Fifth-generation Sportage: Spacious, bolder design, enhanced technology

Looking for a practical family SUV with plenty tech, charisma and ultra-modern styling?

Grand Motors recently launched an exclusive first-look of the all-new fresh-faced Kia Sportage, a crossover SUV that is bigger, bolder and better than before.

The exclusive distributor of Kia is bringing in three variants of the Sportage into the local market; the LX, EX and the X-Line trim to suit your lifestyle and needs.

The all-new Sportage symbolises the pioneering DNA of the Kia brand. The past success of the Sportage is deeply rooted in a mindset of constant reinvention.

Under the new Kia brand, the fifth generation Sportage once again brings an innovation that elevates the brand to the next level.

Image: Iqbal Dato Selamat

The bold and the beautiful

Make a statement with the all-new Kia Sportage. The SUV exudes confidence and presence with its bold and premium design language that would certainly turn heads anywhere it goes.

Donning the latest Kia “Opposites United” design philosophy, the new Sportage features a brand new look and looks entirely new from the ground up and there are almost no similarities to its predecessors.

The thought-provoking and daring philosophy is formed of five pillars: Joy for Reason, Power to Progress, Technology for Life, Tension for Serenity and Bold for Nature.

Image: Iqbal Dato Selamat

The last pillar – Bold for Nature – has profoundly influenced the design creation of new Sportage, embodying the natural world and creating a design identity that takes a daring, emotional, modern but organic form.

The Sportage has been redesigned to be daring, sleeker, and dynamically modern from top to bottom.

The exterior establishes new design boundaries and dramatically sets the tone for the next generation family.

It exudes the perfect blend of athleticism and captivating from every side with its sculpted framework and bold characters.

“Reinventing the Sportage gave our talented design teams a tremendous opportunity to do something new; to take inspiration from the recent brand relaunch and introduction of EV6 to inspire customers through modern and innovative SUV design,” said Senior Vice President and Head of Global Design Center, Karim Habib,

“With the all-new Sportage, we didn’t simply want to take one step forward but instead move on to a different level in the SUV class,” he added.

Perhaps the most noticeable change made to the Sportage is its front fascia.The SUV’s front profile echoes the Kia automaker’s latest design philosophy.

Its front profile reveals a sleeker look with Kia’s modern ‘Tiger Nose’ signature to the distinctive futuristic-styled boomerang-shaped LED daytime running lights and Matrix LED headlights.

On the rear side, the razor rear lamps blend seamlessly with the slim horizontal design, giving the all-new Sportage a stunningly wide impression from the back.

Moreover, paying homage to its sports utility heritage, the side profile of the all-new Sportage creates a stirring road presence with taut lines cutting across clean but refined body surfaces that seamlessly blend the contrasting volumes together.

The SUV comes in a wide range of colours that draw eyes to it the moment it drives by. Customers can choose from Snow White Pearl, Clear White, Gravity Gray, Steel Gray, Fusion Black, Dawning Red, Vesta Blue, Shadow Matt Gray and Jungle Wood Green.

Image: Iqbal Dato Selamat

Cutting-edge and contemporary interior

The all-new Sportage is paired with larger dimensions in all directions to maximize cargo and luggage space which also makes for a remarkably spacious cabin.

In terms of dimension, the Kia Sportage measures 4,660 mm in length, 1,865 mm in width and 1,660 mm in height and has a compact wheelbase of 2,755mm.

Developed on a new architecture, the all-new Sportage combines a driver-centric design with a state-of-the-art premium interior

The upscale cabin of the Sportage impresses with its premium-quality materials, cutting-edge infotainment technologies and a striking new design.

Aside from easy-to-spot high-quality materials, at the heart of the cabin is the sculpted curved display that forms the nucleus of the Sportage’s bold but sophisticated cabin.

The high-tech 12-inch touchscreen and advanced integrated controller act as the nerve center for driver and passenger connectivity, functionality and usability needs. Both systems have been created to be easy-to-use, highly intuitive and soft to touch.

Image: Iqbal Dato Selamat

The five-seater provides both the driver and passenger ample space for headroom and legroom.

Once seated in the SUV, the cabin makes passengers feel at home as the seats are nicely sculpted for both the driver and passenger’s comfort and high-seating position that give the ultimate SUV feel to it.

What’s more, the Sportage is loaded with multiple features offering complete comfort, convenience, and optimum driving pleasure to customers.

Passengers can also enjoy the sound quality of the sensational sound quality from the Harman Kardon premium sound system.

Not only that, but the Kia Sportage also comes with a wireless smartphone charger (for X-line variant) and multiple USB charging ports, making life easier on the road.

We were also impressed with the class-leading luggage space that claims 586L of storage volume, ensuring practical car usage that suits all scenarios and lifestyle.

Image: Iqbal Dato Selamat

Under the hood and safety features

The heart and soul of the Kia Sportage is the state-of-the-art 2.0-litre Smartstream mated to a six-speed automatic transmission delivering a maximum torque of 192 Nm that delivers an enhanced driving performance, fuel efficiency and eco-friendliness.

Moreover, the fifth-generation Sportage presents itself as the embodiment of what the Korean automaker stands for in terms of safety and technology and is one of the safest vehicles in its class.

The five-seater comes equipped with innovative and safety functions which offer the ultimate confidence and maximum comfort in all journeys.

All variants and specifications come with Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Down-Hill Brake Control (DBC), Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC), and many more.

One of the highlighted safety features is the Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM) which further enhances safety and driver visibility when changing lanes by displaying a real-time rear-side image of the vehicle in the instrument cluster.

Image: Iqbal Dato Selamat

On the road with the Kia Sportage

The Bruneian team recently tested out the Kia Sportage for its full potential and prowess starting from Belluno Cafe to hilly areas of Kg Kiarong.

The 5-seater boasts optimal road performance and road-holding capabilities throughout the drive. It was perfectly stable and planted to the ground which inspired confidence from behind the wheel.

However, it was at the long winding road of the Beribi highway where we got to test out the true prowess of the 2.0-litre Smartstream.

Another highlight was how the good steering felt during the corners and tight bends around the Jln Babu Raja area. Its light steering and good feedback were easy to manoeuvre.

Further into our drive, around the bustling Kiarong area, the SUV provides an enthusiastic acceleration combined with an impressive sharp handling and agility on the road.

Adding to that, the Kia Sportage also maintains its confidence and control over potholes and puddles .

Moreover, the cabin was also exceptionally quiet and tranquil with the muted road, wind, and traffic noise.

No matter where you sit, the five-seater boasts comfort and premium comfort for both driver and passenger.

Nonetheless, the SUV is no doubt a good choice for long-distance traveling.

Overall, combining striking good looks, comfort and dynamic driving the Kia Sportage is the ultimate urban SUV for those looking for the perfect balance between practicality and style.

To see the vehicle up close, visit their showroom in Beribi or call them at 2613888 or follow their Instagram @kiabrunei for updates.

Image: Iqbal Dato Selamat

This article was first published on 21 May 2022 in our Weekly Epaper issue 194 |

THE BRUNEIAN | BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

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