The Kia Sportage is an SUV that sits in the premium segment with most people comparing it to the Chinese SUVs. To put the matter beyond doubt, the Korean manufacturer has upgraded its local line-up and in the process given Mzansi buyers what they exactly want, a fuel efficient SUV that has solid build quality and premium levels of driving comfort.
The award winning design is retained with new design alloy wheels for the LX and EX models. This means LED lighting across the range with LED daytime lights also standard.
“We have long maintained that Sportage is a flagbearer of the Kia brand’s pioneering DNA and that it has always been a car of ‘firsts’ for the brand,” comments Gary Scott, CEO of Kia South Africa. “We are very proud of the current Sportage and take great joy in that fact that it has consistently garnered favour amongst press and customers alike in a segment where customers are spoilt for choice. The variety of accolades it has gathered in just more than a year reinforces our belief that Sportage truly is the ultimate urban SUV.”
The 1,582cc Common Rail Direct Injection diesel engine delivers 100 kW of power at 4,000 r/min, with 320 Nm of torque available between 2,000 and 2,250 r/min. It completes the 0- to 100 km/h sprint in 11,4 seconds, with a top speed of 180 km/h. CO2 emissions are rated at 129 g/km in the combined cycle. Going forward, the entry-level LX and EX models in the Sportage line-up will be on offer only with the 1.6 CRDi engine. This engine is paired with Kia’s 7-speed dual-clutch transmission driving the front wheels. All models come with drive modes (Eco, Standard, Sport and Smart).
The 1.6 T-GDi powertrain remains available in the three GT-Line models in the range as the perfect companion to its sportier positioning. The 1,598cc turbocharged Gasoline Direct Injection engine delivers 132 kW of power at 5,500 r/min, with 265 Nm of torque available between 1,500 and 4,500 r/min. It allows the Sportage to reach the 100 km/h mark in 8,8 seconds, with a top speed of 201 km/h. CO2 emissions are rated at 149 g/km in the combined cycle.
The complete Sportage line-up already benefits from a raft of active and passive safety features, including an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC), Downhill Brake Control (DBC) and Trailer Stability Assist (TSA). All Sportage models include a total of six airbags: a driver’s airbag, front passenger airbag, side airbags, and side curtain airbags. ISOFIX child seat anchors are also a standard inclusion across the range, as is Smart Entry with Push Button Start, as well as an electric parking brake with auto-hold functionality.
A variety of Kia’s acclaimed in-house developed Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) technology was previously also included on the GT-Line derivatives. However, as of this month, Kia has added these features across all models. Regardless of which derivative in the range a customer opts for, Lane Follow Assist and Lane Keeping Assist is included as standard, as is Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA).
All Sportage models ship as standard with Kia’s industry-leading Unlimited Kilometre/5-year warranty, inclusive of Roadside Assistance. In addition, a pre-paid 6-year / 90,000 km service plan is included to give customers peace of mind and predictability when it comes to vehicle maintenance.
Recommended retail pricing for the Sportage range, effective 1 November 2023, is as follows:
Kia Sportage 1.6 CRDi LX: R 637,995
Kia Sportage 1.6 CRDi EX: R 691,995
Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi GT-Line: R 713,995
Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi GT-Line Plus: R 741,995
Kia Sportage 1.6 CRDi GT-Line Plus: R 765,995
Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi GT-Line S: R 798,995
