The fourth-generation of Kia's best-selling model in the UK, the stylish Sportage crossover, is now available to lease from Nationwide Vehicle Contacts with 18 different variants on offer including, for the first time ever, GT-Line versions that add an even more sporty flourish to the range.
Headed up by the luxurious First Edition model, the new Kia Sportage has been thoroughly revisited by the Kia design teams with the result that the new and updated model offers some major advances in fuel efficiency, comfort, connectivity, convenience and safety - and that is without even mentioning the modern look that it has been given.
The engines of the new Kia Sportage
With the introduction of a 1.6-litre T-GDi (turbocharged gasoline direct injection) unit and a 7DCT (seven-speed dual-clutch automatic) gearbox, courtesy of the new GT-Line models, there are now four engines and three transmissions available. The new engine joins an extensively re-engineered 1.6-litre GDi petrol engine and two 1.7- and 2.0-litre turbodiesel power units that offer improved fuel economy and CO2 reductions of up to 29g/km (meaning that Sportage's loyal legions of business drivers will be able to celebrate significantly lower company car tax.)
All versions powered by the 1.6-litre GDi and 1.7-litre CRDi engines are front-wheel drive and notable by a 'KX' prefix in the model name (except for GT-Line and First Edition versions), while those powered by the 1.6-litre T-GDi unit and the two 2.0-litre CRDi diesels have all-wheel drive.
When it comes to fuel economy and emissions, the four engines available in the previously existing Sportage have been extensively revised to meet EU6 emissions regulations, making them up to 7mpg more economical whilst reducing emissions as much as 29g/km, depending on engines.
The 1.7-litre CRDi is the most popular of the engines when it comes to Sportage drivers, and it is this engine that now gives 7mpg more with emissions reduced by 16g/km with the 2.0-litre CRDi engine with automatic transmission and 134bhp achieving the highest CO2 fall of 29g/km
The new high-performance 1.6-litre T-GDi turbocharged petrol engine delivers excellent efficiency, with fuel economy of more than 37mpg and CO2 figures of 177g/km (manual) and 175g/km (7DCT), while the 2.0-litre diesels now offer more torque across a wider rev range.
Six-speed manual gearboxes come as standard with every model, but the 2.0-litre diesels are available with a six-speed torque converter automatic - which is also a standard feature of the First Edition trim.
The GT-Line models come complete with 7-speed DCT, and intelligent all-wheel-drive is standard on both the 1.6-litre T-GDi and 2.0-litre CRDi versions. For off-road driving, lock mode can be manually selected to give a 50:50 torque split at speeds of up to 25mph with the system linked to Advanced Traction Cornering Control, which monitors road speed, throttle input and steering angle and distributes torque between the left and right wheels to maximise cornering stability.
Connectivity in the new Kia Sportage
Connectivity and advanced driver aids are both a necessity and a pre-requisite in any car these days, and it will come as no surprise to hear that the Sportage is packed with both.
All versions of the Kia Sportage except the entry-level grade have a 7" or 8" touch-screen satellite navigation system linked to Kia Connected Services with TomTom®, complete with full European mapping and detailed traffic, speed camera, weather and local services information.
And when it comes to helping the driver, as we advance up the grades, Speed Limit Information, Lane Keep Assist, High Beam Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking and Blind Spot Detection with Rear Cross Traffic Alert are available accordingly.
Driving the new Kia Sportage
One of the major attraction for drivers of the Kia Sportage has always been the fact that the car is fun to drive, and now thanks to a much stiffer body shell, extensive suspension revisions and a new steering system, the new version of the Sportage is now even more precise and stable on the UK's twisty country roads and more comfortable and refined on highways and motorways.
Featuring McPherson struts in the suspension and Kia's latest rack-mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (R-MDPS) mounted directly to the steering rack, the drive in the Kia Sportage is now guided by sharper responses and greater precision linked to an all-disc, anti-lock braking system (ventilated at the front and solid at the rear), backed up by Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BAS).
Safety on the new Kia Sportage
A number of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are now offered on the Sportage for the first time, all designed to minimise the possibility of an accident.
Top-of-the-range grade 4/KX-4 and First Edition versions are fitted with Autonomous Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Detection and Rear Cross Traffic Alert, while all models from grade 2/KX-2 upwards feature Lane Keep Assist, Speed Limit Information, and a reversing camera integrated with the standard 7" or 8" navigation touch-screen and reversing sensors. The First Edition model also has a Smart Park Assist system to help identify suitable parallel and perpendicular spaces and automatically steer the car into and out of them.
And it almost goes without saying that the new Kia Sportage has earned a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP under the ever-tougher testing regime.
Design of the new Kia Sportage
The new Kia Sportage successfully incorporates the key features of an SUV in a sporty looking design that offers a lot inside too, with flush-fitting fixtures and trim, soft-to-the-touch materials and luxurious detailing.
The five-seat cabin is more spacious thanks to the increase in wheelbase with legroom and headroom front and rear up to 16mm greater, and capacity in the boot increased by 26 litres when all seats are in use up to a total space of 1,480 litres when folded down.
Trims of the new Kia Sportage
"All versions of the all-new Sportage are comprehensively equipped and feature an extensive package of comfort, convenience and safety items which becomes progressively more luxurious with every step up the range."
There are 6 trims available: Grades 1-4, GT-Line and First Edition
Grade 1/KX-1 is entry level, and features as standard:
- 16" alloy wheels and all-round disc brakes
- Black diamond-mesh grille with chromed surround
- Front foglights
- LED daytime running lamps
- Cornering lights
- Chrome-coated belt-line mouldings
- Smart black cloth upholstery with a grey headlining
- Electrically adjustable door mirrors
- Leather-trimmed steering wheel and gearshifter
- All-round electric windows
- Air conditioning
- DAB radio with Bluetooth (with music streaming), USB and AUX ports
- 12-volt power outlet in the front and rear
- Trailer Stability Assist
- Hill-Start Assist
- Downhill Brake Control
- Cruise Control with speed limiter.
Grade 2/KX-2 upgrades with:
- 17" alloys
- Body-coloured exterior handles with chrome inserts
- High-gloss paint on the front grille
- 7" touch-screen navigation system with integrated reversing camera and connectivity services
- Roof rails
- Privacy glass on the rear side windows and tailgate
- Black premium cloth upholstery with powered driver's seat lumbar adjustment
- Electrically folding and heated door mirrors with LED indicators
- Reversing sensors
- Automatic lights and wipers
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Dual automatic air conditioning with Automatic windscreen de-fog system
- Cooled glovebox
- Lane-Keep Assist
- Automatic high-beam assist
- Speed limit information functions.
Grade 3/KX-3 adds in:
- 19" alloys
- Front wiper de-icer
- Black leather upholstery
- High-gloss black centre fascia
- Rear USB charging point
- Heated front and outer rear seats
- 4.2" LCD TFT colour information display
- 8” satellite navigation screen
- JBL® premium sound system with sub-woofer, external amp and front centre speaker.
With Grade 4/KX-4 you get all the above plus:
- Bi-xenon adaptive headlights with automatic levelling and washers
- Front parking sensors
- Smart key entry system
- Engine start/stop button
- Stainless steel door scuff plates
- Panoramic sunroof
- LED rear combination lamps
- 10-way power adjustable driver
- Eight-way adjustable front passenger ventilated seats
- Heated steering wheel
- Autonomous Emergency Braking
- Blind Spot Detection with Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
First Edition is distinguished by:
- Smart Parking Assist system
- Smart powered tailgate
- Wireless mobile phone charger
- Metallic paint in either Fusion White or Phantom Black
- ‘First Edition' decals
- Stone grey two-tone leather upholstery.
GT-Line is the ultimate sporty touch and sits in between Grades 2 & 3 with:
- Exclusive 19" alloys
- LED rear combination lamps
- Front parking sensors
- Heated front and outer rear seats
- 4.2" TFT instrument cluster
- DCT gearbox with paddle shifters
There is also a standard GT-Line Exterior Styling Pack available that adds ice-cube LED front foglights, a high-gloss black ‘blade mesh’ grille, dual exhausts, satin chrome belt-line mouldings and door sills and silver front and rear skid plates; and a standard Interior Styling Pack that introduces black leather upholstery with grey inserts, a high-gloss black centre fascia, a black headliner, stainless steel pedals and a D-shaped leather-covered sports steering wheel.
18 different versions of the new Kia Sportage are available to lease from Nationwide Vehicle Contracts. Contact one of our customer service representatives to find out which one is best for you.
Originally posted: 24th February 2016
