Kia Sportage 2017: the unloved SUV

Frédéric Mercier

Tuesday, 10 October 2017 08:28

UPDATE
Tuesday, 10 October 2017 08:28

Look at this article

The compact SUV are popular in the country, and automakers are fighting to pick up their share of the cake.

The winners of this category in terms of sales are the Toyota RAV4, the Ford Escape and the Honda CR-V. Three vehicles that are on the market for many moons and have obviously gained the confidence of the public.

Other manufacturers, in contrast, seem unable to attract buyers despite a product yet to be very successful. This is the case of the Kia Sportage.

Kia Sportage 2017

New look, new hope

Reviewed bumper to bumper and the other for the model year 2017, the Sportage has very little to envy to the big names in its class.

Offered at a base price of $ 26 950$, the Sportage made its mark thanks to an extensive standard equipment, including reversing camera, heated front seats and the air conditioner. For less than$ 30,000, you have access to the gear-train full premium.

From 32-450$, the EX version gives even more, with a leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel and a seven-inch screen in the center console. No doubt, Kia is equipment on board his horse of battle.

Kia Sportage 2017

Inside, the presentation is successful. The commands are of a disarming simplicity, both on the dashboard touchscreen to control the infotainment system. In this regard, Kia has lessons to give to many players in the automotive industry.

The trunk is disappointing, however, with a storage space rather limited. Even with the rear seat folded down and the floor is lowered, the 1703 litres available are a far cry from what’s offered by competitors like the RAV4 and the CR-V.

Kia Sportage 2017

Under the hood

The majority of the versions of the Kia Sportage 2017 is animated by a four-cylinder engine of 2.4 liters. With its 181 horsepower and its torque de175 books-walk, he finds himself in the middle of its class. The SUV Korean is also equipped with a direction surprisingly accurate which makes a vehicle much more dynamic than the vast majority of its rivals.

Its fuel consumption of 10.4 L/100 km city and 8.0 L/100 km on the highway there was nothing disastrous, but you can find better in the competition. For a model that you just renew it, we would have expected better.

The model tested in the framework of this chronicle, was, for its part, equipped with the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine offered with the SX. With its 237 horsepower, this version turns out to be the choice of those who want more driving pleasure. Except that at a price that exceeds$ 40,000, you have to want it, its fun to drive!

Kia Sportage 2017

Regardless of the engine, an automatic transmission with six reports, is on the menu. Kia would probably have been able to improve the fuel consumption of the model by opting for a box continuously variable transmission (CVT), but it would have been done at the expense of the driving experience. Question of priorities.

A reputation to change

Last year, despite the arrival of a whole new generation to the Sportage, the sales of the SUV Korean remained very timid in the country. For a Sportage, it has sold 4 Ford Escape to the country…

And yet, when we look at its technical specifications and its price range, force is to admit that the new Sportage has just about everything to succeed.

So why the success of the Sportage remains-he also mixed? Mainly because the name Kia still has a way to go before earning the trust of drivers here. The mentalities are slow to change, and for many people, Kia is still synonymous of reliability, deficient, and products that are aging poorly.

For the long-term reliability, it will be necessary to give the time to the current models to make their mark. Except that, looking at the initial quality of the products, let’s say that it is pretty well gone.

Last year, the new Sportage is found at the top of the rankings of J. D. Power on initial quality. Based on the number of issues listed per vehicle, the annual analysis shows the path traveled by Kia for the past few years.

The other issue with the Sportage is that it is bathed in an environment of excessively competitive. It has been said earlier, the new generation of the SUV has little to envy to its main rivals. Except that aside from a few bells and whistles offered with the equipment, he would not be apart no more.

Rest that those who take the time to get in their Kia dealer to take a look at the Sportage will discover a SEEN of quality. Another.

Kia Sportage 2017

Technical data sheet

Name : Kia Sportage 2017
Base price: 26 950$
Model tested: SX Turbo
Price of model tested: 41 450$
Configuration : Vehicle with two or four-wheel drive with engine at the front
Basic mechanical: four-cylinder Engine of 2.4 L
Power/torque: 181 hp/ 175 lb-ft
Mechanical optional: four-cylinder Engine turbocharged 2.0 L
Power/torque: 237 hp/ 260 lb-ft
Transmission : Automatic six-speed
Towing capacity: 2000 lbs
Fuel consumption announced (FWD): 10.4 L/100 km (city), 8.0 L/100 km (highway)
Warranty basic : 5 years/100 000 km
Competition: Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape, Mazda CX-5

Rating (out of 10)

Fuel consumption : 7
Equipment : 9
Price : 8
Style : 7
Comfort (front) : 8
Comfort (rear) : 7
Road holding : 7
Performance : 8
Storage space : 7
Overall rating : 8

Forces

Good equipment
Warranty tempting
Infotainment system is very user-friendly

Weaknesses

Fuel consumption disappointing
Cargo space limited