2019 Kia Sportage: Features explained

The Kia Sportage has been on sale in the Malaysian marketplace since the mid-2000s and was brought in during its second-generation phase. The Sportage is a breed of compact crossover SUVs and is based on the same platform as that of its cousin, the Hyundai Tucson. The outgoing avatar corresponds to the fourth-generation iteration of the Korean auto giant’s popular and well-liked crossover and was released in early 2016.

For the 2019 model year which was introduced late last year, Kia improved the Sportage by giving it a minor facelift, bringing in a refreshed exterior styling, slight interior alterations, and some improved mechanicals. In terms of its pricing, the new 2019 Kia Sportage costs RM 125,948 for the entry-level 2.0 EX variant and RM 138,950 for the top 2.0D GT-Line trim.

Exterior features

Competing with the likes of the Hyundai Tucson, Honda CR-V, and Mitsubishi ASX, the new 2019 Kia Sportage distinguishes itself courtesy to its refreshed styling which looks just that much more contemporary than some of its rivals. Among the most noticeable of styling updates on the front of the 2019 Sportage include its brand-new headlamp cluster which now houses LED for the main lights, Kia’s new signature four-corner LED daytime running lights (DRLs), and stylish all-LED turn indicators. The front fascia also features a reworked bumper with new accents and “ice cube” style LED fog lamps along the bottom.

Along the sides, there are hardly any notable alterations made to the car’s styling, save for the new design of the 18- & 19-inch alloy wheels. Around the back, the 2019 Sportage receives a reworked bumper with its repositioned and integrated rear fog lamps and reversing lights. In other news, the Kia Sportage continues to feature a generally accepted head-turning design, incorporating several key elements. Some of these include the “Tiger Nose” front grille, heavily creased bonnet, sophisticated yet sporty side profile with sharp body contours and a slightly sloping roof, detailed LED tail lamp cluster, and a purposeful looking rear bumper with well-integrated diffuser setup. Kia offers the new Sportage in five colour palettes: there’s the GT-Line only Cherry Black, Fiery Red, EX trim only Iron Grey, Mercury Blue, and Snow White Pearl.

Interior features

This being just a minor facelift, the interior of the 2019 Kia Sportage doesn’t see much in the way of drastic design alterations. The only perceivable additions come in the form of a new steering wheel design - with the sporty GT-Line featuring a flat-bottom unit. Meanwhile, the overall standard of materials that are used, along with the quality of the fit-and-finish and build continue to impress. The cabin of the 2019 Sportage, just as the model before it, can comfortably accommodate five adults -- though the middle seat at the back is best for smaller folks. Also, the 466-litre boot is fairly deep, while its large aperture allows for easy loading.

 

As with most modern-day Kia's, the 2019 Sportage specs offers quite a lot of creature comforts and features. Apart from the usual split-folding rear seats, keyless entry with push-button start, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, cruise control, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment head unit, electronic parking brake with auto-hold feature, 6-speaker surround sound system, and all-around parking sensors and reversing camera aside, the range-topping GT-Line also gets two-tone leather upholstery, power-operated front seats, paddle shifters, wireless charging pad, 4.2-inch colour LCD display in the instrument cluster, and sporty alloy pedals.

Engine and performance

In Malaysia, both variants of the 2019 Kia Sportage are only available with front-wheel-drive (FWD) and automatic transmissions. Mechanically, the most obvious upgrade made to the new iteration is the inclusion of an 8-speed automatic gearbox in the GT-Line diesel variant, effectively replacing the older 6-speed unit. However, the entry-level EX continues to use a 6-speed ‘box. Under the bonnet, the latter houses the familiar Nu 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 153hp and 192Nm of torque. It’s capable of pushing the Sportage to a top speed of 181 kmph, while the run from nought to 100 kmph is completed in 11.1 seconds.

On the other hand, the punchy 2.0-litre diesel motor in the Sportage GT-Line chucks out 183 horsepower and a commendable 400 Nm of maximum torque. The higher output engine plus the quick-shifting 8-speed gearbox ensures a zero to 100 kmph sprint time of 9.5 seconds and a top whack of 201 kmph. In terms of their fuel economy, the petrol-powered Sportage returns around 12.6 kmpl, whereas the oil-burner nudges that number closer to around 17 kmpl.

Safety features

The 2019 Kia Sportage is one of the safest cars in its segment and brings with it several important safety features. These include six airbags (front, side & curtain), Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA), Hill-start Assist (HSA), Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW), Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning (RCCW), Parking Distance Warning-Forward (PDW-F), and ISOFIX child seat anchor points.