vehicle we’re talking about wears a Mazda badge or is from a premium manufacturer).
Lean through the corners is kept in check… moderately, and while the vehicle doesn’t fight you when trying to quickly thread it up a mountain pass, it doesn’t love it either.
Safety 10/10
If you’re about to crash a new Sportage, which is quite difficult given its complete slew of available active and passive safety aids, then try to hit the obstacle head on as the vehicle scored maximum points for this type of impact, according to EuroNCAP.
The model is a Top Safety Pick at the IIHS tests, so it gets maximum points in our review too. Good job, Kia!
INTERIOR
Comfort 8/10
We can’t say what low-spec Sportage models feel like from the inside, but the top-spec example we tried, with 19-inch rims, proved quite cosseting. Its suspension would best be described as firm yet well damped and very quiet in its operation, thus adding to the German-esque feel of the whole package.
That applies for generally smooth tarmac driving, while rutted unpaved roads may make the vehicle feel ever so slightly jittery – this is probably more evident in vehicles that lack the extra grip and sure-footedness added by the optional all-wheel drive system.
Quality 9/10
You can’t help but be impressed by the workmanship evident inside the new Sportage. The Slovakia-built model feels precisely screwed together, with excellent materials that punch well above its mainstream badge weight.
Were it not to wear a Kia badge, which is one many still associate with cheap and cheerful cars of old, the interior feels like it wouldn’t be out of place in a VW; you can’t say that about a Renault Kadjar or even Ford’s latest Kuga / Escape.
The interior quality and ambiance were the most notable (and pleasantly surprising) highlights of the whole car.
Practicality 9/10
The Sportage will easily accommodate the bags and needs of a family of four. It’s roomy no matter where you’re sat, it has a good number of stowage spaces and visibility is great too.
The 503-liter trunk is adequate for the class and its capacity is similar to that of a compact estate car, like a VW Golf.
Infotainment 8/10
Don’t expect the infotainment to blow you away with features. The system, which can be operated either through buttons or by touching the screen, has all the essentials but nothing extra.
It’s nothing to write home about, but it gets the job done with good touch response and imperceivable load times.
BUDGET
Efficiency 8/10
Our short local launch day press drive, which included some twisty mountain road driving, along with straighter roads, some highway and a bit of light off-roading resulted in a combined consumption figure of 8.5 l/100km.
Vehicles not equipped with all-wheel drive may achieve better results, but even as it was, its performance was on par with similarly engined rivals.
Equipment 8/10
All Sportages come equipped with 16-inch alloy rims, LED DRLs, leather-clad steering wheel, digital radio, Bluetooth, USB and aux-in jack inputs, as well as cruise control. Our fully-specced tester had much more, including perforated leather seats with heating and cooling function and a heated steering wheel.
The 4.2-inch infotainment display is also optional, available from the third trim level upward. It even came with a JBL subwoofer in the back, as well as bi-xenon headlights a part-opening panoramic glass roof, very pretty-looking LED rear lights and a complete slew of safety aids which allow the car to almost drive itself.
Acquisition 9/10
In Europe, the Sportage range kicks off at around €17,400, which sounds pretty tempting given just how much is on offer for the money. You can spend some €10,000 speccing it up, but at least Kia is trying to distance itself from offering option packs and is allowing buyers to add all the individual options they want separately.
It’s a recommendable buy if you’re not after the last word in handling sharpness or off-road ability, yet require a vehicle that is comfortable and composed on the road; it can successfully leave tarmac for brief stints, but it kind of seems out of place there, especially if it’s riding on 19-inch rims.