The all-new, fifth-generation Kia Sportage, designed from the ground up to be the ultimate urban SUV, is now available in South Africa.
As Kia’s most popular and best-selling model worldwide, the newcomer is a symbol of Kia brand’s pioneering DNA and sets the standard in every way. Sportage once again brings innovation and excitement to the popular compact SUV segment with its bold, sporty design, advanced driver-assistance systems, and state-of-the-art interior finishes.
“The Sportage has always been a car of ‘firsts’ for the Kia brand,” says Gary Scott, CEO of Kia South Africa.
“When it first debuted in the late 1990s, it set the tone for multiple automakers to pursue the design and development of what we know as an SUV today. It went on to become one of the first Kia models to receive multiple global design awards, a feat that was thought impossible for a Korean brand up until the launch of the third-generation model in 2010.”
Cementing the heritage of the Sportage
First-generation Kia Sportage was available in short- and long-wheelbase five-door models and a three-door convertible. In 1997, it was the first production model to include a knee airbag, but it performed poorly in crash tests in several countries.
It did serve as a launching pad for Kia’s efforts to become a world leader in quality and engineering, resulting in a significantly improved 2004 model. From 2006, the second-generation model was also produced at Kia’s Zilina plant in Slovakia. By 2009, Consumer Reports in the US named it one of the most reliable vehicles, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave it five stars in crash tests (NHTSA).
The third-generation Kia Sportage changed customer and critic perceptions in 2010. Sportage has won a number of awards since its release, and its design is still considered one of Peter Schreyer’s best.
It topped the 2012 J.D. Power Survey and received five stars in every category, from mechanical reliability to ownership costs. It earned a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and a five-star Euro NCAP rating. Over 1.6 million third-generation models were sold between 2010 and 2015.
The fourth-generation Sportage debuted in Frankfurt in September 2015 and in South Africa in November 2016. The fourth-generation model won a Red Dot design award in 2016 and a slew of quality and safety awards across multiple territories with a bold new design language, redesigned interior, and updated engines and transmissions.
Introducing a new design identity
The all-new Kia Sportage pushes design boundaries and sets the tone for the next generation’s family.
Kia’s new design language, Opposites United, influences every aspect of the all-new Sportage. Kia’s main global design network in Korea, Germany, the U.S., and China collaborated on Sportage, which takes the SUV class to a new level.
Models have 17-, 18-, or 19-inch wheels and are selectable in 12 exterior colors. Experience Green, Orange Fusion, and Splash Lemon join well-loved colors like Casa White, Black Pearl, Blue Frame, and Infra-Red Metallic.
Carefully crafted cabins combining advanced tech with contemporary style
The all-new Sportage’s modern cabin features a sculpted curved display with a slim touchscreen pad and detailed air vents. The curved cockpit display is wide and deep. The 12.3-inch touchscreen serves as the nerve centre for driver and passenger connectivity, functionality, and usability. It is designed for intuitive and soft-to-touch ease of use and is equipped with the latest-generation full thin-film-transistor liquid-crystal display for incredibly precise and clear graphics.
The compact wheelbase, width, length, and height of the all-new Sportage support its practical, functional, and versatile interior space. Legroom, headroom, and luggage capacity are class-leading. The new Sportage has 996 mm legroom and 1,000 mm headroom in the second row and 591 litres of cargo space (VDA).
The all-new Sportage is built on frugality, power, and performance.
Based on the company’s new N3 architecture, the all-new Sportage is designed to be a premium SUV. The new platform also influences the all-new Sportage’s driving characteristics, which combine a refined, stable, and comfortable ride with agile and dynamic handling. A carefully tuned steering and suspension system helps achieve this.
The new Sportage has a MacPherson strut front suspension and a four-link rear suspension. Front and rear 325-mm discs provide stopping power (300 mm).
The all-new Sportage is offered exclusively with a 1.6-litre T-GDi petrol engine and Kia’s 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission for the first time (DCT). The all-new Sportage’s turbocharged engine balances power and performance, and the DCT improves fuel economy.
The 1 598cc turbocharged Gasoline Direct Injection engine has continuously variable valve timing (CVVT), which allows more air to enter the engine at higher revs. 132 kW at 5,500 r/min and 265 N.m between 1,500 and 4,500 r/min. It reaches 100 km/h in 8,8 seconds and 201 km/h. Combined cycle emissions are 149 g/km.
New Kia Sportage Models
All Sportage models include a driver’s airbag, a front passenger airbag, side airbags, and side curtain airbags. ISOFIX child seat anchors are also standard across the board.
In addition, all models have an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC), as well as Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC), Downhill Brake Control (DBC), and Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) (TSA). Smart Entry with Push Button Start is standard on all models, as is an electric parking brake with auto-hold functionality. Depending on the model, Kia’s acclaimed in-house developed Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) technology is also available.
Kia has dropped the Ignite and Ignite Plus grades from the lineup, combining the best of both previous grades into a new LX grade and improving the mid-tier EX grade models.
1. The Sportage LX
The new Sportage LX’s list of standard features is extensive. LX models have:
- LED headlamps,
- LED daytime running lights,
- and LED fog lamps.
Electrically adjustable, foldable outside mirrors have side repeater lights. Exterior features 17-inch alloy wheels.
2. The Sportage EX
The Sportage EX builds on this platform and gets a black grille and front parking sensors. Inside, its upholstery is upgraded to a combination of cloth and artificial leather (including the armrest and centre trim), and the front seats gain electric adjustability (including a driver’s memory function) and heating. During winter, drivers will appreciate the heated steering wheel.
The 40:20:40-split second-row seatbacks can be folded remotely to create a flat cargo space quickly and seamlessly. Privacy glass and heated rear seats are a new addition.
3. The Sportage GT-Line
The Sportage GT-Line has 18-inch alloy wheels like the Sportage EX, but its exterior has deluxe scuff plates. Alloy pedals, an electric tailgate, and paddle gear-shifters add cosmetic and convenience features to the Sportage. Interior upholstery is faux leather and suede.
The GT-Line adds Lane Follow Assist and Lane Keeping Assist. These systems work with the standard Blind Spot Warning system, using cameras and radar to keep the vehicle in its lane. The system automatically assists steering if the vehicle veers into the adjacent lane without signalling. If lane markings are poor, Lane Follow Assist automatically follows the vehicle ahead of the Sportage to aid steering.
Kia’s FCA helps drivers avoid front-end collisions. FCA provides a warning if the preceding vehicle suddenly slows down or if a forward collision risk, such as a stopped vehicle, pedestrian, or cyclist, is detected. FCA automatically applies emergency brakes if the collision risk rises after the warning.
4. The Sportage GT-Line Plus
The Sportage GT-Line Plus is distinguished from the GT-Line by its panoramic glass sunroof and its strikingly sporty 19-inch alloy wheels in addition to the standard LED lighting throughout the interior. As if that weren’t enough, the exterior trims are now finished in a glossy black that gives it a more sophisticated and sporty air.
5. The Sportage GT-Line S
The range-topping Sportage GT-Line S has the same exterior as the GT-Line Plus but more comfort, convenience, and technology. Front seats gain ventilation, and mood lighting enhances the interior ambience.
- The centre console gets a central gear-shift dial. This dial uses shift-by-wire technology for easy gear changes. Safety-wise, it will shift to P if the driver forgets.
- The GT-Line S has an upgraded Intelligent Front Lighting System that automatically switches the LED headlamps to a low beam if it detects another vehicle driving in the same or opposite direction as you. When the road is clear, it returns to a high beam.
- Smart Cruise Control helps maintain a set distance and speed from the vehicle ahead while keeping the all-new Sportage in its lane. It controls acceleration and deceleration in-lane.
- The GT-Line S model’s Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) system gains Junction Turning functionality: if the system detects a potential collision when turning at an intersection, a warning signal appears on your instrument cluster and maximum braking power is applied to avoid a collision.
New Kia Sportage Pricing
New Kia Sportage goes on sale September 21, 2022. Recommended retail pricing:
Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi LX – R 539 995
Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi EX – R 593 995
Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi GT-Line – R 649 995
Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi GT-Line Plus – R 677 995
Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi GT-Line S – R 734 995
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