With Kia’s new Sportage you get the choice of three engines; two are petrol and the other a diesel. All petrol models (except GT-Line versions) use a 2.0-litre inline 4-cylinder with DOHC and CVVT. The result is a willing 114 kW power output and a torque figure of 192 Nm @ 4000. This petrol engine is smooth and free revving, and to really get a shove on you need to make the most of the power available at the upper end of the rev band. That said, the petrol versions cruise quietly on the open road and deal with hilly topography easily enough. 2.0-litre petrol versions are FWD only and have the option of a six-speed automatic or six-speed manual gearbox. Both alternatives are strong and well matched to the demands of the engine.
Gt-Line versions do come with the larger and more powerful DOHC, VVT 2.4-litre ULP motor, which puts out a much lustier 135 kW @ 6000 rpm and 237 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm. If you’re doing plenty of open road touring and you are taking the family with you, then you need the 2.4-litre’s extra oomph. Its relaxed, smooth performance is nice. It also comes with on-demand 4WD and runs with a six-speed auto.
The Diesel motor is a gem, and would definitely be my first choice, more because it offers way more torque and comes with AWD as standard. So, what you do get with the turbo-diesel is a 2.0-litre CRDi with 16 valve E-VGT technology. Its maximum output is a very respectable 136 kW @ 4000 rpm and a very healthy peak of 400 Nm of torque that is available between 1750 and 2750 rpm. The Sportage Diesel SUV is a strong performer and great for cruising fast when the need arises. It also offers better towing ability and, of course, excellent off-road capability. Having the on-demand AWD there with you all the time is great for when the road surfaces get a little slippery. The eight-speed auto transmission in diesel models is very smooth and feels more advanced than the six-speed auto you’ll find in the petrol versions.
Out on the road you’ll find the 2021 Kia Sportage is very composed and rides tautly. The Sportage benefits from having especially taken the time to have Australian input into its ride and handling design, thus ensuring it has been set up specifically for the Australian roads when buyers drive off the showroom floors here in Australia. All versions have the ability to tow an unbraked trailer of 750 kg, making them a useful medium SUV to have around the backyard.
Kia’s Sportage mid-size SUV mixes it with the likes of the Renault Captur, Nissan Qashqi, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Mazda CX-5, Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson, where it truly is an excellent alternative. All of these SUVs are great vehicles, and they need to be, in order to stay current and appealing to the buyer. Kia’s Sportage does well in the safety department and has across-the-board autonomous emergency braking and lane-keep assist. The awarded five-star safety rating says it all.
On the practicality front, a new Kia Sportage has excellent space inside for accommodating adults front and rear. Around 500 litres of boot space is easy to live with, plus the seats fold flat to accommodate more luggage should you need too. The seating is comfortable and there are plenty of up-to-date features for infotainment, music, Bluetooth and mobile phone connection. The Sport Plus and GT-Line models boast everything you’ll ever need and hold themselves up as a very well-equipped medium-size SUV for a good purchase price. The higher-end models also come with leather interiors and are a classy way to get around. They are also a lot cheaper than any equivalent European rivals. A top of the line $50k Sportage is a loaded machine.
The latest model looks cool with its tweaked front bumper, interesting grille patterns and sleek LED headlight design. The mid-size SUV flows quite sweetly over the roofline and drops down to a well sorted back-end. Sitting on 19-inch alloys the Sportage is an attractive looking small family SUV. Inside, the Sportage uses some nice design features with accented stitching, chrome detailing and there is a new digital driver’s display between the analogue dials. Everything is laid out very sensibly and makes driving a new Kia Sportage a breeze.
The recent Kia Sportage models have always been a strong segment contender in terms of style, equipment and refinement.
The 2021 Kia Sportage SUV models include the:
For any more information on the new Kia Sportage or, for that matter, any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181. If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of Kia dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours. Private Fleet – car buying made easy!