SA Roadtests
South Africa
ctjag8
This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. I drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under real-world South African conditions. Most, but not all, the vehicles driven are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you get where you live.
My most recent drive is on the home page. Archived reviews and opinion pieces are in the active menu down the left side. Hover your cursor over a heading or manufacturer's name and follow the drop-down.
Posted: 10 October 2017
The numbers
Price: R459 995
Engine: 1999 cc, DOHC, inline four cylinder with dual CVVT
Power: 114 kW at 6200 rpm
Torque: 192 Nm at 4000 rpm
Zero to 100 km/h: 11.1 seconds
Maximum speed: 181 km/h
Real life fuel consumption: About 10.4 l/100 km
Tank: 52 litres
Cargo: 466 – 1455 litres
Maximum towing mass (unbraked / braked): 750 / 1900 kg
Warranty: 5 years / unlimited km with roadside assistance
Service plan: 5 years / 90 000 km
• Enough power but not dynamite
• Good six-speed automatic
• Fine on dirt
• Excellent back-seat space
As mentioned in our article on the 1.6 T-GDi awd version that we drove in March this year (2017), fourth-generation Sportages gain 35 mm over the previous range, making them almost 4.5 metres long, but no wider nor taller. The look was freshened for the new series as well.
Twelve variants are available at present: Four diesels, seven naturally aspirated petrol models and the 1.6 turbopetrol mentioned above. Of these, six were added to the range this past August. Basic Ignite level gained optional PLUS specification with or without automatic, an Ignite PLUS 1.7 diesel was added and the 2.0 EX CRDi welcomed two-litre petrol and diesel stable mates in EX PLUS form. Our test car was a petrol-powered 2.0 EX PLUS automatic.
Among the things that make this spec’ level superior are dual channel automatic air conditioning, electric parking brake, rain sensing wipers, push button starting, cruise control, front fog lamps, folding side mirrors, powered leather seats, satnav, front park assist and reversing camera. Automatic headlamps, LED running lights, rear parking assistance and electrochromic rear view mirror are common to most of the range. There are a few nice to haves offered only on SX and awd models but they obviously cost more.
EX Plus is powered by the latest version of Hyundai/Kia’s Nu motor that puts out slightly less power than it did when we drove something similar in 2011, but it has been refined for greater efficiency. Real life fuel consumption improved but performance has suffered slightly. It now takes 11.1 seconds (+ 0.5 sec.) for the zero-to-100 km/h dash and maximum speed dropped from 182 to 181 km/h. These details will probably go unnoticed by most users but we felt a little short-changed, hence the comment at the top of the page.
Immediately noticeable was that the latest version of its six-speed auto-box works a lot better than the old one. We now rate it as really good with smooth changes, prompt response to kick-down demands and zero flare. Three drive modes (Eco, Normal and Sport) provide slight differences in throttle response and manual override is by gear lever only.
Because it’s an SUV and because we can, we took it along the rough and rippled provincial dirt road out past the vegetable farms. It behaved well, staying firmly on course despite quite severe provocation at times, and insulated us from all but the worst vibrations. Ground clearance is 172 mm, so it should be able to negotiate most common town and country hazards.
As far as practical matters go, there is adequate storage space even though the door bins are rather small, control buttons and the 7” colour screen are easy to navigate, there are three power points if you include the lighter socket, the cabin has two courtesy lamps and there is plenty of head- and shoulder room. There are sufficient soft-touch surfaces to endow an air of luxury and fit and finish are up to the expected Korean standard.
Back seat passengers are well cared for with more than the usual quantity of headroom and space for feet. Knee room allows for billowy brides’ dresses, it has repeater vents for air conditioning and the surroundings are suitably plush. A fold-down armrest with cup holders, a full set of belts and head restraints and a 12-volt socket are included.
Around at the back end the hatch opens down to 72 cm to reveal a useful rubber mat over the carpeting, lashing rings and bag hooks, a light and there’s a pair of little boxes for delicate items beneath the baseboard. The spare wheel is full-size. Seatbacks split 1/3:2/3 in the usual way although the release catches cannot be accessed from behind. They are alongside the seat cushions and control both recline and lay-flat functions.
In summary, the Kia Sportage 2.0 EX PLUS is powerful enough for most, it’s not unduly complicated, it isn’t frighteningly expensive and it’s comfortable. Big, solid and practical is what it is and that’s surely what most city dwellers want.
Test car from Kia SA press fleet
We drove a 1.6 GDI Ignite in 2019
This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.
Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads as well.
I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material.
If ever I place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with a very similar vehicle already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.
Hope you like what you see, because there are no commercial interests at work here. There are no advertisers and no “editorial policy” rules. I add bylines to acknowledge sponsored launch functions and the manufacturers or dealerships that provide the test vehicles. And, as quite a few readers have found, I answer every serious enquiry from my home email address, with my phone numbers attached, so you can see I do actually exist.
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SA Roadtests
South Africa
ctjag8