Kia Sportage

One of the South Korean automaker’s in-demand models, the all-new Kia Sportage, officially launched in Malaysia.

A C-segment contender, the fifth-generation (NQ5) Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) comes in two powertrain options (naturally aspirated, turbocharged).

Locally assembled (CKD - Kedah), available via Bermaz Auto Berhad (BAuto) are four variants (2.0 - MYR 147,218, 2.0 High - MYR 157,218, 1.6T High - MYR 176,899, 1.6T High AWD - MYR 186,899).

Prices (OTR, w/o insurance) include a vehicle warranty (five years/100,000 KM) and a free maintenance package (five years/100,000 KM).

Four exterior colours (Astra Blue, Meteor Grey, Jet Black, Snowflake White Pearl). One interior colour (Black).

The all-new Sportage has a symmetrically tiered dashboard, linked to a high-rising centre console (gear lever - 2.0, 2.0 High, rotary gear selector - 1.6T High, 1.6T High AWD/drive mode switch).

Soft-/hard-touched (dash, centre console, steering wheel, doors), it sees a single-tone (Black) with contrast trims (Satin-Chrome) colour scheme. 

Centre-staged is the panoramic curved twin display (instrument cluster, infotainment) and filling-in the spaces are angular air-conditioning vents and ambient lights (1.6T High, 1.6T High AWD).

Inclusively, the layout is befitting the sporty outlook with the accessibilities ergonomically arranged (driver-centric, passenger-oriented).

Making up the panoramic curved twin display, installed is a 4.2-Inch TFT-LCD Multi-Info Display (MID) with analogue dials instrument cluster (2.0, 2.0 High) and a 12.3-Inch supervision display digital instrument cluster (.6T High, 1.6T High AWD).

Comfortable, the interior sees fabric (2.0) and leatherette (2.0 High, 1.6T High, 1.6T High AWD) upholsteries, in a single-tone (Black) colour scheme.

The front gets manual-operated (driver - multi-way - 2.0/passenger - multi-way - 2.0, 2.0 High, 1.6T High, 1.6T High AWD) and electric-powered (driver - multi-way, lumbar - 2.0 High, 1.6T High, 1.6T High AWD) bolstered seats.

The rear gets a manual-operated (60:40 split-fold, recline-adjust - 2.0, 2.0 High, 1.6T High, 1.6T High AWD/remote-fold - 1.6T High AWD) bolstered bench.

Included are armrests (front - centre console, rear - centre seat fold-out), headrests (front, rear) and hanger/hook headrests (front - 2.0 High, 1.6T High, 1.6T High AWD).

A five-seater SUV, the cabin offers generous space with comfortable seatings, providing ample interior mobility for the occupants (front, rear).

Sufficient head, shoulder and leg rooms. 

Practical storage areas. E.g., side door/seat back pockets, partitioned/caverned centre console spaces and glove box.

Provided are four cup holders (two - front, rear) and four bottle holders (one - side doors).

Equipped are two 12 V sockets (front, rear) and two/four USB ports (front, rear - 2.0/2.0 High, 1.6T High, 1.6T High AWD).

Weighing in at 1,578 KG (2.0, 2.0 High), 1,626 KG (1.6T High) and 1,684 KG (1.6T High AWD), the all-new Sportage measures at 4,660 MM long, 1,865 MM wide, 1,660 MM (2.0, 2.0 High, 1.6T High) and 1,665 MM (1.6T High AWD) tall, and with a wheelbase spanning 2,755 MM.

Athletically rounded, it exudes a toned and tapered exterior, emphasised by clean cut and seamlessly sharp contours.

The front-end sees a smooth bonnet (Kia script), flared quarter panels and a sculpted bumper (grille, lower air-intakes).

Accentuations, body clad (Black - bumper, fenders, side sills), body trims (Black - grille, intakes, side mirror arms/Satin-Chrome - grille surround, intake surround, window surrounds), roof rails (Satin-Chrome - 1.6T High AWD) and Kia script (Satin-Chrome).

Sportily curvaceous, it continues the toned and tapered exterior, emphasised by horizontally aligned and sharply cut surfaces.

The rear-end sees a mildly dipped roofline, a roof-edge spoiler, an angular tailgate (Kia script) and a sculpted bumper (diffuser).

Accentuations, body clad (Black - bumper, fenders, side sills), body trims (Black - under-section spoiler, shark fin antenna/Satin-Chrome - diffuser, window surrounds, D-pillars), roof rails (Satin-Chrome - 1.6T High AWD) and Kia script (Satin-Chrome). 

Sharply grille-integrated, the headlamps are framed largely angular with pointed edges. Installed are full LED units.

Features are automatic On/Off, High Beam Assist (HBA - 2.0 High, 1.6T High, 1.6T High AWD), LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), welcome lights and sequential turn signals (LED).

Paired to the layout is a set of fog lamps (LED - 2.0 High, 1.6T High, 1.6T High AWD). 

Slim and sleek, the notch-shaped tail lamps are framed full width (lightbar). Installed are LED-bulb (2.0, 2.0 High) and full LED (1.6T High, 1.6T High AWD) units.

Features are automatic On/Off, welcome lights and sequential turn signals (LED). Paired to the layout is a set of fog lamps. 

The side mirrors (dual-tone - Black-bodycolour) are electronic-powered (auto-fold, adjust) with sequential turn signals (LED), blind-spot indicators (Blind-Spot Collision Warning - BCW - 2.0 High, 1.6T High, 1.6T High AWD), automatic-dimming and heating.

The sets are rubbered-up in 235/65 R17 (front, rear - 2.0, 2.0 High) and 235/60 R18 (front, rear - 1.6T High, 1.6T High AWD) tyres.

The all-new Sportage (2.0 High, 1.6T High, 1.6T High AWD) features the following suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Grouped are High Beam Assist (HBA), Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW), Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM - 1.6T High, 1.6T High AWD), Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA), Lane Keeping Assist with Line and Road (LKA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Junction Turning (FCA), Lane Following Assist (LFA) and Smart Cruise Control  with Stop/Go (SCC).

Other systems (2.0, 2.0 High, 1.6T High, 1.6T High AWD) include Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, Rear Occupant Alert (ROA), Safe Exit Warning (SEW - 2.0 High, 1.6T High, 1.6T High AWD), Surround View Monitor (SVM - 1.6T High, 1.6T High AWD) and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). 

Passive safety includes six airbags (driver-passenger, front sides, front-rear curtains), seatbelts (anchors, reminders, pre-tensioners), ISOFIX (two-outer-rear seats - anchors, top tethers), automatic-dimming rear-view mirrors (exterior, interior), parking sensors (four-front - 2.0 High, 1.6T High, 1.6T High AWD/four-rear - 2.0, 2.0 High, 1.6T High, 1.6T High AWD), parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree), automatic-door-locks (speed-sensing, central-locking), Passive Smart Cruise Control (P-SCC - 2.0) and anti-theft system (engine immobiliser, security alarm).

Drive mode options via the ‘Drive Mode Selector’ rotary (NORMAL, ECO, SPORT, SMART). Variant 1.6T High AWD adds on TERRAIN Mode with Differential Lock.

Completing the panoramic curved twin display, installed are 8.0-Inch (2.0, 2.0 High) and 12.3-Inch (1.6T High, 1.6T High AWD) central touchscreen displays (infotainment). 

The system supports voice recognition, USB, Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (wireless).

The all-new Sportage harbours variant-specific powertrains.

Variants 2.0 and 2.0 High nestle a Smartstream 2.0-Litre naturally aspirated Multi-Point Injection (MPI), Inline four-cylinder, 16-valve, Dual-Continuous Variable Valve Timing (D-CVVT), DOHC petrol engine (154 HP, 192 NM).

Variants 1.6T High and 1.6T High AWD upgrades to a Gamma II 1.6-Litre Turbo-Gasoline Direct Injection (T-GDI), Inline four-cylinder, 16-valve, Dual-Continuous Variable Valve Timing (D-CVVT), DOHC petrol engine (177 HP, 265 NM).

Power is transmitted to the front axle (2.0, 2.0 High, 1.6T High) and to the front-rear axles (1.6T High AWD), via a Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) system and an All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system.

Top speed is 181 KM/H (2.0, 2.0 High) and 201 KM/H (1.6T High, 1.6T High AWD).

The all-new Sportage features these conveniences.

E.g., Smart Keyless Entry (keyless entry, engine Start/Stop button, engine remote start), Smart Power Tailgate (hands free - remote/key fob, buttons - 2.0 High, 1.6T High, 1.6T High AWD), automatic-dimming rear-view mirrors (exterior, interior), blind-spot indicator side mirrors (BCW - 2.0 High, 1.6T High, 1.6T High AWD), parking sensors (four-front - 2.0 High, 1.6T High, 1.6T High AWD/four-rear - 2.0, 2.0 High, 1.6T High, 1.6T High AWD), parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree), automatic-door-locks (speed-sensing, central-locking), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Break Hold, automatic headlamps (On/Off), High Beam Assist (HBA - 2.0 High, 1.6T High, 1.6T High AWD), automatic wipers (rain sensing, variable intermittent), steering wheel (multi-switches, voice recognition, column adjustments, paddle shifters), electric-powered (driver - multi-way, lumbar - 2.0 High, 1.6T High, 1.6T High AWD) bolstered seats (front), armrests (front - centre console, rear - centre seat fold-out), headrests (front, rear), hanger/hook headrests (front - 2.0 High, 1.6T High, 1.6T High AWD), dual-zone automatic air-conditioning system (rear-vents, switch controls - 2.0, 2.0 High, digital controls - 1.6T High, 1.6T High AWD), interior lighting (LED - reading, cabin, ambient, boot), infotainment (Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, voice recognition) and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). 

Propping-up the chassis is a suspension setup of MacPherson strut (front) and multi-link (rear).

Overall, the ride quality is firm with stable handling, and the interior cabin is comfortable, making it a suitable daily driver.

The all-new Kia Sportage is a great daily SUV. First, it offers a striking exterior appeal with its modern and sporty build.

Second, its shell envelopes a premium interior, which range from multiple advanced connectivity, safety systems and creature comfort features.

Third, it provides a thrilling driving dynamic with its choices of powertrains (naturally aspirated/turbocharged, 2WD/AWD).

Ultimately, its build quality is satisfactory inside and out, and the all-new Sportage is surely a contender in its segment.