As Kia South Africa marks 30 years of the Sportage midsize SUV and 25 years since the first-generation Sportage arrived in the country, the automaker celebrates this milestone by extending the availability of its acclaimed 1.6 CRDi engine to more models in the Sportage range, and adding more safety technology across the board.
The Kia Sportage wasn’t the first Korean vehicle to reach South African shores in numbers (that honour befalls the Asia Rocsta), but when it finally arrived here in 1998, it made an impact and was the catalyst leading to better acceptance of the South Korean brand’s products locally.
Since the first-generation Sportage arrived, its fresh styling (still attractive to this day) set the Tiger among the pigeons in the local midsize SUV market that, at the time, hadn’t yet begun its post-millennium boom.
Following the release of three new Sportage models locally between 1998 and 2016, the fifth generation Sportage made its local debut in 2022 (with petrol-power only), with the range augmented by adding a 1.6-litre turbodiesel powertrain in May this year. Compared to the original’s softer, rounded, and simpler lines, Kia’s latest design language – Opposites United – influences every aspect of the new model’s appearance and character.
MORE IS MORE
The Sportage is a true success story for Kia, garnering several awards over the years, including being named the 2023 South African Car of the Year Midsize category winner – a welcome cherry on top of Kia’s multi-year first place ranking in the **J.D. Power Initial Quality Study.
For Kia, however, giving customers consistently more value is at the heart of the Sportage’s success, and in this anniversary year, it means adding additional technology across the SUV line-up.
Already standard across the range is a raft of active and passive safety features, including an ABS with EBD and ESC, Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC), Downhill Brake Control (DBC), Trailer Stability Assist (TSA), and a total of six airbags. ISOFIX child seat anchors are also a standard inclusion across the range, as is Smart Entry with Push Button Start, and an electric parking brake with auto-hold functionality.
For 2023, elements of Kia’s in-house developed Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) technology (previously included on GT-Line derivatives only) have been added across all Sportage models. Regardless of the derivative, Lane Follow Assist (LFA) and Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) are included as standard, as is Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA).
LFA and LKA use cameras and radar to keep the vehicle in its lane. Should it veer into the adjacent lane without indicating, LKA applies steering assistance to prevent this. When lane markings are poor or not visible, the Lane Follow Assist system automatically switches to following the vehicle ahead for a certain time.
As its name suggests, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) will help avoid a collision (be it with another vehicle, a pedestrian or cyclist, or another obstacle) by providing an audible warning. If the driver doesn’t take action to avoid the collision, FCA will apply emergency braking to bring the Sportage to a halt.
FRUGAL POWER FOR THE PEOPLE
When Kia introduced its 1.6-litre CRDi turbodiesel engine to the top-spec Sportage GT-Line S in May this year, the company revealed how diesel-powered options in the midsize SUV segment had dwindled to a point where there are virtually no options available to consumers in the R600,000 to R700,000 price band.
Kia’s solution for those who enjoy punchier power delivery and the increased fuel efficiency that comes with a turbodiesel engine is to extend the availability of its 1,582 cc Common Rail Direct Injection (CRDi) across the Sportage range. This means that customers investing in entry-level Sportage LX and EX models can now also enjoy the 100 kW of power (at 4,000 rpm) and 320 Nm of torque (between 2,000 and 2,250 rpm), previously only available to GT-Line buyers.
Buyers looking for increased performance can still opt for Kia’s punchy 1.6 T-GDi powertrain in the three GT-Line models in the range. The 1,598 cc turbocharged petrol engine delivers 132 kW of power at 5,500 rpm and 265 Nm of torque between 1,500 and 4,500 rpm.
LAST WORD
We’ve consistently praised the Sportage’s refined ride and handling abilities, courtesy of the car’s MacPherson strut-type suspension setup at the front and a four-link setup at the rear. We maintain This position after spending some time behind the wheel of an EX Sportage during a brief test drive in the Western Cape last month.
The Sportage’s compliant yet purposeful ride, agile handling, and fastidiously calibrated steering make it one of the best in the business, while its interior build quality, best-in-class legroom, headroom, and luggage capacity add overall practicality that is second only to Sportage’s peerless value proposition.
KIA SPORTAGE PRICING
- Kia Sportage 1.6 CRDi LX – R637,995
- Kia Sportage 1.6 CRDi EX – R691,995
- Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi GT-Line – R713,995
- Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi GT-Line Plus – R741,995
- Kia Sportage 1.6 CRDi GT-Line Plus – R765,995
- Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi GT-Line S – R798,995