2024 Kia Sportage evaluate | CarExpert

The Kia Sportage has lengthy been common in Australia – and driving the GT-Line 2.0D AWD I can see why.

The Sportage competes with the likes of the Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-5, Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan X-Path and Toyota RAV4. It shares a few of its bits with the Tucson; though, its cousin comfortably outsells the Sportage by over 5500 models, based mostly on VFACTS figures from January to November 2023.

The Sportage possesses numerous nice options however does Kia miss the mark on consideration to element? Little issues that might make a giant distinction in practicality appear to be neglected. For a household flagship SUV the shortage of rear window shades, local weather controls within the second row, engine cease/begin performance and head-up show certainly should mix to have an effect on the car’s rating…

Let’s get into it and see.

How a lot does the Kia Sportage price?

The flagship Kia Sportage GT-Line Diesel is priced from $52,720 earlier than on-road prices.

This places it carefully consistent with the Mitsubishi Outlander Exceed AWD, Honda CR-V VTi L AWD and cousin Hyundai Tucson Highlander N Line AWD.

It’s value mentioning that whereas Kia is but to launch the Sportage Hybrid – due right here in 2024 – the GT Line Diesel competes on pricing with the Honda ZR-V e:HEV LX and Subaru Forester Hybrid S.

2024 Kia Sportage pricing:

Smartstream G2.0 FWD

• Sportage S: $32,795/$34,795 (6MT/6AT)
• Sportage SX: $35,350/$37,350 (6MT/6AT)
• Sportage SX+: $41,850 (6AT)

Smartstream G1.6 T-GDI AWD

• Sportage SX+: $43,850 (7DCT)
• Sportage GT-Line: $49,720 (7DCT)

Smartstream D2.0 AWD

• Sportage S: $40,195 (8AT)
• Sportage SX: $42,750 (8AT)
• Sportage SX+: $47,250 (8AT)
• Sportage GT-Line: $52,720 (8AT)

All pries exclude on-road prices.

To see how the Sportage compares with its rivals, line it up side-by-side with any automobile you need utilizing our comparability instrument.

What’s the Kia Sportage like on the within?

Being the top-spec mannequin, Kia has put about each function attainable contained in the cabin. Let’s begin with the seats.

The Sportage’s seats seem respectable high quality and are extremely adjustable however for me the seats are most snug when the lumbar assist will not be engaged. I assume this defeats the aim, however virtually each time I’ve pushed the GT-Line my expertise stays the identical.

Seat heating and air flow are good options, and it units an opulent tone to the automobile and does really feel particular over the SX+, which solely gives heated seating.

There’s a mixture of suede and leather-based upholstery within the GT-Line which, if I’m being sincere, I didn’t even discover at first – I don’t suppose it makes a serious distinction to the automobile and maybe this was Kia making an attempt to separate this mannequin from the SX+. To me at the least, it fell on deaf ears – or blind eyes on this case.

There are twin 12.3-inch infotainment and instrument cluster shows that are housed in a curved casing. It does really feel extra luxurious than what I’d count on from a Kia, so factors for that. Remembering the automobile is lower than $60,000 earlier than on-road prices, one of these instrument setup is one thing I’d count on to see in a BMW or Mercedes-Benz.

Below the air vents and woodgrain insert is a touchscreen to manage local weather and infotainment settings like media and navigation. Amongst the controls there’s a small button that can choose whether or not local weather or infotainment settings are displayed, however to me it was just a little too small and fiddly in operation.

I discovered whereas driving I typically by accident pressed the unsuitable button as a result of the right alternative was nestled in between quite a lot of different digital buttons. It’s not splendid to take your eyes off the street for any period of time, not to mention continually shifting them throughout rows of infotainment controls – at occasions I discovered working these controls just a little unnerving.

Two dials are situated on both facet of the button show, and these controls can change a number of settings, relying on which important controls are chosen i.e. temperature or quantity controls.

I ought to point out that I’m pretty small, so I needed to lean ahead from my driving place to succeed in the infotainment system every time I wished to make an adjustment. Whereas I bought used to this after some time, I haven’t have this challenge with opponents and it was just a little annoying.

The centre console space includes a wi-fi cellphone charger, two USB ports (together with a USB-A and USB-C) in addition to a 12V socket. I did discover it redundant to have a wi-fi cellphone charger however wired cellphone mirroring, which meant my iPhone wouldn’t comfortably match within the house and would shift round as I used to be driving.

The centre tunnel doesn’t really feel crowded with buttons and gives the motive force a great variety of controls and settings to select from.

I discovered the cup holders just a little annoying, too. Kia gives a retractable semi-circle that types the cup holder – which is able to stow away after they aren’t wanted – so you’ll be able to retailer different issues like keys or a small pockets. Beware nevertheless, the compartment isn’t rubber-lined and may imply tougher gadgets can rattle about.

The again seats are a number of the most spacious throughout the phase with reference to leg room. I used to be additionally in a position to match three little one seats throughout the second row; nevertheless I’d recommend you probably have younger ones, use compact automobile seats particularly when selecting child capsules.

Talking of children, facilities within the second row options two air vents, hooks for small baggage, USB-C ports, seatback pockets, and the centre seat reveals an armrest and two cup holders. There may be one small drink bottle holder in every door bin and a big hanger on the headrest of the entrance seats.

The panoramic sunroof makes the automobile really feel larger and extra spacious and proves to be fairly entertaining for the children at night time, particularly star gazing as you’re driving residence.

The boot could be very spacious, I used to be in a position to match a single pram alongside 4 or 5 baggage of groceries. A full-size spare tyre is saved beneath the boot ground. Quoted quantity is 543L-1829L (VDA).

I discovered loading issues into the boot was straightforward as a result of the boot peak was round hip peak. This made it straightforward to get prams, groceries and so forth. into the automobile with out pressure.

Though Kia may enhance on little particulars like window shades, a heated steering wheel, a head-up show and tri-zone local weather management; the cabin as a complete has rather a lot to supply.

What’s below the bonnet?

It’s value mentioning that whereas the mixed gas financial system was 6.3L, the city declare was 7.7L/100km. I assumed the 7.3L/100km I achieved was honest contemplating I used to be doing largely metropolis driving.

How does the Kia Sportage drive?

The very first thing I realised is the seating place and transmission shifter felt just a little awkward, and took fairly a little bit of adjusting.

It’s not uncomfortable however I did discover it took some getting used to – and that was earlier than I even turned the automobile on. Ultimately I bought issues sorted and hit the street.

The diesel engine felt easy to drive when you’re off the road. You hardly ever need to put your foot all the best way down from a site visitors mild however within the circumstances the place I wanted to have a greater probability of merging, I discovered the automobile lagged off the mark just a little greater than I’d have appreciated.

The Sportage feels stable and assured on highways although, and is simply as succesful on the varsity run or weekend sport.

I discovered after persistently driving the GT-Line I grew to become very reliant on the Blind Spot View Monitor cameras which mission a stay facet digicam feed into the instrument cluster once you point out. Though it’s a “luxurious” gimmick it did make me cease and suppose the way it encourages lazy driving behaviour.

Drivers shouldn’t be reliant on cameras across the automobile to easily change lanes or pull out of a parking lot. Fairly than help, the tech turns into a bit of expertise drivers develop into dependent upon – and that doesn’t sit properly with me.

The Sportage GT-Line has an auto-hold operate. In stop-start site visitors it’s an essential function for me and I’m glad Kia has it working easily.

Talking of stop-start driving – Kia nonetheless doesn’t provide fuel-saving idle begin/cease expertise on the majority of its Australian vary. It’s a disgrace, given these vehicles will seemingly spend numerous their time on the town.

There are a number of drive modes out there within the Sportage. I discovered driving in Eco or Regular to be the picks, and located them very responsive.

A few of the security options is usually a little intrusive and aggressive. I discovered the lane-keep help disruptive – generally it will aggressively pull you in or out of a lane even after I had my indicator on.

The adaptive cruise management was responsive and under no circumstances clunky. It really works rather a lot higher than in different SUVs, significantly Chinese language-branded rivals.

The Sportage fortunately doesn’t have the annoying pace restrict alert, which was a giant turn-off in Kia’s newer fashions just like the Seltos. The 360-degree digicam is nice when getting out of tight parking spots or ensuring there aren’t any youngsters bikes (or youngsters for that matter) in the best way once you’re reversing out of the driveway.

What do you get?

Sportage S highlights:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Apple CarPlay, Android Auto (wi-fi)
• DAB digital radio
• 6-speaker audio
• ‘Fundamental’ digital instrument cluster
• 4.2-inch TFT show
• LED headlights (reflector-type)
• LED daytime working lights
• Partial-LED tail lights
• Full-size spare wheel
• Leather-based-accented steering wheel, PVC shifter
• AEB with pedestrian, bike owner, junction help
• Blind-spot help
• Rear cross-traffic help
• Lane Comply with Help
• Lane hold help
• Clever pace restrict help
• Adaptive cruise management**
• Electrical park brake**
• Reversing digicam
• Rear parking sensors
• Tyre stress monitoring
• Entrance-centre airbag

**not out there for guide variants

Sportage SX provides:

• 18-inch alloy wheels (machine face)
• 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Satellite tv for pc navigation
• Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (wired)
• Energy driver’s lumbar adjustment
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Twin-zone local weather management with auto de-fog
• Auto up/down home windows (entrance)
• Leather-based-wrapped shifter
• Distant-folding second-row seats
• Gloss black inside trim
• DAB radio

Sportage SX+ provides:

• 19-inch alloy wheels (machine face)
• 8-speaker Harman Karon premium audio
• Fake leather-based seat trim
• Heated entrance seats
• LED entrance fog lights
• Energy driver’s seat with energy lumbar
• Electrical tailgate
• Electrochromic rear-view mirror
• Keyless entry with push-button begin
• Steering-mounted paddle shifters
• Rear privateness glass
• Entrance parking sensors
• 2x USB-C chargers in entrance seat backs

Sportage GT-Line provides:

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• 12.3-inch instrument cluster
• Leather-based seats with suede higher
• Driver’s seat with reminiscence operate
• Energy passenger seat adjustment
• Heated/ventilated entrance seats
• Twin-LED headlights (projector kind)
• Full-LED tail lights
• Shift-by-wire gear selector (dial kind)
• Wi-fi cellphone charger
• Ambient inside lighting
• LED inside lighting
• Panoramic sunroof
• Alloy sports activities pedals
• Blind Spot View Monitor
• Parking Collision Avoidance (reverse)
• Distant Good Park Help (diesel solely)
• Encompass-view cameras with 3D view
• Metallic scuff plates

Is the Kia Sportage secure?

The Kia Sportage wears a five-star ANCAP security ranking based mostly on checks by Euro NCAP in July 2022.

It scored 87 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 87 per cent for little one occupant safety, 66 per cent for susceptible street person safety, and 74 per cent for security help.

Normal security gear consists of:

• 7 airbags incl. front-centre
• Adaptive cruise management
• Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
  • Pedestrian, Bicycle owner detection
  • Junction help
• Blind-spot help
• Clever pace restrict help
• Lane Comply with Help (centring)
• Lane hold help
• Rear cross-traffic help
• Rear parking sensors
• Reversing digicam

Sportage GT-Line provides:

• AEB in reverse
• Blind Spot View Monitor
• Distant Good Park Help (2.0D)
• Encompass-view cameras

How a lot does the Kia Sportage price to run?

All Kia fashions are backed by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee with seven years of capped-price servicing.

The primary seven companies for the two.0L turbo diesel fashions are $346, $537, $416, $790, $389, $675, and $412.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Kia Sportage

I believe the Sportage is a superb automobile for fogeys who’re slowly rising their household. It’s enjoyable, it’s fashionable and gives you options historically out there in costly luxurious European vehicles.

It’s good worth for cash if you’re evaluating with the Nissan X-Path, Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, and its cousin the Hyundai Tucson; which all ask a few thousand {dollars} extra for his or her respective flagship variations.

The Sportage GT-Line has a number of options that deduct factors for practicality, however with the quantity of tech and equipment it had for below $60,000 it’s one of many higher SUVs within the phase. I don’t know if ready six months or extra for this automobile is justified nevertheless; particularly when there was no stop-start expertise or hybridisation.

I’d contemplate check driving different fashions that will provide a stop-start operate to scale back gas consumption, or maybe anticipate the Sportage Hybrid which is because of arrive in Australia someday within the early levels of 2024.

The GT-Line does at the least tick numerous bins and will undoubtedly be short-listed. Intently verify the options record; although, as maybe the satan is within the element.

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