Kia Sportage cuts a dashing and practical figure
It is spacious, technologically advanced and will comfortably scamper on gravel, writes
Journey through Kia Sportage’s past and you’ll be impressed by the metamorphosis over 29 years. The latest generation has a polarising façade of mangled slashes and crevices underscored by acres of honeycomb meshing, but it’ sa looker in my books, and the most technologically advanced of the Sportage legacy.
It remains a large enough crossover for families, and an enticing halfway house choice for those who find alternatives such as the Nissan Qashqai a tad too small, and the Audi Q5 and BMW X3 too expensive.
The entry-level Sportage 1.6T-GDi LX costs R539,995 — a relative bargain — and it’s available with the same 1.6l turbo motor and seven-speed dual clutch automatic as fitted to the top-tier 1.6T-GDi GT Line S on test here, which costs R195,000 more.
For R734,995 the GT Line S brings luxuries and more exciting styling thanks to sportier 19inch black alloy wheels, steering wheel gear change paddles, front park distance control, electric tailgate, heated and electrically operated front seats clad with partial suede-cloth leatherette, a panoramic sunroof, high beam assist and active cruise control as standard.
A 591l boot is generous for families and there’s plenty of room for passengers to stretch out in. The interior looks and feels classy, with well-made touch points and digital displays, and the GT Line S gets a rotary gear selector that operates through sophisticated drive-by-wire tech instead of a conventional lever.
Having the “S” suffix doesn’t translate to a sports-tuned engine or suspension. The 1.6l petrol turbo four-cylinder makes 132kW and 265Nm across the five-model range. It pulls the vehicle along decently and the transmission is pretty responsive and flexible enough to suit slow town driving or highway cruising where it is able to self brake, throttle and keep to inside lanes.
Fuel consumption averaged 8.5l/100km in the test car, against the 6.5l/100km claimed by Kia. It’s not a bad score
though the 54l fuel tank makes for a shorter range than some rivals, such as the Nissan Qashqai with its 65 l tank.
The Sportage has exceptionally light steering which makes it a cinch in urban conditions, and the car has a nice ride which takes the edge off the harshest speed bumps on the roads. It was so good I took it on a 20km gravel road with confidence to confirm its usefulness here, and it aced this rugged test. Being fitted with high-profile 235/50 R19 rubber means Kia designed it with this undertaking also in mind.
The high-riding car is fairly poised through twisty sections, and you can confidently push it without sacrificing much in the way of comfort.
Browsing the catalogues shows the Sportage has rivals of varied aptitude. There’s the more expensive but all-wheeldrive equipped Honda CR-V, the marginally cheaper but dieselpowered Hyundai Tucson, and a whole lot more with similar yinand-yang configurations.
The latest Kia Sportage feels a step up from previous generations and this top-tier model shows just how far the brand has come to compete with German levels of specification and refinement.
Competing with a total of three GT-Line specifications is a good strategy for pleasing various pocket depths. The rangetopper is the ultimate expression of the luxury, sophistication and fashionista appeal to be had in a Kia Sportage and you won’t feel bad if you choose it ahead of premium European brands.