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I’m sure I don’t have to tell you about all the considerations and calculations leading up to the December holiday period. Road or air? Staycation or beach holiday? Splurge on the astronomically high fuel prices or be at the mercy of airlines that decide the sky's the limit as far as airfares are concerned…
I’ll take the longer but inherently more flexible road option. Then there are the choices between big or small, fast or frugal, petrol, diesel, or the wildcard option, EVs. For the long journey between Johannesburg and Gqeberha, the decision was relatively simple. I favoured frugality. It came in the form of the Kia Sportage 1.6 CRDi GT Line Plus, so, yes, it also happened to be diesel. On a side note, Kia and diesel... I don’t know how the carmaker does it, but a tank of diesel goes a long, long way.
So, let’s backtrack on this narrative. The Kia Sportage won our inaugural TGSA Awards’ most competitive category, the Family SUV of the Year. Just think about the competition in this space. VW Tiguan, Hyundai Tucson, Ford Everest... heck, there were even some BMWs that came up in the initial discussions. So for this SUV to win this prize, there must be something to it. Lots of somethings… The styling, for one: It’s sleek, futuristic, and head-turning. That grille area looks like it can swallow swarms of local wildlife. The point is, stylistically, I’m pretty confident that when the time comes for a replacement for this generation of Sportage, its styling will still be relevant, which should translate into favourable residual rates.
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The GT Line trim that largely extends to the cabin space further exemplifies the qualities that make it deserving of the crown bestowed upon it. There are the GT Line seats that are immensely comfortable, the panoramic sunroof (largely unused during the holiday season but still a nice-to-have), the dual-curve screen unit that gives a high-definition readout of all essential driving information, paired with the 12.3-inch infotainment screen that seamlessly operates Android Auto.
There’s also a virtual-button console that neither has physical buttons nor the dreadful haptic feedback variety. It can be switched between a media mode or a climate control interface. It’s fundamentally a great idea to reduce button clutter while eliminating sporadic haptics, but the drawback lies in the fact that there’s only a small virtual button to switch between modes. If you’re in media mode, you have to find that little toggle to switch to the air conditioner's settings if things are heating up inside the cabin. Great for the passenger, but while driving? Not ideal. Still, I like to think that Kia takes these kinds of reviews to heart.
And space? Cabin space is exemplary, with an airy and open feel, but it comes at the cost of some luggage capacity. Boot space is rated at 591 litres, which is great on paper, but it proved a bit shallow, which meant a snug fit for two carry-on suitcases, a gym bag, and some odd bits and bobs. For reference, the same approximately-priced Toyota RAV4 gulps 733 litres.
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Most important, though, is the drive, since I suppose you wouldn’t be reading anything we blabber on about if you weren’t a dyed-in-the-wool petrolhead. In short, well, it’s top-notch. Mostly. Beside Eco mode, it also has Normal and Smart modes, and then there’s the Sport mode, which dials the Sportage in to deliver its full 100kW and 320Nm with just a light brush of the loud pedal. It’s not recommended for daily use if you prefer economy. Just saying.
There was, sadly, a minor chink in the otherwise robust armour of the Sportage, with a throttle glitch that kept rearing its head, if only for fleeting moments. While mostly at slow speeds, there were moments where the power hesitated and cut out for a second or two. While this glitch doesn’t detract significantly from the overall driving experience, it is an area where I believe that Kia can further refine this fantastic 1.6-litre diesel engine.
As for owning it, well, it should be a breeze since over a stretch of 3,000+ kilometres, the Sportage averaged 6.0l/100km with considerable stretches of highway driving, which translated into higher figures than inner-city driving. The latter easily registered in the regions of 5.2l/100km. It must be said, that’s when it’s dialled into Eco mode, which provides ample throttle response for most tasks.
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Aside from the minor power glitch on my tester, which I’m sure is an easy fix, this new Sportage represents a big swing from Kia as it looks to solidify its brand recognition locally by offering what is a near-flawless SUV. Economy, plenty of power when you need it, and oodles of onboard tech and niceties that’s a leap ahead of its largely ageing peer group. Then there’s the styling, which neither I nor the general public could help but admire in a parking lot. Most importantly, it offers a driving experience that balances all the versatility of a great family SUV with plenty of poise. It's the reason why it’s the reigning family champion in our books.
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