2018 Kia Sportage Review
Car Tested: 2018 Kia Sportage GT Line; Road Test No. 978; Test Location: Delhi, NCR
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 30 – 35 lakhs (est.)
The design language of the Kia Sportage is very youthful and attractive
Kia Motors is the sister concern of Hyundai and is all set to storm into India next year. The carmaker showcased almost a dozen cars at the 2018 Auto Expo earlier this year and almost every other car seems to be of interest. However, we’re still not sure how many of these will be launched in India but their global best-seller is the Sportage SUV and that’s the car we’re driving today as well. This is an international-spec model and we believe if this vehicle is introduced in our market, it could very well start off Kia’s innings with a bang.
Motor Quest: The Kia Sportage is currently in its fourth-generation avatar and was launched globally in 2015. The SUV is expected to be launched in India in late 2019 or early 2020 and considering that the facelifted version of the SUV was showcased at the 2018 Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show recently, we are most likely to get the Sportage facelift.
The Kia Sportage looks striking in person
Exteriors – The Kia Sportage is equivalent to Hyundai’s Tucson and what that means is that the former is more or less similar in terms of the dimensions to the latter. However, the Sportage comes across as a more stylish car all thanks to the company’s signature Tiger Nose grille and the quad fog lamps setup up front, the huge 19-inch dual-tone alloy wheels (which we don’t think will make it to the India-spec model) and the classy-looking LED tail-lights. The massive front-end and the silver skid plates give the SUV a butch appeal while the rising shoulder line and the spoiler at the rear make the vehicle look sporty. Overall, the Kia Sportage is definitely a head turner and is bound to be in many prospective buyers’ lists just because of the way it looks.
The all black theme for the interior looks sporty, in line with the car’s exteriors
Interiors – This is the international-spec model and gets an all-black interior with subtle piano black and aluminium finishes. To start off with, the first and foremost thing you will notice is the quality of materials used inside the cabin. The leather and the plastics seem to be of the best quality. The 3-spoke flat-bottom steering wheel gets a plethora of buttons and although the instrument dials are similar to the ones in the Tucson, the MID display looks different. Since this is the international-spec car, the touchscreen infotainment screen is smaller in size but when coming to India, expect the automaker to offer a larger touchscreen infotainment system with all sorts of connectivity options.
The rear has decent legroom with nifty storage places
A lot of parts in the Sportage are shared with the Hyundai Elantra
The front seats are very comfortable and offer great support. Meanwhile, the rear seat also has good legroom, headroom and shoulder room. Since the cabin is wide, three occupants can sit comfortably at the rear and for more comfort, you have a rear AC vent and the rear seat can be reclined to a certain degree as well. The boot is generous and can easily swallow a family’s weekend luggage. In terms of features, the Sportage comes fully loaded. You get dual-zone climate control, cruise control, steering mounted audio controls, electronically adjustable and foldable ORVMs, heated steering wheel, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, panoramic sunroof, powered tailgate and an electronic parking brake.
Performance from the 2.0-litre diesel mill is quite punchy
Performance – The Kia Sportage GT Line we drove draws its motivation from a 2.0-litre diesel engine which belts out 185 HP of power and 400 Nm of torque. Performance from the oil-burner is good. There is some lag initially but after the turbo spools up, the car really takes off well. The 6-speed automatic gearbox is slightly slow to respond but there are steering-mounted paddles for you to take control of things manually and make the drive more engaging. Refinement is very good and there are 3 drive modes on offer, Normal, Eco and Sport. In terms of fuel efficiency, one can expect 10-12 km/l from the diesel-powered Sportage.
Performance from the 2.0-litre diesel powertrain is just brilliant
Driving Dynamics – Based on the Tucson platform, the Sportage’s suspension is slightly set up on the stiffer side. It wasn’t that compliant, especially, on our road conditions. However, when launched here, it could get smaller size wheels which is bound to improve the ride quality. In spite of the stiffer suspension setup, the car drove well and it did have some eagerness. Body roll is minimal but the steering did not have any feel or feedback. Stopping power is phenomenal and the tyres offer plenty of grip. High-speed stability is supreme and that’s thanks to the stiffer suspension setup. This variant was equipped with All-Wheel Drive and though we did not take the SUV off-road, it did seem very capable.
Like its Korean sibling, the Sportage too lacks feel and feedback from the steering
Safety and After Sales Service – The Kia Sportage gets multiple airbags, ISOFIX child seat mounts, ABS with EBD, Electronic Stability Control with Downhill Brake Control, Hill Start Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Assist and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System. Kia Motors is expected to start selling its line-up of cars at the end of 2019 or early 2020 and it remains to be seen how good and expansive its dealership network will turn out to be.
The Kia Sportage is a very well kitted SUV
Verdict – The Kia Sportage is a very likeable SUV, it stands out right away in terms of looks, the umpteen features on offer and most importantly, it drives better than the Tucson. Yet, it’s not the best driving car in the segment but those looking for features and a lot of appeal, the Sportage makes a lot of sense. That leaves us with how Kia will price the vehicle, considering the more equipment on offer, it could cost slightly more than the Tucson but that premium might well be worth it.
The carmaker is most likely to launch the facelifted version of the Sportage SUV by late 2019
What’s Cool
* The design of the car is very attractive
* Supreme high speed stability
* Good engine performance
* Feature rich
What’s Not So Cool
* Not the best driving dynamics
* Automatic gearbox is a little slow to respond
Alternatives: Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson
The level of attention to detail is commendable
Kia Sportage GT Line Specifications
* Engine: 1995cc, 4-cyl, Turbo-diesel
* Power: 185 PS @ 4000 RPM
* Torque: 400 Nm @ 1750-2750 RPM
* Transmission: 6-speed automatic transmission
* 0-100 km/hr: 9.5 seconds (claimed)
* Top Speed: 201 km/hr
* Suspension: MacPherson strut coil spring with anti-roll bar (Front), Multi-link system coil spring with anti-roll bar (Rear)
* Tyre Size: 245/45/19 (Front & Rear)
* Brakes: Discs (Front), Discs (Rear), ABS
* Safety: Multiple Airbags, ABS, ISOFIX child seat mounts
Kia Sportage GT Line Dimensions
* Overall length x width x height: 4480 mm X 1855 mm X 1655 mm
* Boot Space: 466-litres
* Ground clearance: 172 mm
* Wheelbase: 2670 mm
* Kerb weight: 1716 kgs
Kia is all set to enter the Indian market with a variety of products
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