After the exterior of the new 2016 Kia Sportage was revealed last week, Kia has now released full details of its fourth-generation C-segment crossover, refreshed and ready to take on class stalwarts like the Mazda CX-5, Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson square in the face. It will make its world premiere at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show in a couple of weeks.
Even if there’s no mistaking it for anything other than a Sportage – the big blown wheel arches, tall beltline, C-shaped window line and humongous C-pillar see to that – this new one marks quite a departure from the current car. The headlights have been separated from the “tiger nose” grille and moved up high, pod-like in the style of Porsche’s SUVs, while the slim, sharp tail lights are connected via a thin chrome strip.
The resulting mix of sharp lines and curved surfaces are said to have been inspired by fighter jets, and you can opt to dress it up even further with a GT Line pack, which adds “ice cube” fog lights inside large gloss black inserts in the front bumper, aluminium-look skid plates and dual exhaust mufflers. The new Sportage is available with 16-, 17- and 19-inch alloy wheel options, with a unique 19-inch design exclusive to the GT Line.
The new looks hide dimensions that are little changed from the outgoing car. Length is longer by 40 mm to 4,480 mm, but the new Sportage’s 1,635 mm height and 1,855 mm width are unchanged. The wheelbase, however, is 30 mm longer at 2,670 mm, with a slight shift in proportions (20 mm longer front overhang, 10 mm shorter rear overhang) claimed to add a more raked look to the car.
We’ve seen the interior of the car, which we’ve shown you earlier today – it’s certainly a more sophisticated, driver-oriented cabin, with a design that’s reminiscent of the new Carens and Sorento, but with a canted centre console. The dash top stitching and liberal use of brightwork add to the occasion, and Kia promises a far greater proportion of soft touch plastics, as well as added soundproofing for improved refinement.
The optional 7.0- and 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment systems with navigation sit between the two centre air vents and helps reduce dashboard control clutter. Apart from an all-black cabin, buyers can also opt from a couple of two-tone options, and GT Line customers receive a flat-bottomed steering wheel, piano black fascia and alloy pedals.
Also on the options list are a suite of connectivity systems, a JBL eight-speaker sound system, a wireless charging system for smartphones, a Hyundai Sonata-esque proximity-activated Smart Power Tailgate and a panoramic sunroof now 104 mm longer.
Despite dimensions only being mildly rejigged, Kia claims improved head- and legroom for both front and rear passengers; the latter despite an identical overall height. A lower floor and raised rear hip point ensures a more natural seating posture at the rear, and a lowered A-pillar base, thinner pillars, repositioned side mirrors and a taller rear windscreen improved rear visibility. Boot space has also increased to 503 litres.
Under the bonnet, you get a choice of three engines – the base 132 PS/161 Nm 1.6 litre naturally-aspirated GDI petrol mill is carried over from the current car, but the addition of a start-stop system, combined with the new car’s improved aerodynamics, promises a cut in fuel consumption and emissions. Also ported over is the 115 PS 1.7 litre CRDi turbodiesel.
Two engines are either new or improved, the most important of which concerns the 1.6 litre turbocharged T-GDI petrol engine. Adapted from the cee’d GT with modifications for improved efficiency, it puts out 177 PS and 265 Nm. The 2.0 R turbodiesel has also seen improvements for improved performance and NVH, as well as reduced nitrous oxide emissions; it’s available with either 136 PS/373 Nm and 184 PS/400 Nm outputs.
New to the Sportage is the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission from the facelifted cee’d – it’s only available with the 1.6 litre T-GDI engine, along with a six-speed manual option. Other engines get a choice between manual and regular torque converter automatic ‘boxes, both six-speeders.
Under the skin, the new Sportage’s increased use of ultra-high-strength (up to 51%) and hot-stamped steel improves torsional rigidity by 39%, while the suspension, steering and brakes have been revised for improved driving dynamics. Safety-wise, its arsenal now includes automatic emergency braking (AEB), Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Blind Spot Detection (BSD) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA).
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Buy Toyota better, good RV.
Buy Honda better, good RV.
Buy Kia better RV than Proton lol…
Why would you want better RV when it means Regret Value?
buy properties..if u want to talk bout RV..
Habis lah Toyota Salesman. All crying like baby now. Who would buy a car for Rm150k and still get no VSC and 2 airbags (Camry)???
Now all the Toyota salesman are hiding. this Kia, so reasonable in price and yet it is packed with safety features.
And go and check in mudah, oto and carlies, Korean cars have the SAME RV as Toyota and Honda.
All the rumours in the past about Korean not having good RV is done by disgruntled Toyota salesman having ZERO sales in their office. They come online and try to bad mouth Korean cars.
the truth is, Toyota has got the worst RV ever. 1 year old 2014 Camry 2.5 now selling for RM98k, down from RM180k. Accident free and low mileage.
2013 Altis 1.8 selling for RM65k. Dealer so desperate, he told me even RM60k also he take. Brand new Atis is RM139k. In 1 year 10 months, the Altis can drop to RM60k. More than half price.
I hope we all here can help the Toyota salesman crying like a baby. Let us all buy pampers for them and also some formula milk and donate to all UMW showrooms
Seriously, this joke is getting old. Make some fresh one if you don’t mind.
Same Lorr, u bettet keep all ur money in bank and just use honda c70
piiraahh…mabuk
I find the Tucson better looking outside – looks more tough with the big plastic cladding. But inside, the Sportage is nicer & more professional looking (looks more like premium car rather than Korean “rakyat” car). Haha.
Ya..ya…blaa..blaaa.. RV and better service from Jap cars. So clitche and boring! Don’t you jap car supporters have anything else to say? Why don’t you guys just admit that Korean makes are now ahead of Jap cars…. Nothing to be ashamed about as that is the actual fact! Just my two cents. Cheers!
RIP Rush
Dear Kiunosan,
Koreans have been piling up a lot of new & fancy good looking “RUBBISH” …(not only cars!)on our daily cousumer market. With piles of service center return & even endless complaint. With endless time waitng for parts & services.
So stop praising & fancy Korean product like GOD
the turbodiesel sounds tempting…
But euro 5m diesel is pretty scarce…
but the 1.6 turbo has lower roadtax… N at least now we cn pump in euro 4m ron97 which is available almost everywhere…
Rear aircond got?
meanwhile in malaysia…2wd model…
lol…word..
They didn’t mention a 2.0 N/A engine so does that mean when it arrives here we can look forward to the 1.6 turbo engine or will Naza continue to soldier on with the N/A engine? Hmm..
Also I hope this new model will come with almost the full list of kit as how the rest of the line up has gotten traditionally which puts most other brands to shame.
If they manage to sort out the numbness feeling handling and steering, this would be very competitive in the market.
Alot of Porsche influence inside and out. The Tucson shades it on exterior style but the interior on this is miles better, really is lovely
Is it coming to Thailand?
Ramai kata KIA xbagus la, kuat makan MINYAK la, servis teruk la.. HELLO!!! I pakai kia SPORTAGE 2014 ok je, fuel consumption pun biasa2 je. I bawak dari shah alam – Lumut – shah alam cuma half tank je minyak RM 60. Klu nak jimat lagi naik la KANCIL or VIVA forever.. Dah pakai kereta besar mesti la minyak lebih sikit.. Klu nk jimat lagi naik kereta lembu. Huhuhu!!! Honda CRV 2011 n kia SPORTAGE 2011 sama je value dia tak drop byk pun. U guys bole check kt carlies.com. Kereta buatan korea dah semakin maju.. Cuma stigma masyarakat je yg masih tak bole terima brand ni. . Anyway terpulang pada masing2 la nk brand apa pun. . Sendiri bayar sendiri pakai..
Fuel guzzler, no doubt.