By Malusi Msomi

The Kia Sportage has come a long way. Now in its fifth-generation, it looks very stylish and is packed with the latest technology to compete in a highly competitive segment. We headed down to Cape Town to sample the latest generation Sportage, and we’re quite impressed.

Styling

In terms of aesthetics, the new Sportage looks the business. Sporting a futuristic design, it also comes standard with LED matrix headlights, LED day time running lights, 19-inch wheels, gloss black exterior trims, and delux scuff plates. Overall, it looks quite stunning.

Interior

Kia really went to town with The Sportage’s interior. The cabin feels upmarket and is filled with the latest tech. You get a panoramic sunroof on the higher end GT Line grade, artificial leather / suede seats, heated and ventilated seats, ambient lighting and a beautiful curved digital instrument cluster and infotainment system which supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Its honestly a good place to be in.

The drive

Powering the Kia Sportage is a 1.6 T-GDi engine that produces 132kW/265Nm. It sends its power to the front wheels via a 7-speed DCT transmission. Traversing through the beautiful roads of Cape town, the Sportage really outdid itself with its comfortable ride and smooth gearshift. When it came to highway driving, overtaking is a breeze thanks to ample power and torque.

Conclusion

Overall, the Sportage is a solid product from Kia as it offers good looks, practicality and quite a bit of standard kit. Pricing for the Kia Sportage starts at R539,995.