We typically consider alternative as a great factor, however it may be overwhelming.
Kia provides a whopping 11 choices in its Sportage SUV line-up, break up throughout 4 trim ranges, three engines, three transmissions, and each front- and all-wheel drive. Figuring out the best way to spec your Sportage isn’t any easy job.
The one-from-range-topping SX+ 1.6T on take a look at right here presents as an interesting possibility. It comes with loads of luxuries just like the flagship GT-Line, however undercuts it based mostly on worth.
It additionally contains a highly effective turbocharged engine, which packs extra of a punch than the entry-level 2.0-litre engine… for a worth, in fact.
Is that this the proper mixture of substances to create the very best Sportage?
How a lot does the Kia Sportage SX+ 1.6T AWD price?
The Sportage has not too long ago been hit with a $350 worth rise in keeping with the broader Kia vary. On the again of that, the vary kicks off at $32,795 earlier than on-roads for the S 2.0 FWD handbook and extends to $52,720 earlier than on-roads for the GT-Line 2.0D AWD computerized.
Our 2023 Kia Sportage SX+ 1.6T AWD computerized tester is priced from $43,850 earlier than on-roads, making it simply shy of $6000 inexpensive than the equal GT-Line. There’s no equal beneath it within the vary; the 1.6T engine is barely supplied on the SX+ and GT-Line.
The Sportage competes in one in all Australia’s most crowded and standard segments, so there’s no scarcity of rivals.
Over at Hyundai, the Tucson Elite 1.6T AWD lists for $43,900 earlier than on-roads, and options the identical powertrain because the Sportage, whereas the Toyota RAV4 GXL AWD Hybrid will set you again $45,600 earlier than on-roads.
The brand new Nissan X-Path ST-L 2WD five-seater is priced at $43,190 earlier than on-roads, and the Mitsubishi Outlander Aspire 2WD seven-seater is priced at $43,240 earlier than on-roads.
2023 Kia Sportage pricing:
- Sportage S 2.0 FWD handbook: $32,795
- Sportage S 2.0 FWD computerized: $34,795
- Sportage SX 2.0 FWD handbook: $35,350
- Sportage SX 2.0 FWD computerized: $37,350
- Sportage S 2.0D AWD computerized: $40,195
- Sportage SX+ 2.0 FWD computerized: $41,850
- Sportage SX 2.0D AWD computerized: $42,750
- Sportage SX+ 1.6T AWD computerized: $43,850
- Sportage SX+ 2.0D AWD computerized: $47,250
- Sportage GT-Line 1.6T AWD computerized: $49,720
- Sportage GT-Line 2.0D AWD computerized: $52,720
All costs exclude on-road prices
What’s the Kia Sportage SX+ 1.6T AWD like on the within?
No matter which trim you go for, the Sportage has a spacious and versatile inside.
It’s meaningfully larger and extra usable than its predecessor, and comfortably had area for 4 adults, two units of golf golf equipment, and a weekend’s value of provides throughout our time behind the wheel.
With a 12.3-inch central show and a wing-shaped dashboard impressed by the EV6 flagship, the cabin has loads of showroom enchantment. The leather-based seats within the SX+ additionally ship an upmarket really feel, though the fundamental driver show appears previous hat.
Kia has introduced a Casio watch to an iPad struggle, and it stinks of penny pinching when you think about the considerably cheaper Seltos contains a absolutely digital driver show from one trim stage above base.
The Sportage options a wonderful driving place. The leather-trimmed seats supply loads of assist, and there’s sufficient adjustment to accomodate tall or brief drivers. Even after three hours behind the wheel I used to be feeling recent.
All-round imaginative and prescient is respectable, however the blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert nonetheless come in useful given the chunky, upswept C-pillar. The GT-Line additionally contains a useful blind-spot digital camera feed that shows within the instrument cluster if the symptoms are activated, which might be good to have in lower-end fashions just like the SX+.
Kia’s infotainment system is superb. The widescreen show appears high-end, with neon purple graphics and fast responses, and the SX+ options manufacturing facility navigation in case you don’t have telephone reception for Apple or Google Maps.
The one actual knock on the system is the very fact the house, again, and menu buttons are fairly a stretch from the driving force’s seat – and Kia nonetheless doesn’t supply wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on its flagship infotainment system.
Sitting beneath the widescreen infotainment system is a slim, matte touchscreen that includes a row of operate buttons able to controlling both the air-conditioning or the infotainment system.
It’s a intelligent design that’s neater than a stack of contact buttons or controls buried within the infotainment system, and has additionally allowed the design workforce to make the cabin look clear and easy. Right here’s hoping the remainder of the market takes notice.
There’s an abundance of storage areas across the cabin, with two cupholders, an honest area beneath the dashboard, a deep central bin, and door bins with area for giant water bottles.
Kia has opted for a mix of USB-A and USB-C plugs up entrance, together with the usual wi-fi charger.
The Sportage has acres of area within the rear. Full-sized adults will be capable of sit behind full-sized adults, and headroom is a lot better than you’d anticipate of a automobile with what appears like a sloping roofline.
There’s a fold-down central armrest with cupholders, together with rear vents, two rear USB-C ports, and a 12V outlet on the base of the transmission tunnel.
Boot area is a claimed 543 litres with the rear seats in place, increasing to 1829L with them folded.
It’s a broad, sensible place to retailer your stuff, with a wide-opening powered tailgate, 12V outlet, and distant releases for the rear seats.
Beneath the ground is a full-sized spare wheel.
What’s beneath the bonnet?
Energy within the Sportage on take a look at comes from a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine making 132kW and 265Nm.
A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is normal, as is all-wheel drive. This engine is elective on the SX+, and is normal on the range-topping GT-Line.
Claimed gas economic system is 7.2 litres per 100km, we noticed 7.9L/100km over every week with a robust skew to freeway driving.
The gas tank holds 54L, and the petrol Sportage runs on 91 RON common unleaded.
How does the Kia Sportage SX+ 1.6T AWD drive?
The 1.6T needs to be essentially the most interesting engine within the Sportage vary on paper, with strong outputs and efficiency pedigree from its use in Kia GT and Hyundai N Line merchandise – in apply, it’s much less convincing than the bottom petrol and range-topping diesel.
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Sportage SX+ 2.0D AWD proven
The twin-clutch transmission is responsible for a few of the awkwardness. It may be a bit jumpy off the mark, and infrequently will get caught between first and second gears on mild throttle inputs.
When you’re up and working, it doesn’t shift as quick because the class-leading unit in Volkswagen Group merchandise, and could be clunky on downshifts whenever you demand a number of efficiency in a rush.
It’s positively punchier than the bottom engine, particularly when it’s on the boil, however it doesn’t make the Sportage into an overgrown Cerato GT. Get into its energy band and it will get a transfer on however the diesel packs extra of a punch low within the rev vary, and it sounds and feels a bit strained on the prime finish.
For those who actually can’t wrap your head across the thought of diesel, and the bottom engine doesn’t have sufficient punch for you, it fills that hole. However it doesn’t actually stand alone as a compelling various to both of them, which is disappointing.
It’s much more disappointing when you think about the remainder of the Sportage is properly sorted.
The steering is mild round city, so the automobile is simple to put in tight areas, and the experience has been tuned with a concentrate on consolation. On 19-inch alloy wheels it does a wonderful job retaining pimply metropolis streets outdoors, and floats properly over potholes and pace bumps.
Smaller-wheeled, inexpensive variants are extra comfy once more, however even the close-to-range-topping SX+ strikes a pleasant steadiness between experience and dealing with.
Excessive-speed crests and dips are nonetheless dealt with in a single neat motion, there’s no awkward bobbing or heaving, regardless of the marginally extra compliant tune. It’s spectacular.
Street noise is properly contained, even on coarse-chip surfaces, and the engine settles down properly at a 100km/h cruise.
Provided that you’re hustling alongside does it really feel a bit free, however that isn’t actually the purpose of a household SUV just like the Sportage anyway.
The Sportage options the identical lane-keeping and lane-centring help methods rolling out elsewhere within the Hyundai and Kia Group.
The previous pushes again to the centre of the lane should you drift onto the white traces, the latter is extra hands-on and can actively comply with curves within the highway.
The lane-keeping system is useful, particularly should you’re spending lengthy durations of time on the freeway, however the lane-centring is much too intrusive for my style. Some members of the CarExpert workforce love the system, others immediately attain for the button to change it off.
Though lane-keeping defaults to on, the lane-centring stays off when you’ve toggled it utilizing the steering-wheel mounted button. Good.
Additionally good is the very fact Kia hasn’t fitted the infuriating pace restrict warning system that now bings and bongs at you should you drift over the restrict within the newest Seltos.
What do you get?
Sportage SX+ highlights embrace:
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- ‘Design Sort B’ exterior physique design
- Matte plastic wheel arch mouldings and bumper trim
- Gloss black roof rails
- Gloss black facet mirrors
- LED headlights (reflector-type)
- LED tail lights w/ incandescent indicator and cease lights
- Arms-free energy tailgate
- Privateness glass
- 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- ‘Primary’ digital instrument cluster with 4.2-inch LCD show
- DAB+ digital radio
- Sounds of Nature
- Wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- 8-speaker Harmon Kardon premium sound system
- Twin-zone local weather management
- Paddle shifters
- Keyless entry with push-button begin
- Electrochromic rear-view mirror
- Smooth-touch door armrests and entrance door higher
- Premium weave sample dashboard garnish
- Entrance headrest coat hangers
- Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
- Quilted synthetic leather-based upholstery
- 8-way energy drivers seat with 2-way energy lumbar
- Heated entrance seats
Is the Kia Sportage protected?
The Kia Sportage has a five-star ANCAP security score, based mostly on exams carried out by Euro NCAP in July 2022.
It scored 87 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 87 per cent for little one occupant safety, 66 per cent for weak highway consumer safety, and 74 per cent for security help.
Normal security tools contains:
- AEB with pedestrian/bike owner/junction help
- Blind-spot help
- Rear cross-traffic help
- Lane maintain help
- Lane Comply with Help
- Clever pace restrict help
- Adaptive cruise management (N/A handbook)
- Reversing digital camera
- Rear parking sensors
- Entrance-centre airbag
Sportage GT-Line provides:
- Encompass-view cameras
- Blind-spot view monitor
- Reverse AEB
- Distant Good Park Help (diesel solely)
How a lot does the Kia Sportage SX+ 1.6T AWD price to run?
The Sportage has a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee like the broader Kia vary.
Upkeep is required each 12 months or 10,000km – whichever comes first. The turbo petrol has shorter intervals than the bottom petrol and the diesel, which permit for 15,000km between visits.
The primary seven providers will set you again a mixed $3988 utilizing Kia capped-price servicing, which is kind of costly within the scheme of issues.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Kia Sportage SX+ 1.6T AWD
The strengths of the Kia Sportage shine via within the SX+, however we’d keep away from the 1.6-litre turbocharged engine.
It provides extra punch than the bottom 2.0L however the best way it delivers its efficiency is uninspiring, it requires extra common upkeep, and the dual-clutch transmission could be awkward.
For many day-to-day duties, you will get away with the fundamental engine and save a couple of thousand {dollars}. If it’s extra punch you want, the diesel is a torquey little unit that excels on the open highway.
Select the proper engine and the SX+ is arguably the neatest decide within the sprawling Sportage line-up. It options many of the niceties you’d need from a premium-ish household SUV, however undercuts the flagship GT-Line handsomely on paper.
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