Rise and shine. It was one of those days where we had to wake up early for a day-long trip to the Selangor and Pahang hinterland.
The ride of choice: the new Kia Sportage. Its distributor was eager to get the press and YouTubers to try out its latest product and let them do what they were meant to do — spread the buzz.
While electric vehicles are the talk of the town these days, cars with internal combustion-engines (ICE) are still very much in vogue and are not about to fade away without a fight.
The Sportage has been Kia’s top-selling model, dominating the company’s 2024 sales with over 580,000 units sold worldwide. It’s hoping to carry on the winning streak in 2025.
The Sportage, now in its fifth generation, was launched in Malaysia at KLIMS 2024 auto show last December.
Locally assembled, it is available in four variants, starting with the base 2.0G 2WD at RM147,218; 2.0G 2WD High at RM157,218; 1.6T 2WD High at RM176,899; and 1.6T AWD High at RM186,899.
The C-segment Sportage straddles a price band that is keenly contested with the usual suspects being Proton X70, Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5.
For Kia, introducing four versions means giving customers more choices to suit their preferences and needs. All four were out in force for the media drive.
Each of the almost 40 media members had a chance to try out two variants. Ours turned out to be the 2.0G 2WD High followed by the 1.6T 2WD High.
For context, Kia had just introduced a facelifted version of the Sportage in its domestic market in November 2024.
But that will take some time to roll out across regions of the world. The updates consist of incremental improvements so it’s not for those who already have a pre-facelift unit in hand.
Notably, the 2.0G 2WD High and the 1.6T 2WD High of the current Sportage for Malaysia share the same basic shape and styling cues, featuring the signature tiger-nose grille, slim LED headlights, and distinctive tail lamps.
However, there are differences under the hood and in the cabin that influence the driving experience.
The route mapped out took us through stretches of highways, narrow street roads and even some dirt trails en route to a durian feast at a campsite.
On the move, the Sportage demonstrated composure and refinement, especially when dealing with uneven road surfaces or potholes. The suspension setup feels moderately firm, soaking up road imperfections with little drama, ensuring passengers stay comfortable.
On dirt trails, the ride remained stable, although the front-wheel-drive layout of both the High variants meant one has to exercise some caution on looser surfaces.
The 2.0G 2WD High gets its thrust from a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine producing 154hp and 192Nm of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.
In urban settings, it feels adequate — smooth off the line, though not exactly brisk when it comes to acceleration. It cruises comfortably on the highway, with relatively subdued cabin noise, allowing for conversation without raised voices.
But the engine gets noisier as it needs to be pushed harder to overtake or climb an incline.
The 1.6T 2WD High was the second variant we drove on the return leg of the trip.
The 1.6T 2WD High, however, shines in terms of performance. Kia’s 1.6-litre turbocharged mill produces 177hp and 265Nm of torque.
Mated to a quick-shifting seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, this setup offers strong low-end pull, especially noticeable when overtaking or merging onto highways. Throttle response feels more immediate, which makes driving the 1.6T 2WD High much more engaging — enough to put a smile on your face when you need that burst of acceleration.
On a related point, access to the transmission is via a traditional T-shaped gear lever in the 2.0G 2WD High but a rotary dial on the centre console in the 1.6T 2WD High.
The Sportage's 1.6-litre turbocharged engine.
Both variants handle corners well for an SUV of this size, with minimal body roll and a reasonably direct steering feel.
The bigger 18-inch wheels on the 1.6T variants (as opposed to the 17-inch ones on the 2.0-litre version) help with cornering grip, but they do transmit more road imperfections into the cabin. Still, the overall comfort remains acceptable.
Stepping inside, you’ll find differences between the variants.
The 2.0G 2WD High gets a 4.2-inch colour LCD instrument cluster, while the 1.6T 2WD High upgrades to a 12.3-inch.
There’s also a 12.3-inch infotainment screen with a 360-degree camera in the 1.6T 2WD High, compared to the smaller 8-inch unit in the lower variant.
Paddle shifters, a real boon for enthusiastic driving, are exclusive to the 1.6T variants. Faux leather upholstery in the 2.0 High is agreeable, but the finishing in the 1.6T 2WD High feels a notch more premium.
In terms of practicality, the Sportage provides ample storage, including door bins, a glovebox, a lidded centre console with USB ports, and a spacious armrest compartment.
Rear passengers benefit from storage pockets, USB-C ports and integrated coat hangers and hooks on the seatbacks in front.
The rear seats recline for comfort and fold in a 60:40 split, expanding the sizeable boot for flexible cargo space.
Where safety is concerned, Kia provides a strong suite of features.
Standard across all variants are six airbags, anti-lock braking system, electronic stability control, hill start assist, rear occupant alert, auto hold function and a tyre pressure monitoring system.
Higher-tier variants - such as the two in hand - step it up with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) such as blind-spot collision warning, driver attention alert, rear cross traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality.
In particular, Kia is quite proud of its forward collision-avoidance assist, which has a "Junction Turning" feature that enhances safety at intersections, which are often accident-prone zones.
Junction Turning assists drivers in avoiding collisions with oncoming vehicles when making turns at intersections by providing warnings and applying emergency braking if necessary.
Though the 2.0G 2WD High is by no means underpowered for daily commutes, the 1.6T 2WD High is the sweeter deal. Its extra punch, enhanced throttle response and quick-shifting dual-clutch gearbox simply make it more fun to drive — particularly if you plan on making those spirited weekend trips or venturing off the beaten path.
Whether you’re weaving through city traffic or tackling a dusty trail in search of the best campsite, the turbocharged Sportage is more than up to the task, delivering practicality, comfort and respectable performance.
SPECIFICATIONS
