By Roger St. Pierre – 28 August
2014
Accounting for a quarter of all
the Korean company’s burgeoning sales in the UK and Ireland, Kia's
Sportage crossover has written a success story all down the line.
Now this automotive best-seller
opens a new chapter with an expanded 16-model range, new safety and
infotainment features and major equipment and styling upgrades.
Combining the rugged stance of a
compact SUV with the sleeker profile of a coupé, the bodywork has been subtly
re-styled while premium-car touches have been added to its stylish and spacious
interior. However, poor rearward visibility remains a de-merit.
Beneath the bonnet there’s now an
even wider choice of power plants in the 16-model range, with a 2.0-litre 134
bhp engine now offered with the entry level all-wheel
drive KX-1 trim grade, while the 1.7-litre 114 bhp turbo-diesel is now an
option with the two-wheel drive range topping 4 grade.
For 2014 the range is based on
five trim designations, giving buyers the opportunity to virtually customise
their vehicle.
There are now new-style 16, 17
and 18-inch alloys available for all trim grades and, I’m glad to report that
not only do they come with locking wheel nuts but there’s a full-size spare and
a tyre pressure monitoring system comes as standard.
Sportage has found a ready market
among the caravan community, so all versions are now fitted with a clever
trailer stability assist system. This works through the electronic stability
control device and continually monitors and controls the vehicle’s stance,
gently applying a little braking force when needed to bring things under
control.
Top end Sportages now have Kia’s
flex steer system, which allows three different levels of power assistance, controlled
by a button on the steering wheel. The driver can stay in normal mode or
increase assistance for effortless parking or decrease it to give a more direct
feel when pressing on.
To make this very sensible car
truly fit for purpose there’s a host of storage spaces dotted around
the cabin. New for this year are a removable tray within the centre console and
handily illuminated cup holders.
Six-speed manual or auto
gearboxes ensure plenty of get up and go while combined cycle fuel consumption
ranges from 44 to 53 mpg, dependent on model. Expect to reach 62 mph from a
standing start in around 10 seconds while top speeds range from 107 to 121-mph,
dependent on model.
The Sportage is manufactured at
Kia’s ultra-modern Zilina factory at the foot of Slovakia’s Tatra Mountains, a
region redolent with the kind of demanding driving conditions under which this
car thrives.
On the road prices run from
£17,500 to £29,505 and include Kia’s generous seven-year warranty, which make
it highly competitive against its closest competitor, the Nissan Qashqai.
No comments:
Post a Comment