Sportage goes big on hybrid
/New drivetrain first used by sister brand now in Kia’s SUV, for price advantage.
AN update to the Kia Sportage has seen it match employment of a tasty hybrid drivetrain also underpinning its Hyundai equivalent, with price advantage.
Out of three front-drive and three all-wheel-drive versions now introducing, only the cheapest bypasses the petrol-electric drivetrain, which marries a turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol four-cylinder to an electric motor.
Kia initially stated the hybrid powertrain in its use made an optimal combined output of 169kW and 350Nm, so 3kW and 17Nm less than it lends in Tucson, but later amended to state an identical tune to the Hyundai.
With either make the hybrid is estimated to deliver 5.4 litres per 100km in front drive, rising to 5.9L/100km in AWD, and CO2 counts also correlate at 134 grams per kilometre.
The full Sportage line-up starts with a $43,990 pure petrol LX with a 132kW/265Nm 1.6-litre turbo no longer represented in the Tucson, which now kicks in with a 115kW/192Nm 2.0-litre.
The Kia hybrids span three hybrids in front-drive, three in all-wheel-drive, in each case in Light, Earth and X-Line trims, all with a six-speed automatic.
The front-drives are $49,990, $54,990 and $59,990 and the AWDs are $54,990, $59,990 and $64,990.
Kia’s flagship comes in for $7000 less than the most expensive equivalent in the Tucson range. The cheapest of the seven versions of Tucson is $45,990.
The Sportage facelift brings an updated look inside and out, featuring reworked lighting on the front and rear, a revised steering wheel, updated air vents, keyless entry across the range, and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen with both wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto now available across the range.
Since the update is a cosmetic change, the car’s five star ANCAP crash test rating from 2022 remains valid.
Sportage is equipped with driver-assist systems, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with vehicle, pedestrian, and cyclist detection, as well as junction intervention. Safe-exit, lane-keep, and lane-centring assists are also standard.
In supplied comment, Kia NZ managing director Todd McDonald said Sportage has been a strong seller and the updated range will give his Auckland-based operation an opportunity to target a wider array of customers.
“The availability of both front and all-wheel drive systems…is also a significant and attractive point of difference which appeals to customers.
“Furthermore, Sportage stacks up incredibly well and outperforms key competitors in terms of power, torque and towing capacity,” he claimed.
“These are important ‘top of the list’ attributes for many people when considering the purchase of a new vehicle.”
The petrol Sportage has a five-year factory warranty, two years less than the hybrid’s coverage, as well as five-year roadside assist.