2023 Kia Sportage SX+ 1.6T AWD overview

We usually consider alternative as an excellent factor, however it may be overwhelming.

Kia gives a whopping 11 choices in its Sportage SUV line-up, cut up throughout 4 trim ranges, three engines, three transmissions, and each front- and all-wheel drive. Understanding how one can spec your Sportage isn’t any easy process.

The one-from-range-topping SX+ 1.6T on check right here presents as an interesting possibility. It comes with loads of luxuries just like the flagship GT-Line, however undercuts it based mostly on worth.

It additionally incorporates a highly effective turbocharged engine, which packs extra of a punch than the entry-level 2.0-litre engine… for a worth, after all.

Is that this the precise mixture of components to create the absolute best Sportage?

How a lot does the Kia Sportage SX+ 1.6T AWD price?

The Sportage has not too long ago been hit with a $350 worth rise in keeping with the broader Kia vary. On the again of that, the vary kicks off at $32,795 earlier than on-roads for the S 2.0 FWD handbook and extends to $52,720 earlier than on-roads for the GT-Line 2.0D AWD computerized.

Our 2023 Kia Sportage SX+ 1.6T AWD computerized tester is priced from $43,850 earlier than on-roads, making it simply shy of $6000 cheaper than the equal GT-Line. There’s no equal beneath it within the vary; the 1.6T engine is barely provided on the SX+ and GT-Line.

The Sportage competes in certainly one of Australia’s most crowded and in style segments, so there’s no scarcity of rivals.

Over at Hyundai, the Tucson Elite 1.6T AWD lists for $43,900 earlier than on-roads, and options the identical powertrain because the Sportage, whereas the Toyota RAV4 GXL AWD Hybrid will set you again $45,600 earlier than on-roads.

The brand new Nissan X-Path ST-L 2WD five-seater is priced at $43,190 earlier than on-roads, and the Mitsubishi Outlander Aspire 2WD seven-seater is priced at $43,240 earlier than on-roads.

2023 Kia Sportage pricing:

• Sportage S 2.0 FWD handbook: $32,795
• Sportage S 2.0 FWD computerized: $34,795
• Sportage SX 2.0 FWD handbook: $35,350
• Sportage SX 2.0 FWD computerized: $37,350
• Sportage S 2.0D AWD computerized: $40,195
• Sportage SX+ 2.0 FWD computerized: $41,850
• Sportage SX 2.0D AWD computerized: $42,750
• Sportage SX+ 1.6T AWD computerized: $43,850
• Sportage SX+ 2.0D AWD computerized: $47,250
• Sportage GT-Line 1.6T AWD computerized: $49,720
• Sportage GT-Line 2.0D AWD computerized: $52,720

All costs exclude on-road prices

What’s the Kia Sportage SX+ 1.6T AWD like on the within?

No matter which trim you go for, the Sportage has a spacious and versatile inside.

It’s meaningfully greater and extra usable than its predecessor, and comfortably had house for 4 adults, two units of golf golf equipment, and a weekend’s price of provides throughout our time behind the wheel.

With a 12.3-inch central show and a wing-shaped dashboard impressed by the EV6 flagship, the cabin has loads of showroom attraction. The leather-based seats within the SX+ additionally ship an upmarket really feel, though the fundamental driver show appears to be like previous hat.

Kia has introduced a Casio watch to an iPad combat, and it stinks of penny pinching when you think about the considerably cheaper Seltos incorporates a absolutely digital driver show from one trim degree above base.

The Sportage options a wonderful driving place. The leather-trimmed seats supply loads of help, and there’s sufficient adjustment to accomodate tall or brief drivers. Even after three hours behind the wheel I used to be feeling recent.

All-round imaginative and prescient is respectable, however the blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert nonetheless come in useful given the chunky, upswept C-pillar. The GT-Line additionally incorporates a helpful blind-spot digital camera feed that shows within the instrument cluster if the indications are activated, which might be good to have in lower-end fashions just like the SX+.

Kia’s infotainment system is great. The widescreen show appears to be like high-end, with neon purple graphics and fast responses, and the SX+ options manufacturing facility navigation in case you don’t have cellphone reception for Apple or Google Maps.

The one actual knock on the system is the very fact the house, again, and menu buttons are fairly a stretch from the motive force’s seat – and Kia nonetheless doesn’t supply wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on its flagship infotainment system.

Sitting beneath the widescreen infotainment system is a slim, matte touchscreen that includes a row of operate buttons able to controlling both the air-conditioning or the infotainment system.

It’s a intelligent design that’s neater than a stack of contact buttons or controls buried within the infotainment system, and has additionally allowed the design crew to make the cabin look clear and easy. Right here’s hoping the remainder of the market takes observe.

There’s an abundance of storage areas across the cabin, with two cupholders, a good house beneath the dashboard, a deep central bin, and door bins with house for giant water bottles.

Kia has opted for a mix of USB-A and USB-C plugs up entrance, together with the usual wi-fi charger.

The Sportage has acres of house within the rear. Full-sized adults will be capable to sit behind full-sized adults, and headroom is significantly better than you’d anticipate of a automotive with what appears to be like like a sloping roofline.

There’s a fold-down central armrest with cupholders, together with rear vents, two rear USB-C ports, and a 12V outlet on the base of the transmission tunnel.

Boot house is a claimed 543 litres with the rear seats in place, increasing to 1829L with them folded.

It’s a broad, sensible place to retailer your stuff, with a wide-opening powered tailgate, 12V outlet, and distant releases for the rear seats.

Beneath the ground is a full-sized spare wheel.

What’s beneath the bonnet?

Energy within the Sportage on check comes from a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine making 132kW and 265Nm.

A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is customary, as is all-wheel drive. This engine is non-obligatory on the SX+, and is customary on the range-topping GT-Line.

Claimed gasoline financial system is 7.2 litres per 100km, we noticed 7.9L/100km over every week with a robust skew to freeway driving.

The gasoline tank holds 54L, and the petrol Sportage runs on 91 RON common unleaded.

How does the Kia Sportage SX+ 1.6T AWD drive?

The 1.6T must be essentially the most interesting engine within the Sportage vary on paper, with stable outputs and efficiency pedigree from its use in Kia GT and Hyundai N Line merchandise – in observe, it’s much less convincing than the bottom petrol and range-topping diesel.

The twin-clutch transmission is guilty for among the awkwardness. It may be a bit jumpy off the mark, and sometimes will get caught between first and second gears on mild throttle inputs.

When you’re up and operating, it doesn’t shift as quick because the class-leading unit in Volkswagen Group merchandise, and might be clunky on downshifts once you demand a number of efficiency in a rush.

It’s undoubtedly punchier than the bottom engine, particularly when it’s on the boil, nevertheless it doesn’t make the Sportage into an overgrown Cerato GT. Get into its energy band and it will get a transfer on however the diesel packs extra of a punch low within the rev vary, and it sounds and feels a bit strained on the high finish.

When you actually can’t wrap your head across the concept of diesel, and the bottom engine doesn’t have sufficient punch for you, it fills that hole. However it doesn’t actually stand alone as a compelling various to both of them, which is disappointing.

It’s much more disappointing when you think about the remainder of the Sportage is nicely sorted.

The steering is mild round city, so the automotive is straightforward to put in tight areas, and the journey has been tuned with a deal with consolation. On 19-inch alloy wheels it does a wonderful job retaining pimply metropolis streets exterior, and floats properly over potholes and pace bumps.

Smaller-wheeled, cheaper variants are extra comfy once more, however even the close-to-range-topping SX+ strikes a pleasant stability between journey and dealing with.

Excessive-speed crests and dips are nonetheless dealt with in a single neat motion, there’s no awkward bobbing or heaving, regardless of the marginally extra compliant tune. It’s spectacular.

Highway noise is nicely contained, even on coarse-chip surfaces, and the engine settles down properly at a 100km/h cruise.

Provided that you’re hustling alongside does it really feel a bit free, however that isn’t actually the purpose of a household SUV just like the Sportage anyway.

The Sportage options the identical lane-keeping and lane-centring help methods rolling out elsewhere within the Hyundai and Kia Group.

The previous pushes again to the centre of the lane should you drift onto the white traces, the latter is extra hands-on and can actively comply with curves within the street.

The lane-keeping system is helpful, particularly should you’re spending lengthy intervals of time on the freeway, however the lane-centring is much too intrusive for my style. Some members of the CarExpert crew love the system, others immediately attain for the button to modify it off.

Though lane-keeping defaults to on, the lane-centring stays off when you’ve toggled it utilizing the steering-wheel mounted button. Good.

Additionally good is the very fact Kia hasn’t fitted the infuriating pace restrict warning system that now bings and bongs at you should you drift over the restrict within the newest Seltos.

What do you get?

Sportage SX+ highlights embrace:

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• ‘Design Sort B’ exterior physique design
• Matte plastic wheel arch mouldings and bumper trim
• Gloss black roof rails
• Gloss black facet mirrors
• LED headlights (reflector-type)
• LED tail lights w/ incandescent indicator and cease lights
• Palms-free energy tailgate
• Privateness glass
• 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• ‘Primary’ digital instrument cluster with 4.2-inch LCD show
• DAB+ digital radio
• Sounds of Nature
• Wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• Satellite tv for pc navigation
• 8-speaker Harmon Kardon premium sound system
• Twin-zone local weather management
• Paddle shifters
• Keyless entry with push-button begin
• Electrochromic rear-view mirror
• Smooth-touch door armrests and entrance door higher
• Premium weave sample dashboard garnish
• Entrance headrest coat hangers
• Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
• Quilted synthetic leather-based upholstery
• 8-way energy drivers seat with 2-way energy lumbar
• Heated entrance seats

Is the Kia Sportage protected?

The Kia Sportage has a five-star ANCAP security ranking, based mostly on assessments carried out by Euro NCAP in July 2022.

It scored 87 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 87 per cent for little one occupant safety, 66 per cent for susceptible street consumer safety, and 74 per cent for security help.

Customary security tools consists of:

• AEB with pedestrian/bicycle owner/junction help
• Blind-spot help
• Rear cross-traffic help
• Lane hold help
• Lane Comply with Help
• Clever pace restrict help
• Adaptive cruise management (N/A handbook)
• Reversing digital camera
• Rear parking sensors
• Entrance-centre airbag

Sportage GT-Line provides:

• Encompass-view cameras
• Blind-spot view monitor
• Reverse AEB
• Distant Good Park Help (diesel solely)

How a lot does the Kia Sportage SX+ 1.6T AWD price to run?

The Sportage has a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee like the broader Kia vary.

Upkeep is required each 12 months or 10,000km – whichever comes first. The turbo petrol has shorter intervals than the bottom petrol and the diesel, which permit for 15,000km between visits.

The primary seven providers will set you again a mixed $3988 utilizing Kia capped-price servicing, which is sort of costly within the scheme of issues.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Kia Sportage SX+ 1.6T AWD

The strengths of the Kia Sportage shine via within the SX+, however we’d keep away from the 1.6-litre turbocharged engine.

It gives extra punch than the bottom 2.0L however the way in which it delivers its efficiency is uninspiring, it requires extra common upkeep, and the dual-clutch transmission might be awkward.

For many day-to-day duties, you will get away with the fundamental engine and save a couple of thousand {dollars}. If it’s extra punch you want, the diesel is a torquey little unit that excels on the open street.

Select the precise engine and the SX+ is arguably the neatest choose within the sprawling Sportage line-up. It options many of the niceties you’d need from a premium-ish household SUV, however undercuts the flagship GT-Line handsomely on paper.

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