King Kia Cometh

Kia celebrated 30 years in the UK market last year, and it’s been quite a ride for the Korean automaker. The transformation from quirky budget car brand to Europe’s fastest-growing volume brand has been rapid, especially since the opening of European production in 2005.

Much of the focus is now on electric cars, such as the e-Niro and the hugely impressive EV6, which we tested last year and has now been crowned European Car of the Year. But Kia’s growth to date has been built on a more conventional model, and one that dates back almost to the brand’s launch – the Sportage.

Sportage was a pioneering compact SUV when the first generation cars arrived in 1995. These days it is Kia’s number one seller, and it regularly features toward the top of the UK sales chart. And now, Sportage has reached its fifth generation, with an all-new model that looks to remain Kia’s prime weapon in the market. With large saloons dying on the vine – Kia has not replaced the Optima – operators looking for a roomy five-seater are increasingly having to go down the SUV/Crossover route.

Sportage is not a full electric car, and plug-in hybrids are not part of the launch stock – though they are on their way very soon – Kia says April 2022. All PHEV models will come with all-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission as standard, across ‘GT-Line’, ‘3’, ‘4’, and ‘GT-Line S’ trim levels.

Right now there is a choice of diesel, petrol and petrol-electric hybrid, so the Sportage is not licensable in London. But elsewhere there are no problems.

Visually, the new Sportage has some links to the EV6 – you can see where Kia’s design is heading. It’s a bigger car than the outgoing model – 30mm longer, 10mm wider, 10mm higher and with a 10mm longer wheelbase. This makes for a roomy cabin with 996mm of legroom for second-row occupants, largely thanks to new slimline front seats, and a capacious 587-litre boot.

Inside there are even more similarities with the latest electric Kia. The dashboard uses similar twin widescreen 12.3in digital panels, and the switchgear is familiar. The overall feel is a wellmade, on-trend interior, combining comfort with modern simplicity and good, clear information. Apple Car Play and Android Auto capability is standard too.

The Sportage range is extensive, with 18 models at launch and more to come. The range kicks off with 148bhp 1.6 T-GDi petrol and 113bhp 1.6 CRDi diesel engines. The 1.6-litre T-GDi petrol engine is offered with 48-volt mild hybrid technology for the first time, and this is standard with both petrol and diesel that use the 7-speed DCT automatic gearbox.

Diesel is still part of the mix, with two choices: 113bhp 1.6-litre CRDi with manual gearbox or 134bhp with mild hybrid technology and 7-speed auto.

The full hybrid model is effectively the performance version, with a system output of 226bhp. It comes with both 2WD and 4WD powertrains. The battery pack is placed under the back seats, resulting in similar rear legroom to petrol and diesel versions.

Most Sportage sales are 2WD versions, but 4x4 is available with petrol and diesel 48-volt mild hybrid in ‘4’ and ‘GT-Line S’ specifications and on hybrid ‘GT-Line S’ trim.

The basic spec is high – all Sportages come with Forward Collision Avoidance Assist (FCA), which now includes sensors for city, pedestrian, cyclists, and junctions. Lane Follow Assist (LFA) and Lane Keep Assist (LKA), and front and rear parking sensors with reversing camera system are also standard across the range, while Highway Driving Assist (HDA), Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go and paddle shifters are standard on all automatic versions.

On the road, fully independent suspension on all four corners and passive damping makes for a smooth and stable ride, with precise handling for an SUV with very little body roll. On motorways, it’s very quiet and refined.

We tested the petrol-electric powertrain, and also had a brief drive of a diesel – and there’s not a huge difference in feel, though the hybrid offers more acceleration. The diesel’s low-end torque feels reassuring, though, and serves as a good reminder of why diesel rose to such heights of popularity. And it’s still better than petrolelectric for CO 2 emissions.

Nevertheless, 42.7mpg at a 29mph average was a good return for the petrol-electric hybrid, which bodes well for the PHEV, which adds a storage battery to the same basic powertrain.

It’s worth remembering that the Sportage comes with Kia’s benchmark 7-year/100,000- mile warranty. This is transferable to subsequent owners at no charge, as long as the seven-year time limit has not been reached and the mileage is below 100,000. Private hire operators are likely to hit the mileage before the seven years are up, but it does mean Kia cars make very good used purchases, as most non-cab first users are likely to sell before they hit 100,000.