Get social with me on twitter and Instagram @DanielCalbacho

The KIA brand makes attractive cars. No surprise - their Chief Design Officer is Peter Schreyer. A doyen of the motoring industry, he created the original TT, the 2nd VW Beetle (the one with the daisy on the dashboard) and the 3rd generation KIA Sportage, to name but a few. 

Speaking of that Sportage, the 2010 model - it was gorgeous. In fact, it set the benchmark within its class for styling. Modern, bold and completely unique, it was the pageant queen amongst its Plain Jane peers. 

With that said, the new 4th Generation Sportage has arrived on our local soil, albeit later than expected considering its global release months ago. This was due to an overstock situation with the previous model. The local slowdown in the motoring industry didn’t help things either, so it took a few extra months to clear the old stock making way for the new. 

The new Sportage is similar but different from the outgoing model. The new model is still good-looking with its bold rear-end styling and a new Porsche-esque front-end. So, it's not as unique as it once was - especially with its 'influenced' styling. Just as well then that its German design is rather eye-catching.

Moving on inside to the top of the range 1.6T GT-Line and you're welcomed by the striking combination of ivory and black perforated two-tone leather seats. The electrically operated front seats are air-cooled at the switch of a button and heated too, depending on your preferences. Cabin space is vast with more than enough room for five large adults. Head, leg, knee and shoulder room are all excellent; easily up to the task of carrying five of our Springboks. The sporty design hasn't detracted from its front, side or rear visibility either, but just in case to aid you while maneuvering there's a full 360 degree of sensors preventing any unnecessary bumps or scraps. Equipment levels are good on the top spec model with even navigation included in the package. Automated lighting, windscreen wipers and handbrake are all part of the goodies list. 

There is a con, though, of an otherwise nice list of pro’s: one needs to accept driving responsibility before you can interact with the Sportage's touchscreen infotainment system. Each time you start the car, you are required to press the 'accept' button on the otherwise easy to use and hassle-free infotainment system. Without pressing the 'accept' button the infotainment system won't remove the terms and conditions screen. A frustrating feature. It's like having to sign a prenuptial every time you take your wife out for dinner. 

A highlight of the Sportage is its new 1.6T engine. It has been used in other KIA's, but now for the first time in the Sportage. It's a lovely free-revving engine that has more than ample power while offering effortless motoring. It was paired with KIA's 7-speed dual clutch automatic, which is above average but not brilliant, especially when mated with this engine. I prefer this engine mated to KIA's slick shifting 6-speed manual, but unfortunately, this isn't available on the new Sportage. 

So, is the new Sportage better than its predecessor? The answer is a yes - it's now more up to date and its new styling as daring as ever. The problem is six years on from the third generation’s launch, the compact SUV market has become one of the most sought after. The competition is now more outstanding than before and customers looking to buy in this segment are more discerning. 

Entry level pricing is fair, but as you climb the Sportage ladder, the price tag for the top of the range Sportage, the model I reviewed, you are looking at over R600 000. That's a lot of coin for a KIA.

Two-tone black and canyon beige upholstery is available as a no-cost option on SX AWD and GT Line models while GT Line models are also available with a two-tone black and light grey interior as a no-cost option. A panoramic sunroof is available as an R12 500 option on SX AWD models and is standard on the range-topping GT Line model.

Likes

The quality of the interior.

Easy of operation.

Frisky engine.

Striking looks.

Solid build quality.

Dislikes

The KIA interior scent.

The need to agree to T&C's of the infotainment system before it begins operating.

The competition 

Hyundai Tucson, VW Tiguan, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Qashqai and Renault Kadjar.

Pricing

2WD 2.0P MT IGNITE EX - R369,995

AWD 2.4P AT SX - R557,995

2WD 2.0D AT EX - R487,995

AWD 2.0D AT SX - R567,995

AWD 1.6T DCT GT - R599,995

AWD 1.6T DCT 2 TONE GT - R599,995

AWD 2.4P AT SX S/R - R570,495

AWD 2.0D AT SX S/R - R580,495

Service and warranty

All Sportage models ship as standard with KIA’s innovative 5-year / Unlimited km warranty, 5-year / Unlimited km Roadside Assistance as well as a 5-year / 90 000km Service Plan.

My choice

2WD 2.0D AT EX - R487,995

www.kia.co.za