The latest generation Kia Sportage has higher prices but with that comes an updated look, new technologies, new hybrid engines and new mechanical underpinnings.
Special mention : Prices reflect higher quality, space & refinement. Reverse camera is clear night & day, clever rear seat tricks (opening from the boot and the rear bench, bench angle adjustment for comfort. Rear boot space can fit a full adult bike without removing the front wheel, fits in easily too.
Needs work : Price hikes over previous generations. Hybrid engine coarse under pressure. Bluetooth/Apple CarPlay takes a minute to sync & sometimes needs a nudge to connect wirelessly while USB syncs every time.
| BHP 130 | Petrol / Electric / Auto |
| 0-100 km/h in 8.2 seconds | Road Tax €140 |
| Price: €43,150 As spec’d : €46,000 | Boot space 540 litres |
It’s hard to think of a sector that’s up against more rivals than the Sportage is, and the reason for that is it’s bigger than SUVs like the Seat Ateca, Nissan Qashqai, VW Tiguan and Skoda Karoq. It’s a bit smaller than Peugeot’s 5008, Land Rover’s Discovery Sport and Mazda’s CX-5and it sits in that middle ground between those two groups of SUVs, alongside the closely related and similarly sized Hyundai Tucson.
Kia has upped its design game dramatically and given the Sportage a very distinctive look to help it stand out from all of those rivals. The previous Sportage was a massive seller but instead of creating something that looked similar to the previous model they’ve gone for a modernised look.
The updates start on the outside and continue inside where the new Sportage has had a major revamp. The infotainment comes in the form of two screens which are joined together. at 12.3 inches each, one is for the infotainment and the other is for the driver display.
The infotainment system has some nice graphics, a responsive screen with a simple layout and it’s mounted relatively high on the dashboard. The icons are just about big enough to be able to see clearly and hit relatively easily on the move. You still have two dials either side of the binnacle and what’s also quite useful is the fact that you can jump between controlling the air conditioning or the shortcut buttons for the infotainment system. The view can be restricted however depending on your driving position. There is quite a lot of adjustment in the steering wheel and the seat so you will be able to get comfortable, you just might not be able to see absolutely everything on the screen which is otherwise nice and clear.
The range topping model costs around €44,000 and at that price point would it be considered as good as a Volvo XC40? The build quality is good, it’s all screwed together nicely and it’s got a feeling of robustness.
The hybrid (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions can officially do more than 60 kms of driving on electric alone. The PHEV version has a low CO2 output of 25g/km and if you keep the battery regularly charged, you could expect to see 4.7 litres per 100 kms. The plug-in hybrid technology is offered across a broad range of trim lines. It combines a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with a single electric motor rated at 90bhp, powered from a 13.8kWh battery. The total system power is 261bhp with 350Nm torque, giving a 0-100 km/h of 8.2 seconds.
Eco is automatically selected from start-up in the PHEV, available modes include EV mode, Hybrid mode and Automatic which blends the two. There’s also a Sport mode, and settings for different terrain. The on-board technology does a perfectly fine job of selecting the required mode for the journey. Sport mode tightens up the throttle and suspension, terrain modes suitably slows/powers everything where needed.
The new Sportage is slightly longer and wider than the old model, to be fair the old model had good rear seat space. With a six foot driver, legroom in the rear is plentiful with loads of space for your feet under the seats in front. In the back of the car you get reclining rear seats and USB-C ports the whole space feels relatively open, spacious and comfortable.
The Sportage gets a massive 591 litre boot which is a hundred litres more than you got in the previous generation and is quite a bit bigger than the Nissan Qashqai, Skoda Karoq and Mazda CX-5. It’s not quite as big as a Peugeot 5008 but it is very similar to what the Hyundai Tucson offers. if you option the hybrid version it means boot space will be reduced, plug-in hybrid reduces it a bit more but even at that it’s still 540 litres. The boot is a good practical shape that also offers a height adjustable floor so you can lower it down if you want to increase the load capacity or keep it up top and give yourself a bit of underfloor storage. Another thing the Sportage gets as standard is the ability to fold each rear seat individually, where most rivals are only 60/40.
The 1.6 litre petrol engine is very quiet at low speeds with the electric motor, it feels nimble and is fairly quick. The Hybrid petrol engine sounds strained when pushed, there’s no immediate acceleration, but it’s definitely got more than enough power for motorway journeys and long distance cruises. At low speeds it’s nice and quiet, it’s hushed but the gearbox could be better. In terms of the handling it’s relaxed at cruising speeds. The body control is good and the steering is nice, it’s perhaps a bit vague around the straight ahead compared to a Tucson.
The Sportage is pretty big, around the size of an ID.4 but deceptively doesn’t look as big. There’s a jump in price going from the regular engines up to the hybrid options but if it’s within your budget then it’ll be worth your while.
The Sportage is well equipped as standard but you might want to consider starting at K3 trim because you get the plush interiors, big screens and some luxuries like heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel and adaptive cruise control. The latest generation Sportage easily matches the quality of past versions as it looks to match the popularity of the previous generation which was a huge seller. Despite the Hyundai Tucson being a slightly cheaper hybrid family SUV, the Sportage is the polished and better looking in our opinion. A major bonus that comes with a Kia is the seven year warranty is standard.