Kia South Africa introduced the latest generation Sportage into the local market towards the end of last year. The fifth generation SUV from the Korean automaker debuted on local showrooms with a single powertrain option. That changed this week with the addition of the Kia Sportage diesel.

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More Options

The Kia Sportage diesel has been added, to the already availabe 1,6-litre turbopetrol, to double the number of engine options on offer. In fact, with the various trim levels on offer the Sportage range grows to eight. Click here to read our review of the GT Line S in petrol guise.

The 1,6-litre turbodiesel engine produces 100 kW with 320 N.m of torque. The latter is on tap between 2 000 and 2 250 r/min. This engine is mated exclusively with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that drives the front wheels. The quoted fuel consumption for this combination is a frugal 4,9 litres/100 km. That’s pretty impressive for a large family car.

Three Flavours

The Kia Sportage diesel is available in three different grades, namely LX, EX and GT-Line Plus; see below for pricing. There is a comprehensive list of standard features, even from the entry-level derivative.

LX buyers can expect auto-on lights, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, dual-zone air-conditioning, a 12,3-inch touchscreen infotainment system that includes Bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a rear-facing camera and rear parking sensors, steering wheel-mounted controls, a USB port in the front and two USB-C type charging ports for rear passengers, among many others. That list grows as you step up the spec ladder.

A Quick Taste

We got the chance to slide behind the wheel of the new Kia Sportage diesel for a quick stint from the area just outside of Cape Town back to the city. With 100 kW the engine is no firecracker. However, our time on the open road led us to believe that this will be a nice, long-distance cruiser. Engine revs remain low at the speed limit and there is a nice swell of torque to call on for overtaking.

Summary

Kia SA has made an interesting decision to introduce a diesel derivative of the Sportage in the local market. Kia has entered a space that has, by and large, been abandoned by most automakers. South Africans aren’t afraid of buying diesel-powered vehicles (witness Fortuner/Hilux sales). Could Kia have played a masterstroke by introducing this powertrain to local buyers? The sales figures will soon show if their brave decision has paid off.

Kia Sportage Diesel Pricing

LX:                       R597 995
EX:                      R651 995
GT-Line Plus:     R735 995