We go back a ways, the Sportage and I. When Kia was a newbie to Canada in 2000, I drove a first-generation Sportage from St. John’s, Nfld., to Quebec via Cape Breton, N.S., Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. It was my leg of a trans-Canada odyssey that went out of its way to find remote roads to test the Kia’s off-pavement mettle.
Small and slow, crude and loud, it’s hard to imagine a vehicle less suitable for long days driving vast distances. Still, it got the job done, and nobody died of terminal discomfort.
It’s also hard to imagine a greater, speedier transformation than from the Gen-1 Sportage to this new Gen-4 model. The 2017 version may not have the off-road chops of its SUV ancestor but, by every other measure, it’s incontestably superior – and all in just a dozen years (the Gen-1 Sportage ran until 2004).
Still, what counts here is how the new Sportage measures up against its contemporary competition. The 2017 is longer than its predecessor, but still straddles the fuzzy border between stereotypical compact CUVs like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, and subcompact CUVs like the Chevrolet Trax and Mazda CX-3.
As we’ve come to expect from Kia, the styling makes a statement. Beyond the basic shape, notable details include alloy wheel sizes from 17 to 19 inches in diameter, quad LED fog lights on the top trim, and different front bumpers for the FWD (more aerodynamic) and AWD versions (more ground clearance).
The new shape is also impressively aerodynamic, at least for a ’ute. And the body is substantially more rigid than its predecessor, to provide a better platform for suspension and electric power steering systems that are extensively revised.
Although it shares its structural skeleton with the new-for-2016 Hyundai Tucson, the Sportage goes its own way under the hood. The standard 2.4-litre 181-hp and uplevel turbocharged 2.0-litre 237-hp engines are both larger than their Tucson counterparts and promise performance at the quick end of the segment.
Canada’s Magna contributed to the sophisticated AWD system, which can pro-actively divvy up the front:rear drive split between 95:05 per cent and 50:50. There’s also an AWD Lock button for low-speed low-grip situations.
The turbo engine is exclusive to the top-shelf SX trim grade, while the base engine powers six other trims – LX and EX each available in FWD or AWD, plus AWD-only EX Premium and EX Tech. Pricing starts at $24,795 for FWD and $26,995 for AWD, and tops out at $39,395 for the SX. Kia expects the top-selling trim (33 per cent of sales) to be the EX AWD, which asks $29,795.
In a word, the new Sportage feels more mature. The powertrains are refined, and the interior thoughtfully blends function with comfort. Steering feel is dramatically improved, and if the chassis still isn’t the most athletic in its class, it’s agile enough to call for better lateral support from the seats. And we doubt whether the latter will be an issue for the vast majority of potential buyers.
You’ll like this car if ... You prioritize styling and high-tech amenities, but also expect functionality and decent driving dynamics.
TECH SPECS
Base price: $24,795
Engines: 2.4-litre DOHC 16-V L4, 2.0-litre DOHC 16V Turbo L4
Transmission/Drive: Six-speed automatic/FWD or AWD
Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 10.4 city; 8.0 highway
Alternatives: Chevrolet Trax, Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Escape, Honda HR-V, Honda CR-V, Jeep Renegade, Jeep Patriot, Mazda CX-3, Mazda CX-5, Mitsubishi RVR, Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan Rogue, Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4, Volkswagen Tiguan
RATINGS
Looks: You’ve got to hand it to Kia. The Sportage has a great stance, is brimming with attitude, and its corporate grille is distinctive without being either copy-cat or simply silly.
Interior: Not the roomiest in its class, but roomy enough, with ample rear legroom and seven-step rear recline adjustment. The driver enjoys good visibility and (with a 10-way power seat on EX trim and up) terrific at-the-wheel adjustability.
Performance: Both engines are impressively subdued, though what you hear is not especially characterful. Straight-line speed was hard to judge on a hilly test route, but driveability is fine. The outputs suggest that even the base engine’s acceleration should be among the class leaders – and many rivals don’t even offer a high-output alternative to match the Sportage’s top-end turbo.
Technology: No Apple CarPlay (at least, not yet) but otherwise the Sportage seems to check all the connectivity boxes. Even the base model has Bluetooth, SXM, steering-wheel audio controls and a rear-view camera.
Cargo: Official cargo cubic-footage is at the small end of the spectrum but useability and versatility rate highly. The rear-seat backrests fold almost completely flat, the cargo-deck panel is height-adjustable, the cargo cover can be stored below the deck when it’s not needed, there are lidded cubbies in the rear corners, and there’s an available hands-free power lift-gate.
THE VERDICT
8.0
Despite a booming auto market in Canada, Kia sales have been declining since peaking in 2012. This solid new entry, competing in the market’s most popular vehicle category, should be just what Kia needs to turn things around.
The writer was a guest of the auto maker. Content was not subject to approval.
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