Kia Sportage GT-Line S Driven 

We missed the media generate of the new Kia Sportage a handful of months back. But we did take care of to get a Kia Sportage GT-Line S for a couple of days so we could bring you this overview.

The Kia Sportage has been close to for some time now. In fact, the Korean automaker is onto its fifth technology of the household SUV. Before versions had been dowdy and non-descript. That all transformed when the third technology manufactured its debut.

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The third and fourth generations of the Sportage actually lifted the model’s persona. Kia had instantly developed a crossover that was the equal of rivals from all other makes. That sense of upliftment seems to have ratcheted up a couple notches with the latest variation.

Space-age Visual appeal

The fifth generation Kia Sportage features an appearance that can best be explained as futuristic. The look was identified by the brand’s new ‘opposites united’ design philosophy. We bought our to start with glimpse of this in the Kia EV6, which you can read about below.

The most talked about component of the layout has to be those people boomerang-shaped DRLs. They actually do established the tone for a design and style that attracted a good deal of stares and a handful of furrowed brows. A simple, yet interestingly comprehensive profile features twin-tone 19-inch alloys on this Kia Sportage GT-Line S model. 

The rear is no significantly less spectacular than the deal with. Intricately detailed taillamps extend from just about every corner on to the rear door and are linked by a trim, overall body-wide strip. Just earlier mentioned this strip is a minor lip and the major of the glass functions a spoiler. The Kia Sportage GT-Line S is, in a term, putting.

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High-Tech Inside

The futuristic exterior overall look is complemented by a large-tech interior. Not only does the cabin really feel new and modern day, but there is also a sense of solidity to the fittings. This variety-major Kia Sportage GT-Line S also has leather-sense upholstery and piano-black plastic finishes. However we’d like a extra matt finish as the shiny surfaces can mirror light-weight straight into the eyes of the entrance occupants.

A curved digital display greets the driver. The part at the rear of the steering wheel displays info required for driving, while the centre part is a touchscreen interface for the infotainment process. The latter incorporates Android Car and Apple CarPlay. Fortunately, Kia has witnessed healthy to keep physical buttons to run the dual-zone climate handle procedure. These are sited on the decrease section of the facia Oh, the distant controls on the steering wheel are also physical buttons. 

Our check device was a prime-of-the-vary Kia Sportage GT-Line S. That means it has a rotary gear selector on the centre console. Also on the exact panel just one finds the buttons for the typical seat heaters/coolers and the steering wheel hotter. There some good aspects all-around the cabin these types of as the door handles and matching air-vents, equally generating a high quality come to feel.

Place Aplenty

The cabin of the new Sportage has more than ample space for your normal modern-day loved ones. The entrance seats deliver fantastic adjustment, the driver’s aspect is electric powered. The rear seat backrest can be set at many inclination angles and splits in a 40:20:40 ratio.

Rear seat passengers reward from a pair of USB-C charging ports that are neatly built-in into the entrance seatbacks. Boot quantity is virtually 600 litres, which helps make it between the most significant of just about any SUV on sale these days.

One Powertrain

Kia South Africa has preferred to launch the new Sportage with just a solitary powertrain solution. The 1,6-litre four cylinder device works by using turbocharging to establish 132 kW/265 N.m. This motor is exclusively mated with a seven-pace dual-clutch transmission for the nearby market place.

The motor is a refined unit that delivers its electricity without having fuss. Peak torque comes at 1 500 r/min, which usually means a single has to be exceptionally gentle on the throttle to avoid a surge of acceleration to get likely. GT Line variants attribute paddle shifters on the steering wheel but these are barely, if ever, necessary. 

Comfortable Ride

The Kia Sportage GT-Line S rides on 19-inch alloys. Irrespective of the measurement of the rims the motor vehicle has fantastic experience excellent. It lopes alongside gently and the suspension can dispatch with most bumps without the need of bothering the occupants much too much.

The tyres are just one space we truly feel that could be enhanced. The conventional rubber tends to get a minor vocal and does not provide the ranges of grip that a single could, maybe, expect of a motor vehicle that looks the way the Sportage does. It is a smaller niggle but it could aid cement the feeling of high-quality in the course of the deal.

Summary

Kia is no lengthier an also-ran. Solutions these as the most recent Sportage are exhibiting why the manufacturer can acquire its rightful spot among mainstream gamers in the present day motoring landscape. A comprehensively modern day aesthetic, significant-tech and premium interior treatment method alongside with a good deal of area and a capable powertrain make it a person of the major picks in the mid-measurement SUV segment at the minute.

Product: Kia Sportage GT Line S

Price: R734 995

Engine: 1,6-litre inline 4, turbocharged

Transmission: seven-pace DCT, FWD

Max electrical power: 132 kW

Max torque: 265 N.m

-100 km/h: 8,8 seconds

Best velocity: 201 km/h

Gas usage: 6,4 L/100 km