Kia’s new Sportage arrived in February and its task is to build on the success of its predecessor.
Kia’s compact SUVs have done especially well in Europe, not merely the 'lower-medium' Sportage but also 'upper-medium' Sorento.
Hyundai sister-cars Tucson and Santa Fe have done well too but Kia seems to be setting the pace here.
Last year, according to automotive research and analysis company Jato Dynamics, the SUV and SUV-like crossover became Europe’s biggest-selling vehicle type for the first time. Further, the Sportage is No.3 in its class – only Nissan’s Qashqai and VW’s Tiguan sell more.
For Kia UK the Sportage is its most popular model and this year’s target for it is 25,000 sales which would amount to 28% of its deliveries here.
Kia’s compact SUVs have done especially well in Europe, not merely the 'lower-medium' Sportage but also 'upper-medium' Sorento.
Hyundai sister-cars Tucson and Santa Fe have done well too but Kia seems to be setting the pace here.
Last year, according to automotive research and analysis company Jato Dynamics, the SUV and SUV-like crossover became Europe’s biggest-selling vehicle type for the first time. Further, the Sportage is No.3 in its class – only Nissan’s Qashqai and VW’s Tiguan sell more.
For Kia UK the Sportage is its most popular model and this year’s target for it is 25,000 sales which would amount to 28% of its deliveries here.
Longer term, Kia UK’s aim is 100,000 cars annually by 2020 and an increase in the number of dealerships from 188 to 200. The Sportage is a key part of that plan.
The smaller compact crossovers tend to be SUV look-alikes and not much more. But the Sportage is a lower-medium product of substance with five 4x4 (all-wheel drive) variants – seven if the (six-speed) automatics are included. It’s a six-speed manual gearbox otherwise and, thankfully, a proper handbrake has been retained rather than one of those fiddly electric switches.
The AWD system, on-demand but automatically engaged, is a familiar device based on a set of pressure activated clutches just ahead of the rear axle. Front wheel drive normally it can be up to 60-40 (front-rear) if needed. Should conditions worsen a 50-50 lock-up can be engaged (25mph maximum). AWD is standard on all 1.6 T-GDi (new) petrol models and the 2.0 CRDi Diesels.
This Magna Powertrain unit is linked to ‘advanced traction cornering control’ and said to be more pro-active. It assesses speed, throttle and steering angle diverting torque to left or right-hand rear wheels as required to aid cornering and accelerating during normal driving. It doesn’t wait for slip to be sensed before kicking in. Mated to the car’s general electronics (stability, traction control and so on), Hill-Start, Downhill Brake Control, a Roll-over Sensor and Trailer Stability Assist are further assets.
The press preview did not include an off-road section but, occasional off-roader or not, there’s enough here to ensure a fair degree of 4x4 credibility when venturing off-tarmac.
On-road behaviour was assured if not overly sporty, and stand-out model remains the 2.0 CRDi diesel manual – not only for its broad torque output but useful braked trailer maximum weight of 2,200kg (others are sub-2000kg).
The full engine line-up is a 130ps 1.6-litre or 174ps 1.6 Turbo petrol; 114ps 1.7 CRDi or 2.0 CRDi 134ps and 182ps guises for diesel. Equipment grades are 1, 2, 3 and 4 with a KX prefix indicating the AWD variants.
For the UK, Kia has supplemented the range with a GT-Line model priced between the 2 and 3 equipped with the petrol 1.6 T-GDi or 2.0 CRDi with AWD. Once again there is a First Edition top of the range on offer for a limited time at £31,645. (Unlike last time this is time-limited as opposed to capping the number available.) It deploys the 2.0 CRDi 182 unit and is automatic only but with AWD.
Apart from that, asking prices range from £17,995 to £29,400. Commercial buyers will almost invariably choose the 2 diesel 1.7 apparently whereas private buyers are more likely to go for the GT-Line. These are not the best of the bunch however – a KX 2.0 CRDi with a manual gearbox would be car of choice.
Preview impressions were positive, the 2016 Sportage is polished and refined with a distinct “easy to live with” appeal. Cabin is roomy and load-space usefully sizeable. Dynamically it is improved – sure-footed and sharper if not hugely exciting to drive. Insurance groups are highly competitive as are Road Tax bands. KX models add SUV credibility. Predicted running costs and used car values too look promising
By Huw Thomas
First published in Welsh Farmer, the newspaper for the Farmers' Union of Wales.
The smaller compact crossovers tend to be SUV look-alikes and not much more. But the Sportage is a lower-medium product of substance with five 4x4 (all-wheel drive) variants – seven if the (six-speed) automatics are included. It’s a six-speed manual gearbox otherwise and, thankfully, a proper handbrake has been retained rather than one of those fiddly electric switches.
The AWD system, on-demand but automatically engaged, is a familiar device based on a set of pressure activated clutches just ahead of the rear axle. Front wheel drive normally it can be up to 60-40 (front-rear) if needed. Should conditions worsen a 50-50 lock-up can be engaged (25mph maximum). AWD is standard on all 1.6 T-GDi (new) petrol models and the 2.0 CRDi Diesels.
This Magna Powertrain unit is linked to ‘advanced traction cornering control’ and said to be more pro-active. It assesses speed, throttle and steering angle diverting torque to left or right-hand rear wheels as required to aid cornering and accelerating during normal driving. It doesn’t wait for slip to be sensed before kicking in. Mated to the car’s general electronics (stability, traction control and so on), Hill-Start, Downhill Brake Control, a Roll-over Sensor and Trailer Stability Assist are further assets.
The press preview did not include an off-road section but, occasional off-roader or not, there’s enough here to ensure a fair degree of 4x4 credibility when venturing off-tarmac.
On-road behaviour was assured if not overly sporty, and stand-out model remains the 2.0 CRDi diesel manual – not only for its broad torque output but useful braked trailer maximum weight of 2,200kg (others are sub-2000kg).
The full engine line-up is a 130ps 1.6-litre or 174ps 1.6 Turbo petrol; 114ps 1.7 CRDi or 2.0 CRDi 134ps and 182ps guises for diesel. Equipment grades are 1, 2, 3 and 4 with a KX prefix indicating the AWD variants.
For the UK, Kia has supplemented the range with a GT-Line model priced between the 2 and 3 equipped with the petrol 1.6 T-GDi or 2.0 CRDi with AWD. Once again there is a First Edition top of the range on offer for a limited time at £31,645. (Unlike last time this is time-limited as opposed to capping the number available.) It deploys the 2.0 CRDi 182 unit and is automatic only but with AWD.
Apart from that, asking prices range from £17,995 to £29,400. Commercial buyers will almost invariably choose the 2 diesel 1.7 apparently whereas private buyers are more likely to go for the GT-Line. These are not the best of the bunch however – a KX 2.0 CRDi with a manual gearbox would be car of choice.
Preview impressions were positive, the 2016 Sportage is polished and refined with a distinct “easy to live with” appeal. Cabin is roomy and load-space usefully sizeable. Dynamically it is improved – sure-footed and sharper if not hugely exciting to drive. Insurance groups are highly competitive as are Road Tax bands. KX models add SUV credibility. Predicted running costs and used car values too look promising
By Huw Thomas
First published in Welsh Farmer, the newspaper for the Farmers' Union of Wales.
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