by Rebaneilwe Semakane
Kia is a brand that I’ve grown to love during my time in motoring. Prior to that, I was not fully aware of their capabilities in the game – that is, I knew their products, but not enough to praise them. I’ve since tested the Picanto, Sonet, Sorento and Carnival and ‘my goodness’, they exceeded my expectations. Especially with regard to quality. And after sampling this, the fifth-gen Sportage in Cape Town, I was further impressed.
The Sportage was first launched in 1993 and it is now in its 5th iteration. South Africans are major fans of SUVs, and the mid-size segment continues to rise with various brands coming to the fort with a plethora of products. The Sportage aims to rival the likes of the Volkswagen Tiguan, Mazda CX-5 and Hyundai Tucson, a tough crowd. Kia’s entry is aimed at customers who wants something that will embody their individualistic nature, people who are different and want to be in something unconventional, but good. And I reckon they’ve nailed that brief once again.
The exterior of the Sportage is beautiful, I cannot begin to describe how smitten I was with it when I saw it in the metal. Those daytime running lights and that sporty fascia could convert any brand snob. The rear reminds me of an Aston Martin DBX, and has a groovy integrated wing. In the cabin you are met by a 12.3inch infotainment system that’s lovely to look at, but quite hard to use. I was a bit overwhelmed by the functions (I’ve also experienced this in the Sorento) so it takes some time to get used to. The seats encompass both Alcantara and leather, and the cabin in its entirety feels really solid and well crafted.
The Sportage comes in three trim levels, namely LX, EX and GT-Line. I drove the EX variant from Franschhoek to Cape Town and reckon that’s the one to have. It employs a 1.6l turbo petrol engine that produces 132kW/265Nm, mated to a 7-speed DCT. The drive of the Sportage is a pleasure, with succinct gear changes bereft of vagueness. There is a mild amount of engine noise when you put your foot down but that is to be expected. Overall, it is such a well-built product, to the point where I think it will gain a significant market share in this segment.
At the starting price of R539,995 and for a car of this caliber, it is well priced. You get a ton of spec, even heated rear seats! The GT-Line will cost you R649,995 and hence I say the EX variant (R593,995) is the sweet spot. The GT-Line will appeal to people who are fanatics for exterior spec and appeal and probably cater to those who want something that looks sporty.
My final thoughts, Kia has truly evolved into a brand that I consider premium, yet is still able to stick to the mandate of affordability. I think the Sportage will sell well – and that’s in a segment already full of top contenders.