New-car review: Kia Sportage GT-Line

Posted 22 May, 2022 Mark Borlace

The Kia Sportage has been around for 25 years and during this time has matured as a product to match medium SUVs like the Toyota RAV4 and VW Tiguan.

However, with a more competitive price, the Kia Sportage might be the car for you. Here’s what we found when road testing this medium SUV.

Value for money

Worldwide, the Sportage is Kia’s largest selling vehicle and when compared with similar cars, such as Toyota’s RAV4, the Sportage is a good value package. On top of that, it comes with a seven-year unlimited-kilometre warranty.

We tested the top of the range GT-Line and as you’d expect, it had all the new gadgets. The most impressive feature is the long curved screen that spans more than half the length of the dash. It’s made up of two 12.3-inch sections; one contains the gauges and the other the infotainment touch screen.

Sportage’s passenger comfort is at another level with leather front seats that are powered and heated. They also have adequate ventilation for a cool, comfortable ride during a hot South Australian summer. The cabin has ambient mood lighting, a wireless phone charger and a panoramic sunroof with blind. The sound quality out of the Harman Kardon stereo is exceptional under any driving conditions.

The powered tailgate can be operated in variety of ways: via a button on the key fob, using the touch button on the tailgate, or even automatically opening when it senses you approaching.

Design and function

Thanks to its new architecture, the Sportage is larger in all dimensions. The most important change compared to its predecessor is that it’s 170mm longer allowing for 80mm of extra rear leg room, which is big.

There are no traditional analogue gauges in the Sportage. All have been replaced with the long programmable digital screens which are easy to read, even in direct sunlight. The car’s dual control screen allows easy toggling between the entertainment and air conditioning functions with the touch of a finger. The lower digital screen gives the driver a clearer view forward as there is no raised dash section at the front. This adds to the feel of light and roominess in the cabin.

The driver’s view of their surroundings is greatly improved via the 3D monitor which optimises images from four cameras (front, side mirrors and rear) to provide a 360-degree view in various modes. The rear view from the side cameras is also shown in the dash display when you turn the indicators on so you can see if any cyclists are riding up the inside lane.

There’s a lot of handy storage, including the large console that has a button-operated, pop-out coffee cup holder which adjusts to hold various size cups.

In the rear, it’s easy to create space for cargo using the remotely-operated level to fold the second-row seats out of the way. The cargo area also has a 12-volt plug for a portable fridge, or other tech that needs charging. All of this can be hidden under a retractable cargo blind.

The Sportage’s exterior has been upgraded, and the bold boomerang shaped design of the LED daytime running lights is the standout feature.

ANCAP hasn’t tested the Sportage yet, however the cars feature a comprehensive active safety package. This includes autonomous emergency braking, which helps avoid collisions with other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. It also features Junction Assist which can apply braking when a potential collision is detected when turning right across an intersection. Along with the standard airbags, the Sportage features a new centre side airbag to protect occupants from hitting each other in the case of a side impact.

On the road

The GT-Line has a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder, seven-speed dual-clutch auto transmission. Various modes of driving can be selected via a console-mounted switch which changes the way the power is delivered and optimises the timing of gear shifts. Somewhat typical of dual-clutch transmissions is their hesitancy on take off as they can have an all-or-nothing approach to power delivery, which may annoy some people.

Drive or reverse are selected via a rotating dial gear change, which is easy to use, however you just need to make sure you turn the dial all the way to engage the gears. Try not to mistake it for the infotainment system dial, which is just in front of it, or you’ll end up changing the radio station instead of the gears. These are rookie mistakes and once you’ve lived with the car for a while the gear change will come to hand easily.

The car also features steering wheel-mounted gearshift paddles if you feel the need to have more control of the shifts. The GT-Line also has an electronic 4WD system to make sure power is optimally distributed between the front and rear wheels depending on road conditions and driving situations.

One of Kia’s brand strategies is to have an Australian-tuned suspension that’s made for our roads, and it pays off. The ride and handling are probably best in its class and can adequately cope with regional South Australian roads.

Kia’s lane keep assist system is a bit interfering for my liking, but it can be turned off via a button on the steering wheel if it becomes too annoying on short trips.

Summary

Kia has the mid-sized SUV styling and features packaging down pat with the Sportage. The seven-year warranty and active safety additions, make this medium SUV an attractive low-risk car buying option.