Facelifted Kia Sportage first drive
FIRST DRIVE Verdict on fresh SUV with mild-hybrid tech
THIS is the 2018 Kia Sportage. It may be hard to tell, but the subtle facelift – a new front bumper with extra shiny bits and a revised rear featuring a full-width light bar – hides some significant changes under the skin.
The Sportage accounts for about 40 per cent of all Kia’s UK sales, so it’s not surprising that the mechanical upgrades show little sign of complacency. As part of a revamped engine line-up, both of the outgoing car’s petrol units benefit from tweaks to help them pass the latest Euro 6 Temp emissions regulations. The old 1.7-litre diesel has been replaced by a cleaner 1.6, too.
Perhaps most interesting is the car we’re driving here: the range-topping 2.0-litre diesel gets a new 48-volt mild-hybrid set-up. It uses a 0.44kwh lithium-ion battery and a startergenerator that’s belt-driven off the crankshaft, helping the combustion engine under acceleration, topping itself back up when coasting or braking.
Kia says the hybrid tech doesn’t increase peak power or torque, instead reducing the engine’s workload under acceleration. This cuts CO2 emissions by four per cent when measured on the new Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) tests.
On the road, the difference compared with the old car isn’t drastic, but that’s a testament to how well the powertrain works. The most obvious change is the stop/start system: the electrical assistance allows the engine to cut out at around 10mph, restarting more quickly than before when moving off. A full road test will reveal if this affects real-world fuel efficiency.
The new tech brings a negligible weight compromise, so the Sportage feels as neat and tidy to drive as ever. It’s the same 48V system found in the latest Hyundai Tucson, and is only available with four-wheel drive. This offers up loads of traction and plenty of stability, if not the levels of fun you get from a SEAT Ateca. It’s more comfortable, though, especially around town.
That relaxed gait carries over to the drivetrain, where electrical assistance endows the Kia with smooth power delivery. The diesel unit might be more
“Updated Sportage feels as tidy to drive as ever, with loads of traction and stability”
clattery than Volkswagen’s equivalent 2.0-litre TDI, but it doesn’t need to be worked as hard as before, and remains well isolated from the cabin.
The inside of the Sportage is still a very pleasant place to sit as well. A new steering wheel is part of the facelift, plus there’s a revised driver’s display and tweaked air-con controls, but the changes are subtle. It may not have the wow factor of a Peugeot 3008, but beats a Nissan Qashqai for sense of occasion.
Its updated infotainment system knocks both rivals into touch, too; the new range-topping eight-inch display uses the same logical layout as before, but the screen produces sharper images and a faster touch response. Base models use a smaller seven-inch screen, but get Apple Carplay and Android Auto.
Move into the back and there’s loads of room; the hybrid loses nothing to the rest of the range in terms of boot space, either. The only compromise that the battery brings is that you get a puncture repair kit instead of the space saver spare included in some other versions.
The hybrid is the most expensive model in the Sportage range – and by a couple of grand – but it is also the most powerful, and more frugal than the similarly performing 1.6 turbo petrol.
“The inside of the Sportage is still a very pleasant place to sit”