Kia Sportage - Mud Edition

Before you get all excited,Kia don’t actually sell a ‘Mud Edition’ Sportage.

So, what am I on about?

Well, back in our December issue I wrote that to promote their clever range of accessories, and Terrain Mode AWD, Kia had put together 3 versions of their Sportage; Mud, Snow and Sand which they called their Terrain Mode Trio.

The one-off Sportage ‘Mud Mode’, ‘Snow Mode’ and ‘Sand Mode’ each show the potential of the Sportage to fit into a range of different active lifestyles, at all times of the year. Each model has been equipped with official Kia accessories, suggesting how owners could choose to customise their own cars, with each combination of parts being tailored to reflect the three modes available through the ‘Terrain Mode’ system.

Anyhow, because it was still and miserable outside, and I live in Lancashire, I asked Kia’s PR team if I could borrow their Mud edition.

Resplendent in stunning Blue Flame, it arrived fitted with Kia’s pro bike carrier and steel crossbars, along with side steps to help load and unload a mountain bike more easily. It also featured mudflaps all-round and all-weather mats for inside the cabin. The most used accessories were both the boot liner and boot liner extension that attach to rear back of the rear seats keeping them nice and clean. Then of course there was the bumper flap, which sits over the boot lip protecting the bumper from scratches, very useful if you have a dog.

Amusingly, we had quite a drop in temperature the week I had with the Sportage, and I would have been better off with the Snow Mode version, but that didn’t stop me from exploring, especially when the temperature dropped to -4 one morning.

Getting to the muddy (and frozen) bits

Seeing as I’ve previously written about the new Sportage back in our June ’22 issue, I don’t want to start repeating myself. That said, it was in the middle of heat wave, and the most important part of that particular Sportage worked an absolute treat - the air conditioning!

Equally impressive this time ‘round was the time it took for the heated screen to defrost the windscreen, not to mention the heated seats and steering wheel - an absolute god-send.

Loaded up with Lilly, and some new Petromax goodies, we headed off to a few lanes for an adventure.

It goes without saying, this new fifth-generation Sportage is head and shoulders above the previous model when it comes to on road driving, which isn’t really surprising.

With the addition of the electric motor, the 1.6-litre petrol engine has a combined 226bhp, and bolted to the smooth 6-speed auto it’s a pleasant vehicle in which to wile away the miles.

As I mentioned, with below freezing temperatures, road conditions were sketchy, but I never felt uncomfortably nervous, even when I hit a patch of ice, the AWD system worked it out quickly and without a fuss. As I wrote in my previous review, it still leans when you throw it into a corner, as you would expect, but it feels a lot more composed.

Fuel consumption was a little better than I got during summer, after around 400 miles it averaged 46mpg. I expect this is because I was driving more cautiously due to the road conditions.

Off Road

I want to say that this is where it got more entertaining as all the lanes I traversed were either frozen, muddy, or both. But the Sportage didn’t give me any trouble whatsoever.

What happens when ‘Mud Mode’ is activated?

Simply put, the wheels are driven based on a slightly delayed shift pattern, with smoother application of engine torque throughout the AWD system, and stronger braking force applied via the TCS. In other words, witchcraft. I’ve always said to anyone who would listen that Kia should shout about their AWD capabilities more as they’re really very good.

On my way to my favourite lunch spot, and nearing the end of a particularly slippery green lane, another of the Sportage’s options came into play - the 360° Around View Monitor.

On a tight-ish corner I came upon a fallen tree that had been cut in half, but with the two halves protruding onto the lane it would be a bit of a squeeze. Switching on the camera gave me multiple views that allowed me to see exactly how far the tree was away from the bodywork. Although this type of camera isn’t new, it proved invaluable in this situation.

The next lane wasn’t as bad, just icy, and after cooking a quick meal on the Petromax Atago and charging up the Ecoflow battery pack, I headed home, not only quite pleased with the lanes, but how the Sportage handled them.

A few days later I headed further afield as I wanted to test its Hill Decent control on a steep, ice covered, loose gravel green-lane, and that was about an hour away just outside a little village called Lupton.

Just like the rest of the week, clear overnight skies meant freezing temperatures, and as I approached the steep descent that would eventually lead me to a wide, fast flowing brook, I expected the Sportage make a fuss as we slid downwards. It didn’t, Hill Descent did its job and kept me in control all the way to the bottom, where I posed the Sportage next to the brook and enjoyed peaceful mug of coffee whilst reflecting on this new, fifth generation Sportage.

It was -4º that morning and the ground was icy as…, but the Sportage did this wonderful thing by finding traction where it really shouldn't have.

When it comes to ‘laning though, this new model isn’t as ‘rugged’ as its previous namesake as approach, ground clearance and departure angles aren’t as good, and they’re even worse when you add the side steps! But to be fair it’s not meant to be.

As I wrote last year, I’m quite sad that the old Sportage has gone, it was a simple-ish SUV that worked well and it ticked a lot of boxes, for me at least. This new fangled model on the other hand includes lots of new tech, and although it may not be the cheapest vehicle in its size, all models come well equipped with both luxuries and safety spec, and it has most definitely won me over.