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For generations, the Kia Sportage was primarily in demand as a cheap alternative. Meanwhile, the Korean has other advantages. Just as many of them.
With the fifth generation of the introduced in early 2022 Sportage offers Kia a modern compact SUV that is ready for almost any purpose. The five-door is suitable as a relaxed long-distance vehicle, is spacious, variable and a correspondingly attractive family car. Driving pleasure, comfort and infotainment technology are also at a high and contemporary level. Thanks to all-wheel drive, the Koreans can also take paths off the beaten track. But the many talents and the many technical innovations have their price.
Not a bargain anymore
In any case, the times as a bargain insider tip are finally over for the Sportage. Even the entry-level model costs 28.500 euros. If it is the GT Line equipment we tested with all-wheel drive and 180 hp petrol engine, at least 46.150 euros are required. If the sound package, glass sunroof, two-tone paintwork and the large package of assistance systems are added, it is just over 50.000 euros. However: Then the Sportage is also full to the brim with a lot of fine technology and attractive extras.
The tidy cockpit is correspondingly chic and modern. The large display behind the steering wheel and the touchscreen in the center of the dashboard are combined in a curved unit. The number of switches and buttons is manageable, many functions are controlled via steering wheel buttons, touchscreen or voice command. Smart: Below the large infotainment display there is a touch bar that can either function as a control unit for the air conditioning system or alternatively display direct selection buttons for navigation systems and the like. The smartphone can wirelessly fill its battery in a special tray underneath, cell phone content can be mirrored on the large touchscreen with Android Auto or Apple Carplay. Accordingly, you can choose whether to be guided to your destination by Google Maps or by the permanently integrated navigation system with real-time traffic information.
You can take everything with you
Whether first or second row - the space is beyond reproach. Despite the panoramic glass roof, which lowers the headliner, headroom is good for guests of average height. Even if the wheel housing boxes in the trunk, lined with hard plastic, are a bit annoying, the 562 liter luggage compartment offers a pleasant amount of space. There are also additional storage compartments under the intermediate floor that is flush with the loading sill. The rear seat backrest can be folded down from the electrically opening trunk lid in a 40:20:40 ratio by remote unlocking. In this way, the volume of storage space can gradually increase to 1.751 litres.
The displacement of the direct-injection turbo petrol engine is slightly smaller at 1.598 cubic centimetres, delivering an impressive 132 kW/180 hp. With a seven-speed double clutch, the power is sent to all four wheels and the 1,7-ton truck can reach 9 km/h in just 100 seconds and a maximum of just over 200 km/h. Thanks to the electric support provided by mild hybrid technology, the propulsion feels pleasantly full. However, the drive combination does not work as smoothly and cultivated as one is used to from comparable drives from VW.
If you take your foot off the gas, you will be sailing. The petrol engine pulls back and the pace is maintained by the frequently recuperating electric motor. Despite the efficiency-enhancing technology, the bottom line is that you are not really economical on the road. It's over seven liters with a cautious foot on the gas pedal, with a normal driving style it's around eight liters.
Is the Sportage also sporty?
Basically, it would be more economical if you did without all-wheel drive. However, this ensures optimal traction in everyday life. In any case, we didn't experience any wheelspin on asphalt. If you want to move off the beaten track, you can use a small rotary switch in the center console to select an all-wheel drive mode that suits the surface, so that you can also make confident progress here.
The Sportage can also be moved quickly through curves. Our example with GT-Line equipment already has electronic damping control on board as standard, which ensures good comfort and a high degree of driving stability at all times thanks to continuous damping control. Rolling, diving and pitching movements are noticeably reduced, and there is no uncertainty even when cornering briskly. The many assistance systems also ensure a fundamentally high level of safety, although they react somewhat inharmoniously in some situations. The speed limit detection does not always work reliably, the lane keepers could correct with a little more restraint and the distance cruise control could distinguish between dangerous and safe situations even more confidently. But here, too, one has to realize that progress has its price.
Technical data
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 liter four-cylinder petrol with direct injection and turbocharging, 132 kW/180 hp, maximum torque: 265 Nm at 1.500 to 4.500 rpm, seven-speed automatic (dual clutch), all-wheel drive, 0-100 km/h: 9,0 .201 s, Vmax: 6,0 km/h, average consumption: 2 l, CO137 emissions: 8,0 g/km (NEDC), test consumption: 6 l, efficiency class: A, emission standard: Euro XNUMXd, Price: from 46.150 euros
In any case, the front of the new Kia Sportage with its progressive light design is striking 
The two-part rear lights, which also extend into the tailgate, are also a smart solution
In brief
Why: because he is a jack of all trades
Why not: because a station wagon in the same segment is still a bit more ecological
What is sonst: VW Tiguan, Mercedes GLA, BMW X1, Audi Q3, Jaguar E-Pace, Nissan Qashqai