Photo: Kia
The Kia Sportage, a name which reminds us of a dull compact SUV from the 1990s, and one which in our opinion should have been changed, now sits on the back of Kia’s latest and most advanced compact SUV ever.
The new Sportage has already been on sale for a while now, with decent market success. However, it has now received the a considerable power boost, while retaining the same 2.0-liter CRDi engine, with an ‘R’ added to the end - only available on the new top trim level, called KX-4.
The engine boasts a maximum power figure of 181 hp, as well as 383 Nm of torque, driving all four wheels via either a manual or automatic six-speed gearbox. The CRDi ‘R’ engine offers up its maximum torque over a wide rev range, from 1,800 rpm to 2,500 rpm, ensuring the elasticity of the engine, as well as a 9.4 second dash from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) - a bit slow, if you ask us, considering the Sportage’s small size and what sounds like a very pokey diesel engine.
Trim-wise, the KX-4 gets lots of standard-fit features, including full leather upholstery, 18-inch alloy wheels, privacy glass, seven-inch touchscreen satellite navigation system, automatic Xenon lights and wipers, panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, heated front and rear seats, cruise control, iPod connectivity, colour reversing camera and a seven-speaker stereo complete with external amplifier and, of course, a subwoofer in the trunk.
If you are interested in buying a KX-4 spec Sportage, one with manual transmission will set you back £27,195, which is almost £10,000 more than the base model. However, considering how much kit is offered with the trim level, and factoring in the new powerful engine, it is, overall, a good deal.
The engine boasts a maximum power figure of 181 hp, as well as 383 Nm of torque, driving all four wheels via either a manual or automatic six-speed gearbox. The CRDi ‘R’ engine offers up its maximum torque over a wide rev range, from 1,800 rpm to 2,500 rpm, ensuring the elasticity of the engine, as well as a 9.4 second dash from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) - a bit slow, if you ask us, considering the Sportage’s small size and what sounds like a very pokey diesel engine.
Trim-wise, the KX-4 gets lots of standard-fit features, including full leather upholstery, 18-inch alloy wheels, privacy glass, seven-inch touchscreen satellite navigation system, automatic Xenon lights and wipers, panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, heated front and rear seats, cruise control, iPod connectivity, colour reversing camera and a seven-speaker stereo complete with external amplifier and, of course, a subwoofer in the trunk.
If you are interested in buying a KX-4 spec Sportage, one with manual transmission will set you back £27,195, which is almost £10,000 more than the base model. However, considering how much kit is offered with the trim level, and factoring in the new powerful engine, it is, overall, a good deal.
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