By Sala Masindane

Kia has been knocking the balls out the park with their newest SUV releases and the new Sportage is definitely one of them. The Korean-based manufacturer has added a diesel model in the already great Sportage line up.

Bold exterior

The newcomer sports a bold and futuristic new look that is accentuated by a prominent mesh grille flanked by boomerang-shaped LED daytime running lights. Standing out its bold and daring design, it undoubtedly catches the eye of those who came across it.

Premium interior

Inside, the five-seater GT-Line Plus grade boasts a large, integrated driver-focused curved touchscreen which is both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible. Other notable features on our test car include a leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel, wireless charging, and an optional panoramic sunroof.

The cabin is premium, modern and a pleasant place to be in. The 12.3-inch curved display for the infotainment has good graphics and is intuitive to operate. On the practical side, there’s sufficient space for five passengers, a decently sized boot space of 591 litres (extendable to 1,780 litres when rear seats are down) and ample connectivity points.

Performance

Under the hood, the Sportage is powered by a 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine that produces 100 kW and 320 Nm. Power is fed to the front wheels via a seven-speed DCT gearbox. Kia claims combined fuel consumption of 4.9 l/100 km.

Drive impressions

The 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine is a welcomed addition to the lineup. The higher torque from the diesel engine adds extra oomph for daily driving and added assurance for towing. Naturally, the Sportage is comfortable and smooth during the daily commutes. Our stint yielded a fantastic fuel consumption of 6.2l/100km, slightly higher than the claimed 4.8l/100km, but with mostly city driving. The Sportage 1.6 CRDi GT-Line Plus is priced at R783,995.