By Paul Gover.
The Kia Sportage has been a long-time favourite.
It doesn’t have the instant kudos of a Toyota RAV4, or the Toyota-sized waiting list, but the family-sized Kia has been great buying – and driving – for nearly a decade.
Jumping back into the current car, in semi-premium SX+ specification, is a reminder of how much good work has been done by the South Korean carmaker.
The cabin has quality that would stack up comfortably against a Mercedes-Benz C-Class, with all the luxury stuff you expect despite a price-tag starting below $50,000.
The infotainment screen is big and very smartly integrated into the dashboard, the CarPlay system works with a cable or Bluetooth, and there are air vents, USB ports and even ‘hangers’ for tablets in the back seats.
Going for the SX+ brings keyless entry and start, an electric tailgate, 19-inch allows, fake leather upholstery and heated front seats, as well as Harman Kardon sound.
It’s a great package, although the more ’stuff’ in any car these days the more likelihood there is for a delivery delay, as global microchip supplies are still not back to pre-pandemic levels.
The basics of the Sportage are very good, and a long way down the road from the days when it was a very basic family-mobile.
It looks good, the mechanical package – shared with the Hyundai Tucson – is solid, and it has all the latest safety equipment for a five-star ANCAP rating. Although, it must be said, some of the driver ‘assist’ systems are far too intrusive, and definitely not as refined as the latest Nissan SUVs.
On that front, the latest X-Trail is a touch ahead of the Sportage overall and Nissan is likely to provide a much earlier delivery date.
Kia has done some great local work on the suspension and that gives the Sportage a very plush feel, with good cornering grip and solid braking performance. It’s the sort of thing that makes a very positive difference if you spend any time on country roads.
The performance of the test car, with the 2-litre petrol engine, is fair but not great. Sometimes it is slow to respond, so using the flappy paddles on the six-speed auto is recommended for prompt overtaking or a twisty road.
The towing capacity is only 1650 kilograms, which might turn some people away.
Also on the downside, the headlights are sub-par on high beam and a reminder that South Korean engineers should spend some after-dark time on Australian roads to see what they are missing.
But mostly the Sportage is very good news, a welcome and comfy family car at a reasonable price.
It’s a great pick for families and one of the very best in the huge spread of mid-sized SUVs, definitely worthy of The Tick.
KIA SPORTAGE SX+
Position: family tow machine
Price: from $47,250
Engine: 2-litre petrol
Power: 115kW/192Nm
Transmission: 6-speed auto, front-wheel drive
Plus: comfy cabin, classy quality, smooth drive
Minus: can be dozy, poor high beams, intrusive assistance
THE TICK: still one of the class leaders
Score: 8/10
