It was means again in 1991 when the primary Kia graced UK shores – it was known as the Satisfaction which, unbeknown to the Korean carmaker and to us within the business, was a really apt title for what was to comply with.
Quick ahead 32 years and the corporate has gone from an inexpensive funds model that coated the fundamentals very nicely to a producer that develops vehicles that recurrently compete within the premium sector nowadays, and sometimes come out victorious.
One of many mainstay fashions is the Kia Sportage, which is now in its fifth era and, this 12 months, celebrates its thirtieth 12 months in manufacturing. It launched globally in 1993 after which made its debut right here within the UK two years later in 1995.
And what higher strategy to mark such a momentous event than to revisit the five-door SUV-styled fashions by means of the generations.
Beginning off with the first Technology automobile, codenamed NB-7, which offered from 1995 to 2003 and secured 10,897 gross sales.
The primary automobile was revealed in Seoul in 1993 and arrived at Kia sellers within the UK from 1995. All variations had been powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine and it was launched in trim grades known as SLX, GLX, and GLX SE with costs ranging from £12,840.
Over the following few years there have been trim upgrades after which in 2000, the primary computerized variants arrived.
Lastly, in February 2002, a particular version 2.0-litre XSE mannequin launched with the selection of handbook or computerized transmission. And it was that automobile that we examined with its five-speed handbook gearbox.
The very first thing you discover while you get behind the wheel of this 21-year-old mannequin is how excellent the all-round visibility is. The aspect home windows and windscreen are large, the pillars actually slim and the sprint fairly low in its place. Simplistic sure, nevertheless it makes you realise you didn’t want all these security warning mechanisms again then as a result of the driver-visibility was so good.
And there have been far much less distractions too with fewer bells and whistles in comparison with modern-day vehicles. The steering is mild, however the five-speed handbook gearbox is ok and it even gives 2H, 4H, N and 4L off-road settings.
It does appear somewhat fidgety on our bumpy, pitted roads, however actually nonetheless places in efficiency.
Subsequent up was the Sportage 2nd Technology, codenamed JE/KM which offered 23,371 items from 2005 to 2010. The automobile, costing from £13,995, was revealed on the Paris Motor Present in 2004 and went on sale within the UK the next 12 months in XE or XS grades and paired to both a 2.0-litre or 2.7-litre V6 petrol engine.
The earliest fashions had been inbuilt South Korea, however in 2007 manufacturing switched to Kia’s Zilina plant in Slovakia and that’s the place in the present day’s vehicles are nonetheless being constructed.
In 2005, a 2.0-litre CRDi diesel-powered Sportage joined the ranks with handbook or auto transmission after which a 12 months later in 2006, a extra highly effective 138bhp 2.0-litre diesel unit was launched in XE and XS specification.
And we examined that XE 2.0 CRDi mannequin with AWD, launched in 2006.
All of a sudden now we have tons extra know-how to play with and the compromise is smaller home windows and a bigger dashboard to accommodate all these additional options. The result’s poorer driver imaginative and prescient, however you do get extra equipment.
The journey is extra refined with a well-timed six-speed handbook gearbox, comfier seats and a 4WD Lock button.
There have been nonetheless a number of extra engine and trim upgrades through the years earlier than Technology 2 Sportage gross sales got here to an in depth.
The third Technology automobile, priced from £16,645, was offered from 2010 to 2016. It was codenamed SL and there have been 95,626 fashions offered. It was the model that catapulted Sportage to the massive time with consumers drawn to its modern Peter Schreyer-designed attractiveness, together with the tiger-nose grille, together with the introduction of Kia’s excellent seven-year guarantee package deal.
The car was longer, decrease, wider, lighter and extra aerodynamically designed in comparison with any earlier variations. It additionally provided far superior gas effectivity together with decrease carbon emissions. Initially on sale with a selection of two.0-litre petrol or diesel powertrains, a 1.6-litre GDi and 1.7-litre CRDi joined the vary shortly afterwards.
The automobile was provided in grades known as 1, 2, 3, KX-2 and KX-3 and we examined the Sportage KX-3, launched in 2010, powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine with all-wheel drive.
The very first thing to note on the Sportage Gen-3 mannequin is that the indicator and wiper stalks have swapped sides on the steering wheel … eventually! You now get the indicator stalk on the left and the wiper on the fitting which is much extra typical.
As well as, the refinement ranges have taken an enormous leap ahead with heated seats, Bluetooth, a CD participant (bear in mind these), additional steering wheel controls and a sunroof.
The five-speed handbook gearbox is sharper and there’s a 4WD Lock button for more durable terrain.
In 2012, a KX-4 range-topper was added to the combination powered by a 182bhp 2.0-litre CRDi engine and a 2014 facelift noticed revisions to the entrance and rear of the car. The final change for Gen 3 was the arrival of a particular Axis Version mannequin.
From 2016 to 2022, the 4th Technology mannequin, codenamed QL, offered 197,547 items. The corporate was breaking gross sales information month after month as consumers clambered to get their palms on the autos. This era Sportage introduced extra advances in gas effectivity, consolation, connectivity, comfort and security with costs ranging from £17,995.
With design being a principal focus for consumers, the introduction of GT-Line variants upped the ante even additional with sportier derivatives benefitting from a extra premium inside.
Three engines and two transmissions had been provided on the earliest 4th Technology vehicles and we noticed the arrival of a seven-speed computerized gearbox for the primary time. Over time the alternatives of engines grew as did the variety of trims accessible with prospects provided a listing of 1, 2, 3, 4, KX-1, KX-2, KX-3, KX-4, GT-Line in addition to a First Version grade.
We opted for the 2016 Sportage GT-Line 1.6-litre petrol front-wheel drive automobile.
Nicely, it’s all getting very fashionable abruptly. The upholstery has a premium really feel to it and we’re launched to touchscreen know-how with sat nav. Cellphone calls could be made or acquired, there are heated seats, a chunky six-speed gear knob, flat-bottomed steering wheel and the doorways are unlocked by urgent a button on a key fob – think about that.
As well as, there’s a lot of security equipment added to the combination with a reversing digital camera, velocity restrict warning, lane hold help, a gear shift prompter, hill descent management and a 4WD lock.
Throughout its life-span the 4th Technology Sportage actually moved with the occasions and the later upgrades noticed the arrival of up to date multimedia methods with 3D mapping, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity and plenty of modern-day tech we nonetheless see in the present day.
Extra trim, engine and transmission modifications, together with the introduction of 48-volt delicate hybrid know-how had been added to this car earlier than gross sales lastly got here to an in depth in December 2020, however not earlier than a classy Sportage JBL Black Version was launched.
Lastly, the fifth and present era Sportage, which has been on sale since 2022 below the codename NQ5. With costs from £26,745, up to now it has offered 57,337 items.
The fifth Technology Sportage was redesigned from the bottom up and was provided for the primary time with full hybrid know-how to additional enhance decrease carbon emissions and elevated gas effectivity.
Six trim ranges and eight completely different powertrains had been accessible and it’s the mannequin that may see plug-in hybrid know-how added to the line-up.
Clients might select from trim ranges known as 2, GT-Line, 3 and GT-Line S and it was the range-topping GT-Line S, launched in 2022, that we examined powered by a 1.6-litre T-GDi petrol HEV with front-wheel drive.
So, to modern-day Kia Sportage then. The way it has reworked over the a long time and our high-end GT-Line S mannequin had all of the tech possible. The primary characteristic you’ll discover is the 2 beautifully-styled infotainment screens behind a single curved panel. It seems to be very Mercedes-like to be trustworthy.
This automobile was an computerized with perfectly-timed gear shifts and paddles for added driver engagement. There are Eco and Sport driving modes, a panoramic sunroof, wi-fi charging pad, heated and ventilated seats which might be power-adjustable, a heated steering wheel, contact management aircon settings and much, tons extra.
Once you point out to show left or proper, the driving force data show exhibits a real-time digital camera view of what is forward of you and, regardless of beeping tons greater than earlier variations, this newest Sportage is premium high quality by means of and thru.
It can come as little shock to study the Sportage is Kia’s best-selling automobile within the UK, Europe and globally and up to now has offered 384,778 fashions within the UK and 7 million worldwide. However with every era introducing new know-how and including that little bit additional to the combination, we will’t wait to see what occurs subsequent.
