AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE | 83K
ia’s Sportage SUV, which
shares architecture with
Hyundai’s Tucson and, size-
wise, bridges the gap between
compact and medium wagons,
starts at $29,990 for the Si
front-wheel drive. This model
is powered by a 2.0-litre petrol
engine with a modest 114kW of
power and an even more modest
192Nm of torque.
The base drivetrain is also
offered in Si Premium, at $32,290
and SLi, priced at $36,790. A
2.0-litre turbodiesel (with 136kW
and 400Nm) with on-demand all-
wheel drive is available across
all grades at $35,390 for the Si,
$37,690 for Si Premium, $42,190
for the SLi and $47,690 for the GT
Line, while a 2.4-litre petrol (with
135kW and 237Nm) all-wheel
drivetrain is available only in the
top-end GT Line at $44,790.
A six-speed auto is standard
on petrol models; the diesel is
matched with an eight-speed.
The attraction of the 2.0-litre
turbodiesel is impossible to
dismiss. It is relatively quiet and
pulls effortlessly from low in the
revs right through the mid- range.
Buyers who rack up plenty of
kilometres will appreciate the
attractive fuel economy, offi cially
rated at 6.8L/100km, and good for
close to 7.0L/100km in mixed real-
world motoring. The 2.0 petrol
in the FWD versions is adquate
in everyday use and is fl attered
by the six-speed auto. The 2.4
petrol is livelier but also lacks the
instant response of the diesel,
particularly when overtaking or
climbing. All engines cooperate
easily with the smooth, fast-acting
auto transmissions.
Driving aids extend to
autonomous emergency braking
and lane keep assist across the
range. However only GT gets
blind spot monitoring and rear
cross traffi c alert.
Sportage’s Australianised
suspension tune manages an
agreeable blend of ride comfort
(even on the GT’s 19-inch wheelsand low-profi le tyres) and
cornering poise. It turns into
corners accurately and feels
agile, with minimal body roll and
no loss of poise or tyre grip.
An integrated Drive Mode
system has Eco, Normal and
Sport modes, each infl uencing
throttle and transmission
responses and steering
weighting. The brake pedal has
a handy amount of feel and
pulls up the Sportage without
undue body pitching.
Overall, the cabin suggests
quality and a touch of class,
especially in higher-spec
versions. The two-tone leather
is a grabber, the touchscreen
responds swiftly to inputs and
is easy to use and read. Apple
CarPlay and Android Auto are
standard. All grades above Si get
an eight-inch touchscreen, JBL
audio and navigation.
Thick windscreen pillars
and the high dash cowl slightly
impede forward vision.Seats in all variants offer good
support, helped by multiple
adjustments including power
lumbar in SLi and GT. Rear seats
are well shaped with handy knee
room and recline but the load
area is quite small. Kia provides a
full-size alloy spare.
The reliability and durability of
Kia vehicles is now among the
best in the business.
Kia’s industry-leading seven-
year warranty and seven-year
roadside assist are indicative of
the marque’s faith in its offerings
and helps justify fairly hefty
recommended price tags.
Seven-year capped-price
servicing is a further attraction
that adds value to the deal.
The smartly styled Sportage
should be on your test-drive list,
with Mazda’s CX-5, the Subaru
Forester and VW’s Tiguan.Safety
ANCAP
PerformanceHandlingQuality and reliabilityComfort and refi nementValue for moneyOverallSTARS
THINGS WE LIKE
Excellent quality and industry-
leading warranty
Ride/handling compromise tuned
for Australian roads
Strong 2.0-litre turbodiesel
Classy, comfortable cabin
GT’s safety featuresTHINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE
At the pricey end of the class
No navigation in Si
GT’s safety features should be
available on Si and SLi
Thick front pillarsSPEX (Si 2.0)
Made in South Korea
2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol/six-
speed automatic/front-wheel drive
114kW of power at 6200rpm/192Nm
of torque at 4000rpm
0–100km/h N/A
6.1L/100km highway; 10.9L/100km
city; regular unleaded; CO 2 emissions
are 182g/km; fuel tank is 62 litres
Warranty: Seven years/unlimited
kilometres
Standard: Six airbags, stability
control, autonomous emergency
braking, lane keep assist, camera
with dynamic parking guidelines,
rear parking sensors, Bluetooth,
rain-sensing wipers, 17-inch
alloy wheels, alarm. SLi includes
18-inch alloys, navigation, front
parking sensors and leather. GT
includes wireless phone charging,
sunroof, power tailgate, blind
spot detection, automatic parking
Redbook future values: 3yr: 50%;
5yr: 39%S KIA SPORTAGE^ FROM^ $29,990
compare with ...
Ford Escape, Hyundai Tucson,
Mazda CX-5, Nissan Qashqai,
Subaru Forester, VW Tiguan