Here are 5 things that you need to know about the all-new Kia Sportage
When Kia introduced the Sportage a few years ago it was greeted with open arms. The company started head hunting top German engineers and designers and the results were fruitful. Kia is now one of the most popular automotive brands in South Africa. Since its inception though, the Sportage has been greeted with some stiff competition. Can this new model put up the fight? Here is what you need to know.
The design
Kia is globally renowned for its leadership in design, and with the all-new Sportage, the brand once again establishes new design boundaries and dramatically sets the tone for the next generation family. Kia’s new design language – Opposites United – is at the core of the all-new Sportage, influencing every aspect of its appearance and character.
A result of a collaborative effort between Kia’s main global design network in Korea, Germany, the US and China, led by Kia’s Senior Vice President and Head of Global Design Centre, Karim Habib, Sportage doesn’t simply take one step forward in design language, but moves on to a completely different level in the SUV class.
We admire the bold design, especially that of the front which features unique LED elements, strange headlights and a large grille. It’s eye-catching, daring and sporty, it is unmistakably Kia. Paying homage to its sports utility heritage, the side profile of the all-new Sportage creates a stirring road presence with taut lines cutting across clean but refined body surfaces that seamlessly blend the contrasting volumes together.
The all-new Sportage maintains its strong road presence at the rear with a muscular, swooping fastback design that flows into the rear lamps, which have been crafted to give the impression that they cut into the body with fine precision.
The interior
The interior of the all-new Sportage plays with boldness in character, softness in qualities and innovation in technology, creating a driver-oriented space that is truly state-of-the-art. The cabin has been carefully crafted to fuse breakthrough technology with luxury features, premium materials and modern style.
At the centre of the all-new Sportage’s modern cabin sits a beautifully sculpted integrated curved display with a slim touchscreen pad and finely detailed air vents. The curved display sweeps across the front of the interior, giving the cockpit dramatic width and depth. The high-tech 12.3-inch touchscreen acts as the nerve centre for driver and passenger connectivity, functionality and usability needs, designed for highly intuitive and soft-to-touch ease-of-use
The dimensions
The all-new Sportage’s intelligent interior space, which combines practicality, functionality and versatility, is underpinned by a compact wheelbase of 2,680mm, a width of 1,855mm, length of 4,515mm and height of 1,650mm. This has resulted in a package that is class-leading for legroom, headroom and luggage capacity. The all-new Sportage offers 996 mm legroom for second-row passengers and 1,000mm headroom, while luggage capacity is 591 litres.
Performance
Aligned with the evolution of the Sportage nameplate as one of Kia’s flagship products, the all-new Sportage is offered, for the first time, only with a 1,6-litre T-GDi petrol engine, and exclusively with an advanced version of Kia’s 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT). The turbocharged engine endows the all-new Sportage with a hearty balance of power and performance, while the DCT aids in delivering exceptional fuel consumption.
The engine delivers 132kW of power with 265Nm of torque. It allows the Sportage to reach the 100 km/h mark in 8,8 seconds.
Also worth a look: the Kia Seltos and the Kia Sportage.
FAQ
Q: What does the new Kia Sportage cost in South Africa?
The all-new Kia Sportage starts from around R589,995 for the base 2.0 MPI model, while the top-spec 1.6T GT-Line AWD will set you back approximately R749,995, making it a solid mid-range SUV option in the South African market.
Q: Is the new Kia Sportage worth buying?
Absolutely, the new Sportage offers excellent value with its bold design, comprehensive warranty, and competitive pricing that undercuts many German rivals by R50,000 to R100,000 while delivering similar features and build quality.
Q: What engine options are available in the new Kia Sportage?
The new Sportage comes with three engine choices: a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol producing 115kW, a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol with 132kW, and a 2.0-litre CRDi diesel delivering 136kW, all paired with either manual or automatic transmissions.
Q: How does the new Kia Sportage compare to the Toyota RAV4?
The Sportage offers better value than the RAV4, costing roughly R80,000 less while providing more standard features, a longer warranty period, and more adventurous styling, though the RAV4 maintains stronger resale values.
Q: What warranty does the new Kia Sportage come with?
Kia backs the new Sportage with an industry-leading 5-year/150,000km warranty plus a 7-year/200,000km engine warranty, which absolutely smashes most competitors who only offer 3-year coverage.
Should You Buy It?
Yes, you should definitely consider the new Kia Sportage. The best mid-size SUV under R750,000 in South Africa is the Sportage 1.6T GT-Line at R749,995, which delivers premium features, striking looks, and Kia's bulletproof warranty without the German premium price tag. It's the smart money choice for families wanting SUV practicality, modern tech, and peace of mind, plus it looks properly cool parked at the local shopping centre. The only reason to skip it would be if you absolutely must have a Toyota badge for resale value, but honestly, you'll save so much upfront that it won't matter.
