Kia Sportage has entered the SUV race. Almost immediately it took over its rivals. Sportage was awarded the Carsales Best Mid-Size SUV 2024 award. Ample tech features and bold styling elements fashion the Sportage which brings a new dawn upon those who are looking to purchase a powerful and impactful SUV.

Pros

• Very tech-ladled car
• Diesel and petrol variants are more powerful than hybrid
• Interior equipment quality is great
• Good on-road refinement and handling
• Ample storage compartments throughout the cabin
  

Cons

• Steep price climb from petrol to diesel
• Service pricing can be tricky
• Ineffective climate control
• Marmite-like front-end design
  

What’s new?

• More airbags in the second row. Is now standard in all variants
• LED projector headlights
  

Kia Sportage is offered to the consumers in all powertrains. Diesel powertrain maybe a bit pricy but that 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine makes you want to take that step. The engine start sound of the diesel powertrain is nothing short of a melody in our ears. While there’s so much more to like about this car, we believe that Nissan Qashqai and Hyundai Tucson offer more comfort.

If you’re looking to learn more about the Kia Sportage Hybrid.

Exteriors

The basic exterior update the Sportage hybrid 2024 boasts is the ‘tiger grille’ that has replaced the erstwhile standard grille all Kia cars shared. This shift is a coin toss at best as we noticed that the likeness of the front grille is spread on extremes. Another notable change in the design is the boomerang-styled LED DRLs. Now, while the S and SX variants have not received the boomerang headlights, they have gotten an updated headlight design which is also the standard DRLs. This gives a certain panache to your Sportage. Add a jumpy colour and you might just be able to locate your car from afar.

Styling Elements

The entire game of elements is to fuse the family-friendliness with a sporty sturdy story to be told. While the chrome elements are generously used, the rear design is something you’ll expect to find on a fastback. The razor-sharp LED tail lights connected by the slim dark trim enhance the Sportage’s broad form, sure to leave an impression on those behind.

Colour Options

The Sportage is offered to the masses in 8 distinctive colours which come with their own theme and styling elements. However, no extra colour has been added for Sportage Hybrid. The 8 colours are as follows;

Clear White | Snow White Pearl | Steel Grey | Gravity Grey | Fusion Black | Dawning Red | Vesta Blue & Jungle Wood Green.

Now while these colours are immaculate and make your Sportage tale a bit more unique, we noticed that Jungle Wood Green is a little paler in person. Thus, we’d recommend you choose from the remaining 7 colours.

Wheel Design

With all new exteriors, Kia has also updated their wheel designs. However, the major shortcoming we felt was the fact that wheel sizes aren’t flexible and you get optional or upgradable wheel sizes in the SX+ and GT-Line variants only.

Kia Sportage S gets a 17-inch twin-spoke alloy wheel with chrome exteriors a piano black running towards the centre. The design reminds us of a whirlpool with the Kia insignia embossed in the middle

Kia Sportage SX is awarded with yet another chrome-finished design with a fidget-spinner-like design. The 18-inch wheel design looks sharp and quite frankly, our favourite. Not too complex just enough to make you admire it for a few seconds.

SX+ and GT-Line variants both share a 19-inch alloy wheel design. However, unlike the other variants, the SX+ users get to upgrade their wheel design to that of the GT-Line. The design language is more blade running through the grass it has an edge and would make a good weapon if you’re actually in the bde Runner movie.

Interiors

The interiors while justified at the price point you get each variant of Sportage are adequate, we definitely feel that Kia has taken a rather discriminatory approach towards tech features.

Interior Layout & Space

The spacing is quite comfortable, the seats are not too cramped in for anybody. The rear seats leave enough legroom and headroom for taller occupants. The front seat headrests come with a coat/clothes hanger which personally, has been useful to me on more than one occasion.

Additionally, the dashboard is made out of good plastic. Tapping on it would not make a hollow plastic-y sound instead it’s more of a comforting ‘thud’. Another detail to notice about the cabin is that the gear toggle has been shifted ever so slightly towards the driver and given room for some extra toggle buttons. While the buttons do make their presence justified, we were left wondering if they had a lot of use for the driver.

Comfort & Ergonomics

The seats aren’t as comfortable as you’ll get in say Hyundai Tucson but you get used to it. They’re extremely absorbent and functionally placed. However, the lack of heated and ventilated seats in the S and SX variants is duly noted and felt. The upholstery, otherwise seems adequate and quite nice.

Apart from that, S and SX variants get a black cloth trim, which sounds pretty bland but isn’t entirely, it still looks and feels premium and keeps everything minimalistic. For SX+ users, there are black quilted artificial leather seats which now come with a cascading mermaid tail pattern in the middle. We felt it makes the spin extra cushiony.  Finally, the GT-Line variant gets Black leather appointed seats with artificial suede headrests.

The lumbar support for the driver seems to be a bit off at times. Given that the Sportage has memory seats, you’d expect the seats to adjust according to you. We felt that it had to be done the other way around.

Boot

Ideally, we should just stick a photo up there and let you see in the void yourself. Yes, the boot is literally like a void. It might not be cubically large but its cuboidal depth certainly makes it a great storage space. With 591 litres of boot space, this seems endless. You can store your long weekend getaway. The average bag you’d carry for your weekend trip? Yes, the Sportage will carry 5 of them quite comfortably.

The only one to run this space king down is the Hyundai Tucson at 640 litres, that too the diesel and petrol-powered ones. The need for putting up batteries and other necessary equipment eats away the space of Tucson mild hybrid and PHEV, which cap out at 540 litres.

Technology & Infotainment

Kia cars are famed for their technological and infotainment features, they’ve become somewhat of a beacon of tech innovations in the automotive world. Let’s take a look at the list of features Sportage comes in with;

Technology Features

• Remote smart parking assist
• Wireless charging
• Advanced Smart Cruise Control
• Dual-zone climate control
• Memory seats that are heated and ventilated (Optional for S and SX variants)
• Ambient mood lighting in 64 colours (Not available in S variant)
• Drive & Terrain modes
  

Connectivity Options

• Dual 12.3-inch curved display (S & SX get an 8-inch touchscreen display)
• 8-speaker Harman/Kardon premium sound system (S & SX get a 6-speaker system)
• Android Auto & Apple CarPlay are built-in
• Satellite Navigation
• Radio
• 12V dual-charging ports
  

Performance and Engine

The performance of Kia Sportage is exceptional. Ofcourse the diesel variant is extremely powerful and driving the diesel-powered Sportage is extremely fun on highways.

Engine Specification

Sportage comes with a single diesel engine option of 137kW 2.0L Turbo Diesel engine. SX+ and GT-Line enjoy a slightly more powerful petrol engine than the S and SX variants.

SX+ and GT-Line get 132kW 1.6L Turbo Petrol engine and the S and SX variants get a nimble 115kW 2.0L Petrol engine.

Transmission and Drive System

The Front Wheel Drive feature is smooth and impactful. Diesel-powered drivetrains get a four-wheel drive feature which makes the highways and mildly harsh terrains worth exploring. However, remember given the limited ground clearance, this Sportage is not made for hardcore off-roading.

Drive systems also complement the overall driving experience. However, petrol-powered cars are a bit thirsty and causes you to be a bit more mindful than you would be in a diesel-powered or hybrid vehicle.

Braking System

Before we get to the brakes, a minor complaint that we have noticed so far is that the suspension isn’t quite impressive. The speed breakers are effortlessly jumped through, however, the potholes were felt and definitely moved along with. We believe that the Volkswagen Tiguan has a way better suspension than the Sportage.

Braking is quite impressive. A hybrid Sportage sailing smoothly at 60 km/h comes to a total halt within 5 seconds with minimal skidding. This is quite impressive, mind you, we’re talking about a hybrid, things are still developing. Sportage has made some leaps in the aspect of effective braking.

Fuel Economy and Efficiency

The Sportage has a decent fuel economy. With manual variants being a bit more thirsty than the auto variants. The manual variants which are petrol-powered give an economy of 7.7 litres for every 100km as compared to the auto variants which are petrol-powered and give an economy of 8.1 litres for every 100km.

However, when you switch up to the diesel-powered Sportage, the economy becomes quite handsome with around 6.3 litres for every 100km. With this considered, we believe that the diesel-powered SX+ is the best Sportage you can get without compromising or missing out on much.

Handling and Driving Dynamics

While the makers at Kia would want you to believe that this is a family-friendly car which can take on the terrains of Australia. Mind you, they have given Terran and Mode select features in the car, but the Sportage fails to strike the balance between City and Country. The car swerves smoothly in city and level 3 terrains but definitely not an off-roader.

With that being said, the Sportage has a good grip on the road and rarely will skid or spit. It has a good rollover point which adds onto a safety feature than a driving feature.

Safety Features

Kia has made some huge leaps in terms of safety tech and has impressed alot of consumers who are in the market looking for a family-friendly car. Sportage also enjoys this long list of features which are standard in most of the Kia SPortage variants.

• Collision warning
• Electronic stability control
• Road sign recognition with speed limiter
• Blind spot alert
• Rear parking camera
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Autonomous emergency braking advanced
• Driver attention alert
• Side door exit warning
• Lane departure warning
  

Advanced Safety Features include

• Blind spot view monitor
• Intelligent speed limit assist
• Safe exit warning
• Blind spot collision avoidance assist
• Lane the following assist
• Autonomous emergency braking system for Car, Pedestrian and Cyclist
  

Crash Test Ratings

• Adult Occupant Protection - 87%
• Child Occupant Protection - 87%
• Vulnerable Road User Protection - 66%
• Safety Assist - 74%

Ownership Experience

The users who drive the Sportage around sleep easy knowing they’ve made an excellent choice. Some of the owners boast the fact that they’ve invested in an overall good SUV. While the SUV market is already flooded in with more coming, the price point at which you can avail of this car makes it extremely practical and sensible.

Some buyers also claim that a hybrid powertrain is not available in lower variants and even Kia has kept mum on that topic. It would be wonderful to see if Kia chooses to cash out this car in lower-level variants with a hybrid powertrain. After all, Sportage is in the top 10 sold SUVs this year and last.

Major Drawbacks

• Lower-level variants have not received a ‘proper’ upgrade
• Some reviewers note that the ride quality can be a bit on the stiff side, especially with the base suspension setup. This might be a concern for those who prioritize a smooth and comfortable ride.
• The base engine might feel underpowered for some drivers, especially when loaded with passengers or cargo. Opting for the turbocharged engine comes at an additional cost.
  

Major Strengths

• Maxed out on safety with advanced safety tech and added passive safety system features
• The Sportage offers a lot of features for the price, including a comfortable interior, user-friendly technology, and a comprehensive suite of safety features. This makes it a compelling option for budget-minded buyers who don't want to compromise on creature comforts.
• The Sportage comes with a variety of engine options, including a fuel-efficient hybrid and a powerful turbocharged option.

Maintenance & Warranty Information

Kia Sportage comes with the assurance of Australia’s First 7-Year Unlimited Kilometre Warranty, unlike offerings from other car brands which cease to operate after you hit a certain mileage. Kia understands the necessity of going the extra mile because a longer warranty is a better warranty.

Kia, to improve customer satisfaction, has capped the service price for 7 years. As long as the service is maintained and the logbook reflects the same, the warranty is effective as well. In addition, you can drive into any Kia-authorised dealer and get your car serviced without the fear of any hidden charges.

Kia also offers a free of cost 12-month roadside assistance. Now, Kia has taken an extra step and has made room for increasing that year-long roadside assistance for up to 8 years. We would suggest you to take this extension, as the service time and resolution window are as good as they can be.

Verdict

Kia Sportage is definitely a car worth considering if you’re looking to purchase a good enough SUV which gets the family from point A to B without much fuss. However, we do feel that lower-level variants and mid-level variants don’t have much of a price difference, so it would be in your best interest to opt for the SX+ diesel variant. It is cost-effective and extremely functional. You get to save on money without compromising the Kia tech craze that everybody seems to not let go of.

Ideally, the price label of 32k is enough to make you rush into this SUV but as you start driving with it, you’ll notice some things lacking that you would need to feel posh about the driving. Besides the insane boot space isn’t enough to make you disregard the limited engine option, the regular upholstery and average power.

Reference

Owners Manual

Brochure