Kia Off-road themes for new models

Off-road themes from three additions to Kia Sportage range

Wia’s Sportage is now in its fi fth generation, and as yet it shows no signs of giving in to old age or corpulence. Kia appears to be putting this down to that dreaded phrase: the ‘active lifestyle’.

Kia may be right. After all, we know as we get older that we need to keep exercising, keep going outdoors and keep doing some resistance training. Kia’s solution is a trio of models that each exemplifi es one of the terrain modes found on the new hybrid. Thus we have Mud, Snow and Sand, three materials that can be either enormous fun or a serious threat to life.

Kia seems to be erring on the side of fun, although there might be a market for models focused on getting stranded for days in thick mud, dying of hypothermia in the snow or drowning in quicksand. That’s a niche Kia doesn’t seem willing to fi ll, so there’s a gap if anyone wants to go with it. You’re welcome.

The centre console allows you to fi ddle with the dial on any new model to call up not mud or snow or sand, but a suitable response to them from the electronic drivetrain. The three models shown all use standard accessories but are focused very much on just one mode each.

Snow. Winter is coming, as he famously said, and using snow mode keeps everything gentle, from acceleration to braking, as well as equalising things across the four wheels. It’s slower but safer and better than calling it ‘annoying old person driving in hat’ mode. Add in ski and snowboard carrier, roof bars and sidesteps, plus cabin elements to help keep it free of snow and you’re off to the piste.

Mud. Similar to snow, in that it makes everything more gentle, whether you’re trying to get down a muddy lane or get out of a fi eld at Glasto. We all know what mud is like so there are mudfl aps, bumper fl ap to keep the boot clean, which itself has a liner, and more. Nature is lovely isn’t it, but outside, not inside. Except you get a bike rack too to get out there.

Sand. The engine and transmission’s response is calibrated to generate higher levels of torque matched with delayed upshifts. Other tweaks help keep you moving although it’s obviously aimed more at the beach than the Grand Ergs in Morocco. Add in a carrier for the obligatory surfboard and a boot set up to manage your wet, sand-laden wetsuit and sewage-soaked trunks, and you may even enjoy your day at the English beach. Apparently it’s technically possible.

Kia dealers are taking orders now, with prices from £27,800.