Kia Sportage - repeat?

We cannot avoid this comparison. Whether jokingly or maliciously - due to a different origin - the new Kia Sportage to some extent resembles the Porsche Macan. Does he also know how to drive? And will he repeat the success of his predecessor?

Winter in Barcelona does not indulge. Leaves are falling from the trees, residents are putting on warm jackets, and the temperature drops to 17 degrees Celsius. Having escaped to these parts from our windy, cold and gray land, we immediately feel better. And because we are so comfortable here, there is a risk that we will be delighted with everything that we see. Therefore, o. Kii Sportage we thought when it was much cooler - at night. Is the assessment of the new Korean SUV so steep?

"When emotions subside..."

All around a new look Kii Sportage there is a lively discussion. The harmonious, attention-grabbing previous generation has given way to a much more expressive one. And when you decide to move forward, you must be ready for both praise and criticism. Placing the headlights at hood level and separating them from the grille is too difficult for some. However, this is in line with the new design guidelines for Korean cars - they should be more massive, with pronounced sportiness. They also have a sportier ride, but more on that later. 

You can judge for yourself how it looks. However, there is a certain probability that your first judgment will be revised with the appearance on our roads of the first models. It can always be associated with the Porsche Macan. Not one hundred percent, but there are some similarities.

Lesser Sorento

We very quickly find ourselves in the interior. Mainly because it is very similar to the Sorento. The quality of the materials used is similar, the stylistic devices are similar, for example, the combination of black leather-like material with silver decor. In the upper part of the cabin, we touch still soft materials, but from below it is already harder. Too bad this better material wasn't used, at least at knee height.

In the interior we can

Look for fabric or eco-leather upholstery. The driver can reach every button on the center console without leaning out of the seat, but on the other hand, the pedals are too close for a driver over 180 cm tall. In addition, the seats are really comfortable; Rear seat passengers won't be disappointed either. 

In the list of equipment, we will see several interesting offers that we would not even dare to ask about before. These include, for example, ventilated seats, a good 320W audio system with 8 speakers from JBL, a wireless phone charger and a USB port in the back. The new Kia Navi System navigation is also interesting, which, using TomTom solutions, connects to the network and informs about traffic jams, speed cameras, weather and allows you to use the Google search engine. Thus, it will be used for 7 years free of charge - neither connection nor card renewal requires additional payments. The Kia Navi system with a 7-inch screen comes standard on the 'L' version, the 'XL' version gets the aforementioned JBL audio system and an 8-inch screen.

The Sportage trunk holds 503 liters with a repair kit and 491 liters with a spare tire. The floor is two-level, and after folding the backs of the rear seats, we get a space with a capacity of 1492 liters.

Keep an eye on your appearance

During the presentation, a statement was made all the time to confirm our belief that this was new. Kia Sportage he looks sporty and the driving style matches that image. It is said that one of the brand's top priorities right now is that every new model should deliver sporty driving pleasure.

In the beginning, we got behind the wheel of one of the weakest versions - 1.6 GDI. This is a gasoline naturally aspirated engine that develops 132 hp. at 6300 rpm and 160 Nm at 4850 rpm. He is not the queen of fast driving, as he develops a maximum of 182 km / h and accelerates to hundreds in 11,5 seconds, but already in Cee'd he boasted a reputation for a trouble-free car. A solid offer to open a price list. 

During testing, we also got to drive a model from the turbocharged GT-line series, the 1.6 T-GDI. The test model has 177 hp. and 265 Nm in the range of 1500-4500 rpm were transmitted to the front axle through a mechanical six-speed gearbox. This version is also available with all-wheel drive and a 7-speed DCT dual clutch transmission. The shift lever travel is quite short, and the gearbox itself is precise. The new Sportage has become tougher to drive. We owe this to a 33 percent increase in body rigidity and a pleasantly tuned suspension that benefits from a multi-link system on the rear axle from the cheapest versions. Stability at higher speeds is supported by a more streamlined body – the drag coefficient is now 0,33. Previously, this value was 0,35. The steering is not very sporty. Yes, the transmission is more direct, but the support dose is quite large. The steering wheel turns with ease, which will be an advantage in parking lots, but does not give the impression of communicating with a fully mechanical system. The power steering module itself was placed directly on the steering column and equipped with a speed adaptation system - the faster we go, the less the supporting force. 

A more streamlined body is the first step towards reducing cabin noise levels. At 120 km/h it is surprisingly quiet. Recently, many manufacturers have adopted unwanted sounds and successfully deal with them. Chassis shrouds are used here, the engine compartment is soundproofed with foam mats, which were also used to line the A-pillars and the lower part of the B, C and D-pillars. 

There were also systems actively influencing security and usability. Safety should be enhanced by modules such as Lane Assist, which recognizes traffic signs, Speed ​​Assist, which warns of approaching cars when leaving a parking space, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert, or Brake Assist, which automatically starts braking in one of three modes. : urban, suburban and pedestrian identification case. As standard, regardless of the equipment version, airbags for the driver and passenger, side and full-size curtains. We also get a downhill assistant at no extra charge.

Another entry?

Kia Sportage the previous generation was a triumph in the market. In terms of sales, it was second only to the Nissan Qashqai. In 2015, 5 of these vehicles were sold, which is about 368% of the Polish market share in the C-SUV segment. Most of them ended up in private hands. Presentations like this one also let us know some of the numbers that characterize the customers of this type of vehicle. So we find out that as many as 13% of buyers chose the 53 GDI engine, 1.6% of them chose a manual transmission and 90% of sales were front-wheel drive versions. The “L” version of the equipment is most often chosen – 85% of buyers answered. It turns out that the "S" offer is a typical bait, designed only to attract customers with a low initial price. This option covered only 59% of customers. 

The same bait now costs PLN 74 in the version with the 990 GDI engine. The additional payment to level “M” is 1.6 6 zlotys. zlotys, and to “L” another 12 thousand. zloty We will get a more powerful petrol unit only at the level of the GT line, but in this case we have a choice: front-wheel drive with a manual gearbox or all-wheel drive with a manual or automatic DCT gearbox. Diesel engines are available in three versions - 1.7 CRDi 115 hp, 2.0 CRDi 136 hp. and 2.0 CRDi 185 hp. We start talking about the Sportage with diesel with PLN 90 in our pocket by choosing the “M” version. A 990-horsepower version is about 136 thousand. PLN is more expensive, but with 14x4 drive. The top-of-the-line diesel engine can be fitted with an automatic transmission for an additional PLN 4 5, although this is a traditional 500-speed gearbox - the same one found in the larger Sorento. The price list for this configuration ends with the richest equipment package “XL”. This is already 6 zlotys, but the list of additional services in this case should not be too long - the vast majority of the necessary options are already on board.

Korea attacks again

Korean brands have been present in European markets for a long time, but since the “renaissance” that followed Kia’s collaboration with Hyundai, they have been attacking competitors from the Old World more and more boldly. Their level is constantly rising, and attractive prices and practically matched equipment options are attracting more and more customers.

The new one seems to be inscribed in the same canon Kia Sportage. It is a pleasure to drive, combines a number of modern technologies and has a distinctive appearance. The manufacturer expects sales growth of 6% this year, and I would not be surprised if this model will significantly help him in this.