SCORE
5
TH
/ 10
FROM THE SAME TOWN AS TUCSON, BUT NOT ITS MINDSET
Kia Sportage SLi
IT’S EASY to lump Korean sister brands Hyundai and
Kia together. But differences between the sixth-placed
Hyundai Tucson and the Kia Sportage are apparent
the moment you crack a door. The Kia instantly feels
a higher grade of car. The sweeping dash’s design
looks and feels more premium, the multimedia unit’s
graphics are sharper and more sophisticated, and
there’s a strong sense that the Kia is better equipped.
It is. Two 12-volt outlets straddle a USB slot and
auxiliary port up front, a sat-nav map lights up on the
screen, while dual-zone climate control dials grace
the lower dash. You push a button to start the engine
rather than insert and turn a key, the driver’s seat
adjusts electrically (for superior comfort), and there’s
a bunch of other surprise-and-delight additions that
justify the Sportage SLi’s $1000 price premium.
But it’s the rear seat that expands the Hyundai/
Kia divide. Backswept, elf-eared rear doors that
offer the best access on test open up to a rear bench
that appears to have been made with passengers
front of mind, and not cobbled in as a begrudging
afterthought. Okay, so the second-row seatbacks lack a
bit of lateral support, but forward vision via a low-ish
beltline and a long glasshouse that appears to wrap
around the Sportage is excellent, second only to the
Subaru for its sense of light-filled airiness.
Unfortunately, the Sportage is a half-step behind the
Hyundai when it comes to what’s under the bonnet.
Australia’s Korean-sourced Sportage continues with
a 114kW/192Nm multi-point injection version of the
long-serving ‘Nu’ 2.0-litre engine, whereas the MY17
Tucson gets direct-injection and 121kW/203Nm.
In reality, the difference is mostly down to
refinement. Over the last thousand revs to the
6500rpm redline, the Sportage’s older engine is much
more intrusive, making it less pleasant to punch hard.Yet when you do, the Sportage offers near-identical
performance to the Tucson, not to mention the 2.0-litre
CX-5. But neither of the Korean drivetrains can match
the Mazda’s sweetly encouraging proficiency.
Where the GDI outshines the MPI donk is in fuel
economy. The Sportage’s on-test consumption of
11.2L/100km was half a litre thirstier than Tucson’s.
There’s something else that counts against the Kia.
Higher levels of road and wind noise compared with
almost all the other SUVs here tarnish the Sportage’s
overall polish – think tyre roar and wind rush rising to
about the same level as the previous-gen Mazda CX-5 –
and its otherwise well-rounded ability.
That’s a shame because the taut Sportage’s
dynamics reward keen drivers, and are a credit to Kia
Australia’s dedicated local tuning program.
The Sportage’s steering has slightly crisper feedback
than the Tucson’s, even with the Drive mode left
in Normal rather than the throttle-jumpy Sport or
anaesthetised Eco modes. But it’s nowhere near as
good as the Escape’s crisp precision.
With four bodies on board, or even one-up on our
winding dynamic loop, the Kia enjoys stringing corners
together, and feels more playful than its Hyundai
equivalent. Pitch it into a corner and it clearly favours
its rear end, as opposed to the more neutral Hyundai.
Unfortunately, that encouraging playfulness can ignite
the Kia’s Korean-tuned ESC, killing the fun faster than
a coldsore on date night.
But we really like how the Kia Sportage exudes a
youthful, fun-to-drive, almost European ethos. Useful,
comfortable, well-appointed and individually styled,
it doesn’t even need Kia’s unbeatable seven-year
warranty to argue a strong case. While its Hyundai
cousin toes a conservative line, the Kia doesn’t mind
being different. If only that included its engine. BP$34,690
Engine
1999cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v
Power
114kW @ 6200rpm
Torque
192Nm @ 4000rpm
Transmission
6-speed automatic
Dimensions
(L/W/H/W-B)
4480/1855/1655/2670mm
Weight
1559kg
Cargo capacity
466 litres
Tyres
Nexen N-Priz RH7
225/55R18 98H
Fuel consumption
11.2L/100km (tested)
0-60km/h
4.6sec
0-100km/h
10.4sec
0-400m
17.3sec @ 129.2km/h
30-70km/h
3.8sec
80-120km/h
7.5sec
100km /h-0
39.3m
3yr resale
54%+ Equipment; keen handling;
great warranty- Noisy engine; intrusive ESC
SPECS