We missed the media drive of the new Kia Sportage a few weeks ago. But we did manage to obtain a Kia Sportage GT-Line S for a few days so we could bring you this review.

The Kia Sportage has been around for some time now. In fact, the Korean automaker is onto its fifth generation of the family SUV. Earlier versions were dowdy and non-descript. That all changed when the third generation made its debut.

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The third and fourth generations of the Sportage really lifted the model’s persona. Kia had suddenly produced a crossover that was the equal of rivals from all other brands. That sense of upliftment seems to have ratcheted up a few notches with the latest version.

Space-age Appearance

The fifth generation Kia Sportage boasts an appearance that can best be described as futuristic. The appearance was determined by the brand’s new ‘opposites united’ design philosophy. We got our first glimpse of this in the Kia EV6, which you can read about here.

The most talked about aspect of the design has to be those boomerang-shaped DRLs. They really do set the tone for a design that attracted plenty of stares and a few furrowed brows. A simple, yet interestingly detailed profile features dual-tone 19-inch alloys on this Kia Sportage GT-Line S version. 

The rear is no less dramatic than the face. Intricately detailed taillamps extend from each corner onto the rear door and are connected by a slim, body-wide strip. Just above this strip is a little lip and the top of the glass features a spoiler. The Kia Sportage GT-Line S is, in a word, striking.

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High-Tech Interior

The futuristic exterior appearance is complemented by a high-tech interior. Not only does the cabin feel new and modern, but there is also a sense of solidity to the fittings. This range-leading Kia Sportage GT-Line S also has leather-feel upholstery and piano-black plastic finishes. Though we’d prefer a more matt finish as the shiny surfaces can reflect light straight into the eyes of the front occupants.

A curved digital display greets the driver. The section behind the steering wheel shows information needed for driving, while the centre section is a touchscreen interface for the infotainment system. The latter includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Thankfully, Kia has seen fit to maintain physical buttons to operate the dual-zone climate control system. These are sited on the lower section of the facia Oh, the remote controls on the steering wheel are also physical buttons. 

Our test unit was a top-of-the-range Kia Sportage GT-Line S. That means it has a rotary gear selector on the centre console. Also on the same panel one finds the buttons for the standard seat heaters/coolers and the steering wheel warmer. There some nice details around the cabin such as the door handles and matching air-vents, both creating a premium feel.

Space Aplenty

The cabin of the new Sportage has more than enough space for your typical modern family. The front seats provide excellent adjustment, the driver’s side is electric. The rear seat backrest can be set at various inclination angles and splits in a 40:20:40 ratio.

Rear seat passengers benefit from a pair of USB-C charging ports that are neatly integrated into the front seatbacks. Boot volume is nearly 600 litres, which makes it among the largest of just about any SUV on sale today.

Single Powertrain

Kia South Africa has chosen to release the new Sportage with just a single powertrain option. The 1,6-litre four cylinder unit uses turbocharging to develop 132 kW/265 N.m. This engine is exclusively mated with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission for the local market.

The engine is a refined unit that delivers its power without fuss. Peak torque arrives at 1 500 r/min, which means one has to be extremely gentle on the throttle to avoid a surge of acceleration to get going. GT Line variants feature paddle shifters on the steering wheel but these are hardly, if ever, required. 

Soft Ride

The Kia Sportage GT-Line S rides on 19-inch alloys. Despite the size of the rims the car has good ride quality. It lopes along gently and the suspension can dispatch with most bumps without bothering the occupants too much.

The tyres are one area we feel that could be improved. The standard rubber tends to get a little vocal and does not deliver the levels of grip that one could, perhaps, expect of a car that looks the way the Sportage does. It’s a small niggle but it could help cement the feeling of quality throughout the package.

Summary

Kia is no longer an also-ran. Products such as the latest Sportage are showing why the brand can take its rightful place among mainstream players in the modern motoring landscape. A thoroughly modern aesthetic, high-tech and premium interior treatment along with plenty of space and a competent powertrain make it one of the top picks in the mid-size SUV segment at the moment.

Model: Kia Sportage GT Line S
Price: R734 995
Engine: 1,6-litre inline four, turbocharged
Transmission: seven-speed DCT, FWD
Max power: 132 kW
Max torque: 265 N.m
0-100 km/h: 8,8 seconds
Top speed: 201 km/h
Fuel consumption: 6,4 L/100 km