Top 10 Best Things about Kia Sportage – SX+ mini review

Exactly a year ago, Kia launched their All New Sportage.

From the sight of the first photo, it felt like a “just-right” moment, a Goldilocks feeling, as it were. Would it feel the same a year later?

If anything, it felt better and more enticing. This time it was the Sportage SX+ AWD diesel to catch our eye. It has almost as much gear as the GT-line, but costs $5,000 less. If course I’d still go for the range topper if the number of shekels in a purse is not at issue, but SX+ is an impressive lassie.

Some thought the previous model was polarising, but surely the new one is even more so. Apparently not, it is Kia’s best-selling vehicle, with 1,877 Sportages finding homes, ahead of the next best Cerato (788 sold).

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ABOVE: 2022 Kia Sportage, 2019 Kia Sportage

Top 10 Best Things:

1: Looks

From the start, Sportage was designed to be striking, like it or not. A series of complex lines signaled a new direction at the design department. It is a world away from the previous new look: Carnival, Seltos, and Sorento. They had the new family look for the brand, and it is reasonable to have expected that to roll out across the range, but Sportage’s deeply sculptured, fluid lines are the exact opposite of the squared-off Seltos.

The front lights are all but concealed within the complex grille. Although the Schreyer tiger-nose is still there, if you look hard, it is now integrated into something more complex. The enormous V-shaped DTRLs look odd to me, but like them or not, they are incredibly impressive. You can’t miss ‘em.

2: Interior

The leather is simulated, man-made, artificial, vegan-friendly vinyl. Normally that’s a bit of a bummer, but if it walks like a duck and looks like a duck, what does it matter? The front seats are heated, and the dash is one large curved screen. However, SX+ driver’s information screen is not as full-on as the GT-Line’s 12.3” monitor.

A conventional “t-bar” gear selector is a little less confronting than the GT-Line’s dial. Other than that, most punters are hard pushed to find the differences between the top 2 grades.

Kia interiors have come far, with Sportage feeling rather posh.

3: Equipment

The Harmon Kardon sound rates a mention, as does the 12.3” touch infotainment screen. There is wired CarPlay/Android auto, but as other brands move to wireless across the range, Kia/Hyundai should sort out whatever is preventing this happening in their cars. Only models without navigation get a wireless connection for CarPlay, which seems a little bonkers.

Front seats are heated, and there is push-button start.

4: Space

The size of a cabin is measurable, yet the feeling of space is undefinable. A cabin either has it or it doesn’t. That may sound odd, but let me explain: the design of an interior can make a very big cabin feel cramped. Sportage is the opposite, the medium SUV feels huge, with its TARDIS-esque cabin feeling more capacious than Lady Bracknell’s handbag.

The monotone motif allows surfaces to flow in to each other but a little contrast here and there wouldn’t hurt.

5: Diesel

For the time being at least, Kia still has diesel offerings. Except for the largest of vehicles, diesels have fallen from favour. Their economy is being eclipsed by “cleaner” petrol engines. I say cleaner while raising my fingers, Doctor-Evil-Style.

ICE drivetrains propinquity of their demise and few car makers are bothering to invest in new deesigns.

6: 8-Speed automatic/AWD

The diesels get AWD and a deliciously smooth 8-speed conventional toque converter automatic transmission. This is one place where Kia could improve the range by offering AWD/8-Speed across all 3 engine options.

There is a 6-speed auto, and a 7-speed DCT on offer in petrol engine models. A 6-speed doesn’t cut it, and try as they might, DCT automatics never feel quite as silky. There is a reason for the strange configurations, but does the buyer really car what they are?

7: Ride/handling

Ride has long been one of Kia’s strong points, with ride and handling done by a local tuner, Graeme Gambold.

Rough roads see an amazing amount of uncooperative surface soaked up ably. 19” wheels usually ruin cabin comfort, but Sportage still feels smooth, and more importantly, quiet.

8: Economy

Our week was spent doing the chores. It isn’t exciting, but it is how the buyer will use their car. We managed 5.8L/100k, mostly in “Smart” driving mode, using a leisurely driving style.

Importantly, Sportage is extremely easy to use as an urban chariot.

8: Value

Kia was once a cheap’n’cheerful brand that always seemed to be apologizing for itself.

From the time Damien Meredith became COO of Kia’s Australian operation, he was determined to make the product and pricing strategy clear, and consistent. Pricing starts from the entry Picatno to the halo model Stinger.

Sportage is the 7^th best selling model in the country. Joining it in the top-10 are the similarly sized Rav 4 and CX-5. Tesla’s Model Y was temporarily in the top 10 as the brand finally began delivery of its much-delayed entry level SUV.

Kia is the 3^rd best-selling brand, and is ahead of the much larger Hyundai “mother“ company. I’ll bet that really grates Hyundai’s gears.

9: Packaging

There is an indefinable something that buyers sense in a showroom. Regardless of the badge, a buyer knows whether a product is value-for-money or not. Kia cleverly packages all offerings, and in early reviews, I always asked how Kia did it for the price.

No one is arguing 50k is cheap, but Sportage isn’t an entry level car. There is a lot of value not only in the metalwork and technology, but in the warranty and aftersales.

10: Warranty

7 years warranty is standard with unlimited k’s for private buyers.

This stroke of genius was close to Damien Meredith’s heart. He said that it gave buyers permission to enter the showroom, and it paid off. It surely is one of the reasons the Korean company is number 3, ahead of Ford, VW, Mitsubishi and Subaru. Interestingly, Honda, once an Australian staple, has sold 12,179 to October and is way off being in the top 10. VW is number 10, selling 24,842 vehicles for to October, with Kia moving 66,580 units for the same period. Toyota is number 1 with 194,669, then Mazda with 79,669.

Conclusion:

While much of this has to do with delivery and availability in supply chains, Kia has been trending upwards for a decade. They’re doing something right.

Sportage SX+ comes in 3 driveline options, with our test car being the SX+ diesel AWD

2022 Kia Sportage SX+

Price: $49,990
Engine: 2.0 turbo diesel
Power: 137kW / 416Nm
Econ: 6.3L/100k
C02: 163g/k
Trans: 8-speed auto

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