SA Road Tests

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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. Many of the vehicles driven are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you get where you live.

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The upper Fifth: 2023 Kia Sportage 1.6T GT-Line S

Slightly aggressive

Pics by Motorpress
Posted: November 22, 2022

The numbers
Price, GT-Line S: R734 995
Engine: 1598 cc, DOHC 16-valve, inline four, turbocharged
Power: 132 kW between 4900 and 5600 rpm
Torque: 265 Nm between 1500 and 4500 rpm
0-100 km/h: 8.8 seconds
Top speed: 201 km/h
Real life fuel consumption: About 7.7 l/100 km
Tank: 54 litres
Luggage: 562 – 1751 litres VDA
Turning circle: 10.92 metres
Ground clearance: 170 mm
Standard tyre size, EX: 235/55R18
Spare: Full size
Warranty: Five years, unlimited km, including roadside assistance
Service plan: Six years, 90 000 km


Re-invented for its fifth generation, Kia’s Sportage was given a  new designer, new build platform, new body and new interior. And the 1600 cc turbo-engine was extensively revamped. Power outputs remain much the same but it’s now more efficient. The body’s a bit bigger too. And luggage volume increased by 69 litres.

The old lineup that included an awd and a two-litre variant made way for a range of five, 1600 cc, machines all with the same engine and seven-speed DCT: LX, EX and three GT-Lines – Plain, Plus and S. Our test rig was a top-of-range, GT-Line S.

Although LX and EX are well equipped, GT-Lines add luxury in the form of superior seats, a bigger TFT screen, shift paddles, panoramic roof, lane keeping aids and forward collision avoidance. The S-car gathered some goodies of its own: a rotary PRND selector, dual LED headlamps with adaptive beams, ventilated front seats, interior mood lighting and smart cruise control.

Even its virtual instrument dials play nicely, changing appearance as one scrolls through drive modes. Eco takes on a hint of blue, Normal and Smart change to pale Lilac and Sport looks almost bloodshot – not ugly, just slightly aggressive. Performance from its little turbomotor is much the same; dashing up to 100 km/h in 8.8 seconds and hauling ass all the way up into Ticket Territory.  

In passing:
•    Although I usually like panoramic glass roofs, this one’s fiddly. To open both inner blinds one must 1) open the front half, 2) open the sunroof. There is no alternative, 3) close the sunroof, 4) open the rear section. Others do it more logically.
•    A feature common to LX and upward is the seat-parking trick introduced by Jaguar many years ago. As one switches off, the driver’s chair slides backward so that those of plumper persuasion, or pregnant, can exit and re-enter more easily. There is a danger of bumping up against the legs of rear seat passengers, though. And those who don’t need the facility find it annoying. Luckily, it can be turned off.

Loading: Onto a flat floor 70 cm above ground level; with one light, four rings, a pull-out cover, 12-volt power point and remote tippers for the 40:20:40-split rear seatbacks. The baseboard permits height adjustment, but we South Africans get a full-size alloy spare that takes up both levels.

Accommodating: Backseat riders enjoy generous headroom, reclinable seats, nice knee space for those in the outer chairs (the middle passenger needs short legs) and comfortable accommodation for feet. Amenities include two map pockets, two bag hooks, the clothing hangers that I originally thought were panic handles, bottle bins in the doors, armrest with cup holders, vents at the rear of the central console, Type-C USBs, an oddments box, a second courtesy lamp and full sets of belts and head restraints.

Piloting: The driver enjoys simple HVAC controls and plenty of storage space but supplementary screens and menus get complicated. The glossy black parking brake tab, on the lower dash to the right of the steering wheel, blends in and is easily overlooked.

Did I like it? Apart from a few imperfections, every car has some, I did.

Test unit from Kia SA press fleet

For more background and technical information see our review of the 2023 Sportage EX

What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is thoroughly researched, 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 or goat tracks as well. As a result, my test cars do occasionally get dirty. It's all part of the reviewing process.

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.

Comments or questions?
Want to ask a question, comment or just tell me you completely disagree with what I say? If you want advice or have a genuine concern, I will be happy to hear from you. All I ask is that you write something in the subject line so I know which vehicle you're talking about.