Refined and refreshed
David Thomson gets behind the wheel of the newgeneration Kia Sportage and finds it has benefited from an upgrade that has refreshed its styling, boosted its safety specification, and refined its dynamics.
What’s new?
The Kia Sportage has been around for a few years now, but it has recently benefited from an upgrade that has refreshed its styling, boosted its safety specification, and refined its dynamics.
The only major mechanical change is a new eightspeed automatic transmission for the 136kW turbodiesel variants within the range. However, the petrol choices — a 114kW 2.0litre unit for twowheeldrives and a 135kW 2.4litre for allwheeldrives — continues as before mechanically, operating with a sixspeed automatic gearbox.
The revised range includes a new toptier specification, the GT Line, which replaces the old Limited. It can be had in allwheeldrive diesel or petrol forms, or as a frontdrive machine — the GT Line Urban — tested here.
As both its name and frontdrive configuration implies, the GT Line Urban is aimed at the increasing number of SUV buyers (including many in Otago) who do not require offroad capability, but who otherwise want the full suite of safety, convenience and comfort features, as well as some onroad dynamic flair.
The GT Line delivers to the dynamic brief with an especially sportstuned suspension. Its tweaking is part of a wider programme of custom tuning for Australian and New Zealand conditions. This way, entrylevel LX and midrange EX petrol variants are tuned for ride comfort, the GT Line petrol models have a sportier demeanour, and diesel versions are set up somewhere between the two.
The new Sportage safety specification includes Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Keep Assist and Lane Departure Warning as standard across the range. Blind spot detection and rear cross traffic alert are included on several variants, including the GT Line vehicles.
What’s it like to look at?
The fourthgeneration Sportage was notable for its cohesive styling, anchored at the front by Kia’s now ubiquitous tigernose grille. This midlife upgrade strengthens that look, with changes to the nose and grille, new sidelight clusters, and an enlarged front air dam. There are equivalent changes at the rear, too.
Sitting on 235/45 tyres and 19inch alloy wheels, the GT Line Urban gets its own bumper enhancements and goes big on the latest LED technology for its headlights, running lights and indicators.
What’s it like inside?
The two main interior changes are new trims and changes to the central digital touchscreen. Within this, the GT Line takes composite leather upholstery and features a frameless eightinch centre display. There is also a special GT Line sports steering wheel fitted with paddle shift controls.
Up front the cabin is airy, with comfortable seats (power adjustable, heated and ventilated) and plenty of storage. Split 60:40 and with a folddown centre armrest, the second row of seats afford plenty of legroom and more headroom than you might expect given the Sportage’s dropping roofline.
The boot, accessed via a poweroperated tailgate, has a usefully low load lip. Its standard capacity boosts from 466 litres to 1455 litres when the rear seat backs are folded down.
What comes as standard?
The GT Line’s standard specification includes satellite navigation, a premium eightspeak JBL sound system, and wireless phone charging capability. Other standard items include Apple CarPlay and AndroidAuto smartphone audio interfaces, dual zone climate control, keyless entry, push button start and cruise control.
What’s it like to drive?
Steer the GT Line Urban down a winding secondary tarmac road and you will appreciate the agility its suspension setup allows.
Despite the performance limitations of an engine that’s not exactly brimming with power, it’s a pleasant openroad steer. Bumps taken at speed are soaked up with reasonable aplomb, and the vehicle turns into bends crisply, holding its line well without fuss or bother.
The main highway haul is traversed in a similarly accomplished manner. Engine noise under acceleration aside, noise levels are well contained.
Oddly, given its name, roundtown is where the GT Line Urban feels least at home. Sure, it’s an easy car to drive on city streets, always feeling adequately powerful, but its ride quality over poorlysurfaced streets is brittle at slow to moderate speeds. Most likely this is due to the combination suspension set up and quite lowprofile tyres on 19inch rims.
What’s our verdict?
The latest Sportage update is thoughtful and generally successful, but the GT Line is a thoroughly good rather than exceptional machine. Not so long ago that would have been fine for Kia, but these days the company has shown it can do better.
Today
Streetstocks action at Dunedin’s Beachland’s Speedway in Waldronville. Racing starts at 6pm. Admission $15 for adults, $10 for students, $5 for kids, or a family pass is $35.
Tomorrow
The Best of British Charity Motoring Day, leaves the Dunedin Ice Stadium car park at 9am for the Dunback Domain. There will be a show’n’shine, food, Marque of the Day — Rootes Group. Entry car, $20; bike $10; public, gold
coin. All proceeds to St John Palmerston.
The Otago Sports Car Club is running a tarmac hill climb on George King Memorial Dr, starting from the bottom of the Lee Stream Gorge and running 1.75km up the gorge towards Hindon. Four timed runs for each competitor are scheduled following a drivers’ briefing at 10.15am
March 2324
Super Truck racing is the top draw at Invercargill’s Teretonga Park. Visit the Teretonga Park website for more details.
April 67
Highlands Motorsport Park Festival of Speed. Entry is $30 for one day or $50 for the weekend (includes entry into the Highlands Museum). Children under 16 are free.
April 1214
The Drivesouth Otago Rally Festival. Confirmed starters include WRC aces Hayden Paddon and Mads Ostberg, Irishman Frank Kelly and the cream of this country’s rallying crop. Visit www.otagorally.com for details.