Contents of the material
Briefly about the new Kia Sportage
The official presentation of the SUV on the European market is due to take place in August 2021, but the car has already been seen on the roads. Previously, a Korean blogger shared a video with a black crossover, and soon the latest selection of “live” pictures of the new product in a snow-white body was published. Cars in different color palettes are very different from each other. This is due to the fact that earlier the automaker showed a photo of the version for the American and Asian markets, which has larger dimensions than the European version.
There is practically nothing left from the previous release in the 2022 model year version.
Global changes affected both the design of the exterior and interior, as well as the parameters of power units and on-board equipment.
Options and prices in Russia
It’s difficult to say in what version the new Sportage should be expected in Russia, but there is a high probability that it will not be supplied with a hybrid engine and it is unlikely that a modification with a 7DCT “robot” should be expected.
As for the length of the wheelbase, forecasts vary, but it is worth noting that the similar Korean crossover Hyundai Toussan, with sales starting in Russia on 06.2021, comes to us in a long-wheelbase version.
And about the price: now in Russian showrooms the car costs 1.855 million rubles, and it is unreasonable to expect that it will become cheaper in the next generation.
So let’s focus on the additional review for the Korean market since they will most likely be shipping a similar model to Russia.
Second row of seats
Wide and fairly high openings of the rear side doors provide a comfortable fit, and there is enough free space in the second row of seats both above the head and in the knees of passengers.
The base of the sofa is quite rigid, and it almost does not sag, and your feet can easily be slipped under the front seats, which is also a significant plus.
Other positive aspects of the “gallery” are also noted:
- the central tunnel on the floor protrudes low, while it is quite long and narrow;
- starting from the middle “Prestige” configuration, the backrests of the rear sofa are adjustable in tilt, and in a wide range;
- there is a central armrest with two cup holders, but without latches;
- behind the backrests of the front seats there are pockets made of solid material, and above them there are integrated small hooks, and the headrests have large hooks for hanging clothes or bags.
On the back of the center console, like many other crossovers, there is a dual deflector, but the intensity of the air flow is not adjustable.
Below there is a recess for various small items, but the buttons for heated seats and control of electric windows are installed on the side panels of the doors.
USB-C connectors are placed non-standardly – on the inner sides of the backrests of both front seats.
Basic equipment
The Kia Sportage 2023 model is a fairly well-equipped modern car, which already at the entry level receives LED exterior optics: reflector headlights, taillights (but not completely), DRLs, turn signals in the side mirrors and a brake light in the rear spoiler.
Also, the basic set of options for this car includes:
- Era-Glonass;
- six airbags: front, curtain, front side;
- electronic systems: ABS, ESC, HAC, ESS, TPMS, DBC, TSA, VSM;
- immobilizer;
- standard alarm;
- electric windows on all side doors, ESP on the driver’s side – with the Auto function;
- multifunction steering wheel;
- soundproof windshield;
- light switch-off delay function;
- standard cruise control;
- electric heated side mirrors;
- Supervision instrument cluster with 4.2-inch color display;
- Rear View Camera;
- multimedia with 8” screen, AndroidAuto/AppleCarplay support, six speakers,
- USB-C connector in the front panel for charging mobile gadgets;
- heated front seats;
- Rain sensor;
- Drive Mode Select selector (only for cars with automatic transmission, driving modes – Eco, Normal, Sport and Smart).
In the Classic configuration with manual transmission-6, the car is equipped with a conventional air conditioner, but already in the modification with automatic transmission-6 it receives dual-zone climate control.
The spare wheel in the base is small-sized (for temporary use), standard wheels are 235/65R17 on original alloy wheels.
The exterior mirror housings are painted in body color, metal-look inserts are added to the dashboard, and the seat upholstery is fabric material.
Fog lights in the basic version are of the halogen type, the front seats are mechanically adjustable: driver’s – in eight directions (adjusting the backrest tilt, moving the seat back and forth, raising and lowering it, changing the height position of the pillow itself), passenger – in four directions (shift in the longitudinal direction and backrest adjustment).
Advantages and disadvantages
This crossover is very popular in many countries, including Russia. However, this is not surprising, because the model has so many advantages, including:
- reliable power unit;
- large list of options;
- many available configurations;
- good passive and active protection;
- There is no off-road potential.
The downside is that the interior is not very spacious. In addition, the ground clearance cannot be called high. By the way, if the ground clearance were a little higher, the model could even “compete” with SUVs somewhere.
Specifications
In terms of technical equipment, there is more difference between crossovers. The older brother not only looks powerful and reliable, but he really is. Its long existence in the urban SUV market plays into its favor.
The car has been produced since 1992, and has gone through 4 full restylings and a few more minor improvements. Of course, all the obvious disadvantages of the technical side have long been eliminated. While Seltos is just beginning to conquer the auto world, it is difficult even for specialists to say how it will behave in the long term.
Dimensions
The size of Korean crossovers differs slightly, but the Sportage is still wider and taller than its younger brother. Depending on the configuration and year of manufacture, the dimensions of the older one are:
- Length – from 4485 to 4495 mm
- Width – 1855 mm
- Height – from 1645 to 1655 mm
- Wheelbase – 2670 mm
The trunk volume is only from 466 to 491 liters, not so much for a large car (although, let’s be honest, this is a catastrophically small volume). But if you fold the back row of seats, it will grow to 1455-1480 liters
Kia Seltos has slightly smaller dimensions:
- Length – 4370 mm
- Width – 1800 mm
- Height – 1615-1630 mm
- Wheelbase – 2630 mm
The trunk volume is 433-468 liters in a car with the rear seats folded down and 1393-1428 liters if they are folded down. It turns out that Seltos still has less free space? In most configurations, yes, but this difference is not felt at all during operation.
Engines
Kia Sportage has changed many types of engines over its 4 generations: from small ones with a volume of 1.6 liters to impressive ones with a volume of 2.7 liters. The latest modification, depending on the configuration, includes 3 options of power units:
- Diesel, 2.0 liters and 185 hp.
- Gasoline, volume 2.0 l and power 150 hp.
- Petrol, volume 2.4 liters and power 184 hp.
All three options have their problems, which have long been known. For example, a diesel engine is very afraid of low-quality fuel, and a two-liter gasoline engine does not provide dynamics at all. But the third option is usually loved and appreciated by car owners, not only on the Sportage, but also on the Hyundai Sonata, Santa Fe and Kia Sorento.
Seltos also has 3 powertrain options, depending on the configuration:
- Petrol, volume 1.6 and with power from 121 to 123 hp.
- Petrol, volume 1.6 and power up to 177 hp.
- Two-liter gasoline engine with a power of 149 hp.
All three have long proven themselves to be reliable and not picky in maintenance, and also economical in terms of replacing spare parts. There are no big problems with them, so the same installations are installed on several other Hyundai and Kiya models.
Transmissions
Sportage’s selection of boxes has never been greater. In the latest generation, only three gearboxes are available: a 6-speed manual and the same automatic, as well as an 8-speed automatic for all-wheel drive diesel SUVs. In earlier modifications there was a robotic transmission, but it did not take root in our market.
Seltos has a little more choice. Its owners have access to a 6-speed automatic and manual transmission, a 7-speed robotic transmission and even a CVT in different configurations. Car enthusiasts view the latter option with some distrust, but considering what engines they are paired with, no serious problems should arise.
Suspension
In this part of the comparison, Seltos loses to its older brother, at least in front-wheel drive trim levels. The suspension on it is a classic MacPherson strut at the front and a torsion beam at the rear. The result is a rigid, yet reliable structure. All-wheel drive models are luckier. They are equipped with an independent multi-link suspension that can adapt to road conditions.
As for the Sportage, regardless of whether we are talking about the basic or top-end configuration, it has an independent multi-link at the rear and an independent MacPherson strut at the front, with telescopic struts. However, you can’t even call it very soft, depending on what you compare it with. But it is also reliable, practically indestructible, for which it is valued by owners of city SUVs.