 |
|
Guest,  |
 |
The latest iteration of the Kia Sportage is packed with equipment usually present in cars above its price point. This, coupled with its comfortable and spacious interior, reserves the Sportage a well-deserved spot among the top picks in this category. Contrary to the stereotype of big SUVs being cumbersome to handle, the Sportage is surprisingly obedient and a joy to drive.
 |
 |
 |
 |
-
Test drove a few cars over the weekend. One that had managed to leave a positive impression was surprisingly the Kia Sportage.» Read More
First, I state upfront that I am not sold on performance or badge - it could be a bonus but never the deal maker. I lean towards comfort, safety and practicality.
Compared to her Korean twin and a Japanese offering, I found the ride comfort and handling more suited to my liking, with surprisingly low NVH level and minimal noise from roads and surroundings. The well sorted suspension also managed to cocoon the passengers well. Power delivery was linear, which was a plus with normal aspirated engines without the abrupt shove from a turbo.
Both front and rear space was great, with a boot big enough to swallow a bicycle with its wheels attached (measured and confirmed). Feel good amenities like reclining rear seats, ventilated front seats and rear aircon vents - yes, to agents of some other car makers, you'd need this locally - were all available in the tested model.
Overall, a very pleasant experience with the car during the test drive, and one that I would place it as one of my finalists - if it comes in Mercury Blue (or any colors other than Patina Gold).
Caveat: Reliability grading has nothing to do with test driving. But I gave it a 5-star based on my 20 years of experience driving Kia's twins. -
Test drove this car twice and was quite happy with it generally. The drive was smooth and good enough as long as you're not a power-hungry cheongster.» Read More
It has most features found in all other same-class SUVs, except the sunroof, and the leg room for the second row is not as luxurious as the X-Trail.
But there other good things to more than make up for these: the ventilated seats for the front seats, the electronic seats, rear aircon, auto tailgate, etc. Are put it at/near the top of the mid-sized SUVs segment. -
It's been 4 weeks since I have driven my new Sportage and I'm a extremely delighted with my purchase. I previously drove a Japanese and European car, this is my first KIA. The KIA Sportage GT line ticked all my boxes and had all the bells and whistles only luxury car makers had. I really liked the functionality of the car with the generous amount of interior space. The car also drives really well around the corners with great stability and comfort. KIA gives top quality thinkware dash cam that makes the deal sweet. My friends have been wowed of the level of detail found in the cabin as well as the drive.» Read More
-
Test drive the Kia Sportage at C&C Kia showroom and the SE let us tested on a different route and the car took every hump and corners very well. Too bad not able to test drive the car in Malaysia old trunk road aka Federal Highway.» Read More
The car is better designed and remains in good spec compared to previous version. -
Impressive looks. Looks so muscular and well balanced. Fell in love with this car the first time I saw it. Interior wise. It looks classy and expensive. Kia has really proven themselves over the years. I am impressed.» Read More -
Driving the Sportage is a relatively smooth affair, but when I work the engine hard, it seems to vibrate quite a bit.» Read More
That aside, the car has comfortable seats, looks great and has lots features which makes this Korean-built car very palatable.
As a mother, I especially appreciate the large luggage space, Isofix child seats and configurable cabin space.
My husband really likes the higher seating position, as it makes it easier for him to handle the car when he goes shopping with the kids.
The new Sportage has a distinct European feel from the B-pillar onwards, which isn't surprising seeing as current Chief Designer Peter Schreyer, who used to be at Audi, designed it. The Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) is bigger than its predecessors, it is 40mm longer and 20mm taller but retains its width.
The Sportage's larger dimensions allow for more space in the interior, which makes for a spacious and airy cabin. Comfort and refinement fill the Sportage's interior, with soft seats and premium materials littered throughout the cabin.
An extra 30mm in the SUV's wheelbase is the most noticeable in the rear, where passengers get to enjoy increased legroom, plus a USB and 12V port for charging their electronics.
Cabin refinement has been vastly improved to reduce noise, vibration and harshness; with added dashboard insulation, new acoustic shields fitted to the engine and more sound-absorbent materials throughout the wheel arches. This makes road noise significantly less noticeable, and engine noise quiet.
Boot space has also increased. The Kia Sportage now has a 503-litre boot, up from 465 litres. This comes with a wider luggage area and lowered load lip for more accessibility to 'junk in the trunk'.
Contrary to the stereotype of big SUVs being cumbersome to handle, the Sportage is surprisingly obedient and a joy to drive. Steering is light and contradictory of the car's size, which makes it easy to handle around town. The SUV's 2.0-litre engine, which produces 153bhp and 192Nm of torque, is mated to a smooth, six-speed automatic transmission.
Modifications have been made to the suspension to improve the Sportage's ride quality and handling agility. It soaks up bumps on the road well and makes for a really comfortable and pleasant drive.
The latest iteration of the Kia Sportage is packed with equipment usually present in cars above its price point. This, coupled with its comfortable and spacious interior, reserves the Sportage a well-deserved spot among the top picks in this category.
The Sportage's larger dimensions allow for more space in the interior, which makes for a spacious and airy cabin. Comfort and refinement fill the Sportage's interior, with soft seats and premium materials littered throughout the cabin.
An extra 30mm in the SUV's wheelbase is the most noticeable in the rear, where passengers get to enjoy increased legroom, plus a USB and 12V port for charging their electronics.
Cabin refinement has been vastly improved to reduce noise, vibration and harshness; with added dashboard insulation, new acoustic shields fitted to the engine and more sound-absorbent materials throughout the wheel arches. This makes road noise significantly less noticeable, and engine noise quiet.
Boot space has also increased. The Kia Sportage now has a 503-litre boot, up from 465 litres. This comes with a wider luggage area and lowered load lip for more accessibility to 'junk in the trunk'.
Contrary to the stereotype of big SUVs being cumbersome to handle, the Sportage is surprisingly obedient and a joy to drive. Steering is light and contradictory of the car's size, which makes it easy to handle around town. The SUV's 2.0-litre engine, which produces 153bhp and 192Nm of torque, is mated to a smooth, six-speed automatic transmission.
Modifications have been made to the suspension to improve the Sportage's ride quality and handling agility. It soaks up bumps on the road well and makes for a really comfortable and pleasant drive.
The latest iteration of the Kia Sportage is packed with equipment usually present in cars above its price point. This, coupled with its comfortable and spacious interior, reserves the Sportage a well-deserved spot among the top picks in this category.
