The Kia Sportage range has gained a trio of 1.6-litre turbodiesel derivatives. We drove a Kia Sportage diesel in Cape Town recently and these are our initial impressions…
The timing couldn’t have been better. As Kia South Africa was launching diesel versions of the Sportage, local motorists were facing dramatic fuel-price changes: petrol was set for a big increase, while diesel was set to come down substantially. A good time to promote a new diesel-powered family SUV, then.
We’ve made no secret of the fact that we rate the Kia Sportage highly. Not only does it look fresh and modern, but its lineup ticks many boxes. Launched locally in September 2022, the Sportage had one minor shortcoming: there was just one engine/gearbox combo. “Worry not”, said Kia SA, who promised that a diesel-powered Sportage would be touching down in Mzansi Africa soon enough. And here it is!
When it comes to turbodiesel-engined family SUVs, there aren’t that many to choose from these days. The Toyota RAV4 is no longer offered in diesel guise, a Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0TDI was recently launched and Hyundai offers a Tucson 2.0D Elite (with an all-wheel-drive N-Line version waiting in the wings).
Meanwhile, the Mazda CX-5 2.2DE AWD Akera is soldiering on and, if you want an all-new model from a premium brand (and are willing to compromise on cabin space), consider BMW’s X1 sDrive18d M Sport.
What’s on offer?
The Kia Sportage diesel derivatives slot neatly between their petrol-powered siblings, and they are available in 3 trim levels. The engine is a 100 kW/320 Nm turbocharged 1.6-litre 4-cylinder unit that drives the South Korean family car’s front wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
If the engine configuration sounds familiar, that’s because it’s an updated version of the motor that served in the discontinued Kia Soul. As far as performance is concerned, Kia says the diesel-powered Sportage can sprint from 0 to 100 kph in 11.4 seconds. Given the claimed fuel consumption of 4.9 L/100 km and the Sportage’s 54-litre fuel capacity, Kia reckons a tank range of around 1 100 km is possible.
The diesel-powered Sportages’ trim levels are near-identical to those of their petrol-powered siblings, with even the base LX offering an impressive level of standard kit – it’s anything but “entry-level”!
Sportage diesel LX
- LED Headlights, daytime running lights, front fog lights, taillights
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Drive modes (Eco, normal, sport, smart)
- Cloth upholstery
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shifter
- 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats
- Dual automatic temperature control
- Curved 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment screen
- Reverse camera / rear parking sensors
- Apple CarPlay / Android Auto / Bluetooth with voice recognition
- 2x USB-C rear charging points, front USB charging points
- 6x airbags, ABS, EBD, ESC, Hill Start, Trailer stability assist, downhill brake control
- Blind spot collision warning
- Keyless entry, with push-button start
Sportage diesel EX (the above content, plus: )
- Gloss black front grille
- Front parking sensors
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Cloth/artificial leather upholstery
- Electrically adjustable front seats
- Heated front seats / heated steering wheel / heated rear seats
- Remote control for folding rear seats
- Rear privacy glass
Sportage diesel GT-Line Plus
- Gloss black exterior
- Deluxe scuff plates
- Alloy pedals
- Electric tailgate
- Gearshift paddles on the steering wheel
- Artificial leather/suede upholstery
- Lane follow assist + lane keep assist
- Forward collision avoidance assist
- LED interior lighting
- Panoramic glass sunroof
- 19-inch wheels
MORE: Kia Sportage CRDi Specs & Price Announced
What is it like to drive?
You cannot tell a diesel-engined Sportage apart from its petrol-powered equivalent based on its exterior execution – they look identical. It’s only when you start the engine, which emits a muted clatter at start-up, that you’ll realise that there’s a turbodiesel under the Kia’s bonnet. The powerplant’s relatively gentle idle speaks volumes of the Smartstream motor’s refinement and the model’s excellent noise insulation.
For the record, Sportage diesels are the only derivatives in the range to feature auto start/stop tech.
The majority of our test-drive route comprised open-road driving, with minimal interruptions. The 1.6 CRDi’s engine and transmission work well together; the gear shifts are well-calibrated and smooth.
Contrary to expectation, the “small-capacity turbodiesel” does not seem to labour in the 1.5-tonne Sportage; the engine delivers a nice dollop of torque from quite low down in the rev range (2 000 rpm).
If you need to summon brisk overtaking acceleration, there’s no need to apply full throttle or engage the Sport drive mode – even in its default drive mode, the 1.6 CRDi is sufficiently responsive. There’s minimal hesitation; it just picks up pace fairly rapidly… certainly more rapidly than its on-paper outputs suggest.
As far as the diesel-powered Sportage’s ride quality and steering setup were concerned, they’re much the same as we experienced with its petrol-engined counterpart. As we said in our review of the 1.6 T-GDi GT-Line S, the Kia’s suspension feels tuned for smooth road surfaces (the ride’s a bit firmer than expected). However, the EX’s 18-inch alloys probably strike the best blend between comfort and style.
Occupant comfort levels are high; this generation of Sportage has always created the impression that it can cover long trips with ease and now, with its diesel engine, it may consume even less fuel when doing so. We executed many overtaking manoeuvres on the 74-km launch route, but by the end of the trip, the Sportage indicated a fuel consumption figure of just 5.9 L/100 km. With a more considered driving style (and the use of Eco mode), we reckon one could come close to achieving that claimed 4.9 L/100 km.
How much does the Kia Sportage diesel cost in South Africa?
All Sportage derivatives are sold with a 5-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, with roadside assistance. A 6-year/90 000 km service plan is included.
| Kia Sportage 1.6 CRDi LX | R597 995 |
| Kia Sportage 1.6 CRDi EX | R651 995 |
| Kia Sportage 1.6 CRDi GT-Line Plus | R735 995 |
Get a quote / Request a test drive
Summary
While our test drive of the Kia Sportage diesel was brief, it was illuminating nonetheless. While there’s no denying that the petrol-powered Sportages are accomplished, the turbodiesel powertrain offers plenty of in-gear punch, which should (in theory) be matched with excellent fuel economy over longer distances.
Thanks to this product expansion, the Kia Sportage range now offers a derivative to suit virtually every new family-car buyer’s needs and budget. We’re keen on spending more time with the new diesel engine in a wider variety of scenarios, such as congested city traffic, to assess the powertrain’s smoothness.
Some may question why Kia South Africa would launch 1.6 CRDi derivatives of the Sportage at a time when diesel-powered passenger cars are being phased out in Europe, but consider this: Until the SA Government can implement a well-considered strategy to facilitate (or, better yet, incentivise) the uptake of electric or electrified vehicles, all-electric-, hybrid- or plug-in hybrid versions of models such as the Sportage simply won’t be viable in our market. If they were to be sold right now, the lofty taxes/duties levied on such vehicles would inflate their asking prices; therefore, they’d be prohibitively expensive.
MORE: The Kia Sportage 1.6T – watch our video review now
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