Seven months after its initial launch, the Kia Sportage, a 2023 South African Car of the Year contender, gets its much-anticipated turbodiesel powertrain.
There I was, poised to first commandeer a petrol test unit before moving into the new diesel, from a bustling CBD to the farmlands of Grabouw, with the coastal road of Clarence Drive to entertain me in the middle. A great opportunity then, to get reacquainted with the Sportage, its traffic demeanour and handling qualities. It remains soft in the right places, and firm when you need it to be – with a well-appointed vantage point, and sumptuous cabin.
Let’s talk diesel engines for a moment, the punchier and more frugal (with somewhat cheaper fuel) alternative consuming a mere mid-7 litres per hundred kilometre. Where the petrol model made 132kW and 265Nm (0-100kph in 8.8sec, 149g/km), the turbodiesel does 100kW/320Nm. The more pragmatic choice goes slower, here 0-100kph is covered in 11.4sec, but with an improved carbon payload of 129g/km. They share the same 7-speed DCT auto, and after driving them back-to-back I can report, simply, that I’d have either one. I already loved the new car with its petrol engine, but diesel continues to make sense as a compelling ownership prospect. Something else they share is that chiseled new aesthetic. It’s a brave departure for the brand, but I reckon they’ve landed it. Albeit via time travel, because it looks properly futuristic.
RANGE WALK
The CRDI LX is a comprehensive entry-level model, while the EX above it further benefits from a gloss black grille and similarly painted alloy wheels. Also present are parking sensors, heated seats, artificial leather and more. Above the EX sits the flagship, the GT-Line Plus diesel. It is further blessed with even more gloss black trim, paddle shifters, lane follow assist and so on. It boasts the largest wheels at 19 inches and overall, it is a very complete car. The turbodiesel models (LX, EX and GT-Line) are priced at R597k, R651k and R735k respectively, including an unlimited kilometre, five-year warranty, ditto its roadside assistance and a six-year/90,000 km service plan.
VERDICT
The Sportage now joins the line of Kia diesels including the Seltos and Sorento. It’s in the Goldilocks position (not too big, not too small), and so must contend in a segment where the Haval H6 is the best-selling medium SUV, followed by VW’s Tiguan, the Cherry Tiggo 7 Pro and BMW X3. Clearly, the Chinese marques have equity in our market, but there’s still room for premium offerings from Europe, and there should be space for excellent metal from South Korea and Japan. The Sportage EX in particular at R651,995 boasts a terrific ownership experience with a brimming raft of safety technologies, features and quality of life toys at an affordable sticker price capable of challenging the Chinese.
