Driving report: Kia Sportage - futuristic or fantastic?

Almost 30 years after the first was published Kia Sportage the Koreans are now introducing the fifth generation. The newcomer looks more boyish than sporty, but at the same time looks pretty stylish and modern.

The newly developed Kia Sportage is visually closer to the off-road vehicle than its predecessor. It ties in with the old days, you could say - after all, the first generation also looked rustic. Of course, you can't compare the early Kia with the modern models. On the contrary, the brand is almost unrecognizable, the products have now become so stylish and valuable.

The Sportage, which starts from 27.790 euros, is massive and exudes a touch of outdoor character, but is no less futuristic in design. An unconventionally drawn front with jagged LED daytime running lights is supposed to burn itself into the minds of passers-by. The lines of the Sportage rear section cite elements of the EV6, Kia's first Stromer, which was designed from the ground up as a battery-electric car. And the Sportage, which is the second model in the new design language, also carries a bit of the electrical genome. With the exception of the 110 kW / 150 PS basic petrol engine (48 volts optional), all combustion variants are hybridized and have a 12 kW / 16 PS electric motor in order to display various fuel-saving features such as partial electrical support or sailing mode, and especially from a standstill to be able to boost out vigorously. Because at low speed it gets turbocharger not enough exhaust gas flow yet.

The first trip in the spacious SUV begins with the 132 kW / 180 hp petrol engine, which costs 40.000 euros and consumes an average of 5,8 liters in the front-wheel drive version. However, to match the trekking look, we drove the 4WD variants - just so as not to get stranded on a possibly snow-covered hill in the Munich area. With a base price of 37.990 euros, the all-wheel drive is paradoxically even cheaper, which has to do with the fact that it is available in the cheaper “Vision” equipment line, while the 2WD edition only starts with “Spirit”.

With the 1,6-liter four-cylinder petrol, the all-rounder does not feel underpowered when it brings the 1,7-tonner up to speed with a slightly pithy sound. It quickly becomes apparent that the engineers are consistently trimming the Sportage for economy. As soon as you lift the gas, the virtual needle on the rev counter drops to 0 - the combustion engine immediately comes to a standstill. This does not change anything about the lack of connection of the drive train. The gasoline engine starts up again in a flash as soon as you tap the gas pedal, so there is no delay in spontaneous acceleration. If you press the right pedal down hard, you can see from a graphic that the electric motor is now also helping, but only at low speeds. Conversely, the 48V Sportage recuperates to convert kinetic energy back into electricity.

The switch to the diesel version, which consumes an average of just 4,2 or 4,6 liters (4WD) per 100 kilometers, shows at least in this constellation that it is below the Otto variant. Since Kia does without a powerful diesel engine and recommends the plug-in hybrids (to be added in April) to customers with the desire for more power, it remains at 100 kW / 136 PS. The starter generator is still there, although the 1,6 liter diesel is per se more economical than the Otto. Relatively speaking, it is not quite as powerful as the T-GDI, but by no means gives rise to the feeling of lack of performance. Since the common rail is high-torque around the bottom (320 Newton meters from 2.000 tours), it moves confidently, pulls away like a bear after a small start-up weakness, but in the upper speed range it degrades more than the nominally much stronger gasoline engine. The CRDI remains calm in everyday driving, and the seven-speed dual clutch transmission rarely forces downshifts.

And because the unit acts with exemplary restraint in terms of noise, it harmonizes wonderfully with the overall design of the Sportage. Incidentally, its comfort is by no means only manifested in its extremely supple suspension, which noticeably defuses even stubborn bumps. Lush, travel-friendly seats and the deliberately generous legroom in the second row are also convincing.

The operating concept also underpins the modernity. The instrument cluster and the touchscreen packed with functions (a few fewer menus would have done it) come together to over 20 inches. Below the central monitor there is a touch-sensitive monochrome display bar, which can vary its icons depending on the selection of the “functional group”. A nice gadget with the aim of meaningful key reduction. The manufacturer sometimes owes its customers only a head-up display. For this there is driver assistance in all facets from the exit warning to the intersection assistant to the active cruise control. All of these systems ultimately use the autonomous braking function - bundled together they cost a reasonable 1.390 euros surcharge.

The Sportage also impresses with its extremely practical impact. There are hooks on the back of the front seat backs to hang items of clothing. Various shelves also keep the interior tidy on long journeys with many passengers. The Sportage was able to grow disproportionately in terms of cargo space. Although it is only three centimeters longer and one centimeter wider than its predecessor, its maximum luggage compartment volume has increased by a respectable 291 to 1.751 liters. Somebody should say that SUVs are just a "lifestyle". As a solid alternative to station wagons, they are also justified in this regard beyond lifestyle arguments. 

Patrick Broich / SP-X

Kia Sportage Specifications:
Five-door, five-seat compact SUV, length: 4,52 meters, width: 1,87 meters, height: 1,65 meters, wheelbase: 2,68 meters, trunk volume: 562 to 1.751 liters
1.6 T-GDI 2WD: 1,6-liter four-cylinder petrol with direct injection and turbocharging, 110 kW / 150 PS, maximum torque: 250 Nm at 1.500 to 4.000 rpm, six-speed manual transmission, front-wheel drive, 0-100 km / h: 10,3 s, Vmax: 182 km / h, average consumption: 6,3 l, CO2 emissions: 144 g / km (NEDC), efficiency class: B, emissions standard: Euro 6d, price: from 27.990 euros

1.6 T-GDI 2WD 48V: 1,6-liter four-cylinder petrol with direct injection and turbocharging, 132 kW / 180 PS, maximum torque: 265 Nm at 1.500 to 4.000 rpm, seven-speed automatic (double clutch), front-wheel drive, 0 -100 km / h: 8,8 s, Vmax: 201 km / h, average consumption: 5,8 l, CO2 emissions: 133 g / km (NEDC), efficiency class: A, emissions standard: Euro 6d, price: from 39.990 Euro

1.6 T-GDI 4WD 48V: 1,6-liter four-cylinder Otto with direct injection and turbocharging, 132 kW / 180 PS, maximum torque: 265 Nm at 1.500 to 4.000 rpm, seven-speed automatic (double clutch), all-wheel drive, 0 -100 km / h: 9,0 s, Vmax: 201 km / h, average consumption: 6,0 l, CO2 emissions: 137 g / km (NEDC), efficiency class: A, emissions standard: Euro 6d, price: from 37.990 Euro

1.6 CRDI 2WD 48V: 1,6-liter four-cylinder diesel with direct injection and turbocharging, 100 kW / 136 PS, maximum torque: 280 Nm at 1.500 to 3.000 rpm, six-speed manual transmission, front-wheel drive, 0-100 km / h : 11,4 s, Vmax: 180 km / h, average consumption: 4,2 l, CO2 emissions: 112 g / km (NEDC), efficiency class: A +, emissions standard: Euro 6d, price: from 30.440 euros

1.6 CRDI 4WD 48V: 1,6-liter four-cylinder diesel with direct injection and turbocharging, 100 kW / 136 PS, maximum torque: 320 Nm at 2.000 to 2.250 rpm, seven-speed automatic (double clutch), all-wheel drive, 0-100 km / h: 11,6 s, Vmax: 180 km / h, average consumption: 4,6 l, CO2 emissions: 121 g / km (NEDC), efficiency class: A +, emissions standard: Euro 6d, price: from 38.940 euros

Kia Sportage - brief characteristics:
Why: because he is somehow a jack of all trades
Why not: because a station wagon in the same segment is still a bit more ecological
What else: VW Tiguan, Mercedes GLA, BMW X1, Audi Q3, Jaguar E-Pace, Nissan Qashqai
When is he coming: from January 29th