Just as Chinese brands are currently disrupting the automotive segment, it was the Koreans that wore that hat back then, shaking things up that were somewhat stagnating and getting all the legacy players off their laurels and back on their feet once again to stay ahead. Decades on, the Koreans have stepped up and earned
Just as Chinese brands are currently disrupting the automotive segment, it was the Koreans that wore that hat back then, shaking things up that were somewhat stagnating and getting all the legacy players off their laurels and back on their feet once again to stay ahead.
Decades on, the Koreans have stepped up and earned a seat at the legacy table, what with their futuristic designs, practical interiors and sublime refinement.
It was not an easy journey earning that seat though. Anytime something new enters the fray, initial impressions will always be one of caution and apprehension. It was the same when Kia entered the Malaysian market around 30 years ago.
The products had everything you would need in a car. Granted, they were not the best, instead representing more of a value proposition against the older Protons. However, kudos to Kia for keeping its head down and evolving fast.
Unsurprisingly, the brand is now the eight largest globally and is banking on an official presence in Malaysia to continue growth in this key region.
What has it got up its sleeves?
Its best-seller globally is the Kia Sportage, a familiar model to Malaysians and one-half of the duo Kia will be relying on for sales, together with the new Kia Carnival.
Now in its fifth generation, the locally-assembled Sportage has largely gone under the radar in the ultra-competitive, cut-throat C-segment SUV arena. In an already crowded sea of Honda CR-Vs, Mazda CX-5s and Nissan X-Trails, things just got chock full with the arrival of the middle kingdom players such as the Chery Tiggo 7, Haval H6, Jaecoo J7 and erm Proton X70.
That is quite unfortunate as the Sportage possesses the right credentials for a solid SUV. It is spacious, comfortable, well-equipped and practical. Its only downside could be that it does all that without any fanfare or flashiness. One could argue that pragmatism should be the default setting for an SUV but alas, the onslaught of Chinese options has realigned the segment’s take on gimmicks and flashy features.
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Additionally, the pricing is working against it as well. There are four variants and pictured here is the Kia Sportage 2.0 High, priced at RM 138,800. It might not seem like much but there are some more affordable compelling options that either have brand recognition on their side or better features.
Things aren’t looking good then?
Contrary to the slightly bleak outlook painted above, the Sportage confidently carries one of Kia’s signature USPs, design. On that aspect alone, it stands out in a crowd of mundane mobiles.
Dominating the front end are the boomerang DRLs surrounding the trapezoidal headlights. The boldness might not be everyone’s cup of tea but it certainly stands out. Even the large grille appears a little too big but trust us, the more time you spend studying it, the more it grows on you.
The same cannot be said of the rear though. Not that it is hideous in any way, far from it, it just looks as exciting as watching paint dry. Completing the exterior are those 17-inch dual-tone wheels, wrapped in chunky 65-profile rubbers. Not only does the huge side-profile add to comfort, it also lends the Sportage a very distinct 90s SUV side profile that we absolutely love.
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It’s what’s on the inside that counts.
One of the pressing issues with modern cars is the glut of large infotainment screens. One on hand, they are distracting but the crux of the matter is that they sell because car buyers have been brainwashed into thinking that bigger screens are a necessity, so much so that the first thing most of us notice are the screens.
Inside the Sportage, the first thing you notice is the tiny 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment unit. The large acreage of gloss black surround does not help, serving only to emphasise the smaller screen. That said, the system is well-equipped with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay if not a little difficult to navigate.
Did we mention there are physical buttons for just about everything? In fact, the smaller infotainment screen surrounded by the physical knobs and buttons gives the dash a very vintage, double-DIN head-unit feel.
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The air-conditioning, audio and drive mode selector are all controlled physically. Not only are they safer to use, the ergonomics are also spot on and very intuitive. This is something only a seasoned carmaker gets right, honed over years and something the Chinese brands still struggle with.
Owners will also appreciate the sizeable cubby holes in the centre console and louvres at the rear of the front headrests, perfect for slotting in your phone or tablet on long journeys.
And then we touch on the space. The Sportage has immense rear legroom with an almost-flat floor, perfect for ingress and egress. Rear passengers will also appreciate the Type-C USB charging ports on the rear of the front seats. Even the boot space is generous.
Is it as spacious as a CR-V though? No. But it does come close and the refinement, especially in fit and finish, is close to the segment’s benchmark. The cabin is cosy as well, impressively buffering wind and tyre noise for a quiet ride.
Downsides? There are a few being a European product, many features such as heated seats and steering are omitted here. However, the buttons for these functions are replaced with unsightly large blanks.
Then we come to the digital instrument cluster. Lacking the full fat digital version leaves us with one that is limited in layout. While there is a small 4.2-inch colour TFT-LCD multifunction display in the middle, the speedo and tacho would have been better off remaining analogue.
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That said, the interior has everything you will need in a modern SUV and they are exactly where you need them to be. It is just not the most exciting.
Does it go fast?
No, it does not. The 2.0-litre Smartstream makes just a 154 PS and 192 Nm of torque. There is a six-speed automatic sending it all to the front wheels.
For town use, the grunt is sufficient but as we found out, a full load of four adults with some overnight bags on the highway gives away how underpowered it is.
Getting past cruising speeds takes quite a prod of the throttle and some time. Further adding to this woe is a lack of paddle shifters that would have definitely eased downshifts to build speed.
Putting aside the lack of grunt, the ride comfort is magnificent. The MacPherson struts and multi-links soak up anything Malaysian roads can throw at them, no doubt aided tremendously by the 65-profile tyres dampening out any imperfections on the road.
There are no complaints in terms of handling in general, sitting right in the sweet spot between soft and sporty. While it can track confidently enough, the steering is overly light, feeling almost disconnected from the front.
Lastly, the active cruise control could use a little more calibration when moving from a standstill. Anytime you gently prod the throttle to get it moving once the car in front has moved, the system accelerates hard before slowing down. For the first few times, that hard pull was alarming enough to not use the feature anymore.
So, where does it stand?
The Sportage is perhaps what the segment has been missing for a while, an honest-to-goodness, no-frills, spacious SUV with all the equipment and features relevant on today’s roads.
However, gimmicks appear to be a deal-breaker these days and in that regards, the Sportage has no ace up its sleeves. We would argue that it does not need one with its solid hand but buyers have been spoilt with gimmicks and toys. Plus, the pricing is on the steep side.
If you are looking for a C-segment SUV, we implore you to check out the Sportage. It is a refreshing back-to-basics take that could just be a dark horse in your SUV hunt.
Specifications of the Kia Sportage 2.0 High
Engine: 2.0-litre, Smartstream, MPI, inline-4 cylinders, 16V, DOHC, D-CVVT
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Price: RM 138,800
We like: Spacious, comfortable, physical controls, all the features you need and none of those that you don’t
We don’t like: Underpowered