Can Kia take out the carsales COTY crown two years in a row? With an all-new platform, new engines and a bold new design, the all-new Sportage has the potential to do just that
- Why is the Kia Sportage a carsales COTY finalist?
- Who will the Kia Sportage appeal to?
- How much does the Kia Sportage cost?
- What have we already said about the Kia Sportage?
- Related: New Kia Sportage arriving this monthRelated: New Kia Sportage line-up locked inRelated: New Kia Sportage ‘must be better’ Related: All-new Kia Sportage unveiled
Why is the Kia Sportage a carsales COTY finalist?
Kia’s product line-up just keeps getting better, and the latest Kia Sportage is setting a new pace. But is it good enough to win carsales Car of the Year for 2021, proudly presented by Bingle?
Now in its fifth generation, the fully redesigned Kia Sportage is built on an all-new platform and its bold new styling lifts it well clear of its cutesy predecessor, pointing the way towards the Korean brand’s future product direction.
The new Sportage launches with three engine options, leaving a hybrid powertrain to follow. All are shared with the new Hyundai Tucson, and the Sportage will stick with its four model grades of S, SX, SX+ and the top-spec GT-Line.
The headline act for the new mid-size SUV is an onslaught of tech-savvy inclusions, most notably class-leading safety equipment such as lane follow assist and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with junction turn assist, as well as car, cyclist and pedestrian recognition and a front centre airbag – all of which should see it stand apart from top-selling rivals such as the Toyota RAV4.
Blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control and an electric park brake are also standard on new Kia Sportage models with an automatic transmission.
Who will the Kia Sportage appeal to?
The appeal of a mid-size SUV like the new Kia Sportage is far-reaching and the product in that segment is prolific and growing, with more than 20 models starting below $60,000.
Myriad variants and options are available to push the envelope well over that price point, if you’re that way inclined.
Spoilt for choice, it’s no surprise that the Kia Sportage is a finalist for the title of the 2021 carsales Car of the Year, proudly presented by Bingle.
The five-seat SUV lends itself to singles or couples lugging a load – think bikes, bags and surfboards – or families with a growing number of child seats at the ready. And let’s not forget empty-nesters who simply love the jacked-up silhouette and versatility an SUV has to offer.
Indeed, with choice across engine, transmission and driveline, as well as the four trim levels, there should be a Kia Sportage model to suit just about everyone.
The model under scrutiny for carsales COTY is the Kia Sportage GT-Line 1.6-litre – the variant Kia Australia predicts will be the volume seller in the range – which is powered by the same 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine (132kW/265Nm) also available in the Hyundai Tucson.
In the Sportage, this engine powers all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Muscular and menacing, the new Sportage is built on Kia’s N3 platform and stands 15mm taller, 10mm wider and 175mm longer than before (with a +85mm wheelbase), for not only a larger silhouette but a more spacious cabin fit for growing family needs.
Its large boot can also handle what most families will throw at it.
Like all new Kia models the new Sportage has undergone a local ride and handling program, assuring drivers the high levels of comfort we’ve come to expect from the popular Korean manufacturer.
How much does the Kia Sportage cost?
Kia hasn’t revealed full pricing for the all-new fifth-generation Kia Sportage line-up as of the publication date for this story.
We do, however, expect to see significant price increases across all four models in the revamped line-up, given it rides on an all-new platform and boasts a generously expanded equipment list.
The outgoing fourth-generation Kia Sportage starts from under $30K and tops out just under $50K, with the volume-selling petrol-powered SX+ priced at $39,790 plus on-road costs. Some models in the new Sportage range are anticipated to rise by up to $4000.
What have we already said about the Kia Sportage?
We’ve taken a close first look at the new Kia Sportage and Alexandra Lawrence came away impressed, declaring it to be “the Korean car-maker’s most advanced mid-size SUV ever”.
She also described as “barely recognisable to the model it replaces” and that it will come with a “clever bag of tricks to show off – at least in the top-spec GT-Line”.
“Smarter and safer with new features, it’s set to send rivals like the Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5 back to the product planning room,” she added.
Last year, the Kia Sorento was the standout performer in carsales’ Car of the Year, proudly presented by Bingle.
This year, the Kia Sportage is lining up as a strong candidate, too, but there’s plenty of work ahead of it and an outstanding field of other finalists in the mix.
Kia Sportage SX+ 1.6T at a glance:Price: TBAEngine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrolOutput: 132kW/265NmTransmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automaticFuel: TBA
CO2: TBA
Related: New Kia Sportage arriving this monthRelated: New Kia Sportage line-up locked inRelated: New Kia Sportage ‘must be better’
Related: All-new Kia Sportage unveiled
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