Kia Sportage: The ‘short’ version for Europe is here. It will be from Žilina – PRAVDA.sk

For the first time in the 28-year history of the Sportage, Kia has prepared a special version for Europe. Unfortunately, the longer and more practical one will not reach the old continent.

Kia unveiled the fifth generation Sportage SUV in early June. And the one for India last November. However, none of them will go to Europe. For the first time in the history of this model line, Kia has developed a specific version for the old continent. In the end, it did not hide it, but many thought that the European Sportage would only be a finely modified derivative of the fifth generation. In the end, everything is different. The European Sportage will be shorter and more compact, which will clearly maintain its position as a rival Hyundai Tucson. Although it stands on a completely new N3 platform, which gives it higher rigidity and the possibility to use extensive electrification, its dimensions do not differ much from the current generation. The changes are literally cosmetic.

Read more Kia Ceed: This is more than a facelift. The car from Žilina also has a new engine

The Sportage is 4,515 mm long, 1,865 wide and 1,645 mm high. It is therefore 30 mm longer and only a centimeter wider and higher. It is also the same with an axle wheelbase of 2,680 mm, where only 10 mm have been added. But the design is radically different. It is based on the new stylistic philosophy of Opposites United, ie on the unity of opposites, which we already know from the global Sportage. The front part is almost identical except for the shape of the tiger nose. The front mask extends across the entire width. It is lined with boomerang daytime running lights as well as integrated lights with a matte background. The biggest difference is the back. The European Sportage lost its third side window and has a shorter overhang. Instead, he got a very dynamically shaped rear pillar, into which the roof spoiler bar seems to be cut.

Read more Australian Kia rejects subsidies for electric cars

The rear lights are connected by a thin LED strip. The lid and bumper again have an autonomous shape compared to the global Sportage. There is also a new logo. A complete novelty is the possibility to choose a contrasting black roof. Wheels with a diameter of 17 to 19 inches are ready for Sportage. The biggest ones will be used by the sports-tuned version of the GT-Line. The interior has also undergone a radical reconstruction. Kia promises top materials and premium quality. The large curved display, which contains up to two 12.3-inch screens from the new EV6 electric car, puts the Sportage on its sister Tucson’s tailspin. So far, only Porsche or BMW uses this technology. The dashboard looks slim, as the ventilation vents are gently incorporated into it, practically along its entire width.

Read more Test: Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi – diesel did not say the last word!

Infotainment will be possible to control by touch, voice but also with the controller in the middle tunnel. It will also allow software updates, remote connection and control of some vehicle functions, as well as extensive use of applications. Inductive charging of 15 W phones is available. The good news is to keep a separate air conditioning panel. In this respect, Kia is rightly conservative. The fifth generation is also to beat opponents in space. The Sportage offers 996 mm front and 998 rear passengers to the front passengers. Under the electrically operated rear lid, there is still 591 liters for luggage. This is also the case with the electrified versions, as the batteries are located either under the rear seat or in the floor. After folding the backrests divided in a ratio of 40: 20: 40, the total usable volume will increase to 1,780 liters.

Literally a revolution took place under the hood. After all, Sportage did not even have another chance in Europe with the strictest emission limits. It offers mild-hybrid, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid combine a supercharged 1.6 T-GDi (132 kW) 4-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor housed in a dual-clutch transmission. While in the hybrid the electric unit has an output of 44.6 kW, in the rechargeable version it is 66.9 kW. The system power is then 169 and 195 kW, respectively. The hybrid uses a small li-ion battery with a capacity of 1.49 kWh, the plug-in hybrid capacity is up to 13.8 kWh, so in pure electric mode, the Sportage PHEV should cover approximately 50 km. Advanced battery monitoring ensures good battery condition.

Read more Test: Kia XCeed – socket crossover

Fortunately, the Sportage did not even lose the classic drives. It will still be available with the 1.6 T-GDi engine (110 or 132 kW) and even with the 1.6 CRDi diesel (85, 100 kW). 7-speed double clutches, 6-speed manuals and, for more powerful versions, both AWD drives are ready. Diesel can be combined with the mild-hybrid system MHEV, ie with a powerful shredder-generator ISG, not only with the automatic, but also with the intelligent 6-speed manual transmission iMT, which manages “sailing” with the engine switched off and the gear engaged. It is also friendly to assistance systems, as the automatic clutch can disconnect the internal combustion engine from the drive system at any time.

Read more Kia Sportage: These are the first sketches of the European version from Žilina. She will be really different!

Sportage should improve not only on asphalt, but also in the field. On the road, comfort and stability will be enhanced by brand new electronically controlled ECS shock absorbers, which adjust the stiffness of the suspension in real time or even depending on the selected driving mode – Comfort, Eco and Sport. By the way, the driving mode selector is a novelty in Sportage, so far it only offered Sport mode. On low-quality surfaces, the new Terrain driving mode, suitable for driving in mud, snow, sand or gravel, will help. Of course, the Korean novelty is literally loaded with assistants to support the driver. The DriveWise package includes virtually all assistance systems, from adaptive cruise control, which uses navigation data and brand readers, to keeping up the road, shifting assistance to remote parking, known so far only from premium models.

The carmaker demonstrated the new European Kiu Sportage, which will be missing from the lines of the assembly plant in Žilina, virtually on September 1, and today (September 3) it will have its premiere at the Munich Motor Show. It should reach the first customers at the end of this year at the earliest.

Dimensions, volumes

Technical specifications