Test drive Kia Sportage 2.0 CRDI 4WD: SUV without defects
This is the first time a compact SUV has passed a marathon test without damage.
By mid-2016, no SUV model had completed the marathon test of automotive and sports cars as well as the Kia Sportage. But this dual-transmission car has other qualities as well. Read it yourself!
It is probably no coincidence that photographer Hans-Dieter Zeufert photographed a white Kia Sportage next to a Dornier Do 31 E1 in front of the Dornier Museum in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance. But Kia's compact SUV model, like the prototype aircraft, has moved vertically upward since its launch. This made the South Korean brand famous in Germany, and in 1994, the Sportage was already one of the first-selling compact SUVs. Today it is the best-selling car of the brand, which is also ahead of the popular Cee'd. And unlike the Do 31, which hasn't been cut off the ground since 1970, the Kia Sportage continues to sell well after its model change in early 2016.
That all this is no coincidence is proved by our marathon test, in which a white Kia with registration number F-PR 5003 covered exactly 100 kilometers and used up 107 liters of diesel fuel and five liters of engine oil. Otherwise? Nothing else. Okay, almost nothing, because the set of wiper blades, as well as a set of winter and summer tires, still managed to wear out on the car. The originally installed Hankook Optimo 9438,5 / 235-55 format remained on the vehicle for about 18 km, and then the residual depth of the channels was 51 percent. It's the same with winter tires - the Goodyear UltraGrip lasted two winters and nearly 000 miles on Sportage wheels before needing to be replaced as tread depth dropped to 30 percent.
Rapid brake wear
This brings us to a topic that brought some bitterness to our Sportage - relatively quick brake wear. At every service visit (every 30 km) it was necessary to replace at least the front brake pads and once the front brake discs. The absence of a lining wear indicator is not very practical, so we advise you to check them visually.
Since the front pads were not available during the regular inspection, they were replaced 1900 km later - hence the additional service after approximately 64 km. Otherwise, we have no comments on the braking system - it worked well, and trailers hitched from time to time also stopped easily.
Kia Sportage with zero balance defect
The white Kia did not show any defects, which is why it finally received a zero damage index and previously ranked first in its reliability class. Skoda Yeti and Audi Q5. In general, many users have no reason to complain about the Sportage's technical equipment. The engine is praised and is perceived by most drivers as quiet and stable, but it only gets a little noisy on cold starts, as editor Jens Drale notes: "At low outside temperatures, the XNUMX-liter diesel makes a lot of noise when cold starts."
However, Sebastian Renz described the trip as "particularly pleasant and pleasantly calm". A common feature of many reviews of the bike are complaints about its slightly reserved temperament. This is not due to objective dynamic characteristics - at the end of the marathon test, the Sportage accelerated from standstill to 100 km / h in 9,2 seconds and reached a speed of 195 km / h. But the engine responds less spontaneously to commands with the accelerator pedal, and soft and confident switching transmission reinforces this impression. However, many drivers see the ease of drivetrain as Kia's first and foremost advantage - it's a car that encourages you to drive calmly and smoothly.
Relatively high cost
What does not fit into this positive picture is the relatively high fuel consumption. With an average of 9,4 l / 100 km, the two-liter diesel is not very economical and even with pronounced economical driving, it often remains above the seven-liter limit. During fast transitions on the track, more than twelve liters pass through it - so the 58 liters of the tank quickly run out. The fact that the mileage indicator immediately resets to zero when less than 50 kilometers remains remains incomprehensible.
However, a nice-running transmission isn't the only reason Kia has been readily preferred for long-distance travel. Not the last role in this was played by simple and easy-to-use infotainment systems. Selecting a radio station, entering a navigation destination - everything that in some other cars turns into an annoying game of hide and seek, is done quickly and effortlessly in Kia. So you can easily forgive not-so-perfect voice input. “Clearly labeled controls, unambiguous analogue devices, user-friendly air conditioning settings, logical navigation menus, seamless connection to the phone via Bluetooth and instantaneous recognition of the MP3 player – excellent!” Jens Drahle once again praises the machine. What's a little embarrassing, and not just him: if you turn off the voice control of navigation, it continues to take over the word every time you start the car, a new destination or a traffic jam. This is annoying, especially since you have to go down one level in the menu to turn off the sound again.
Kia Sportage impresses with its spaciousness
On the other hand, a lot of praise was given to the generously offered space for passengers and luggage, which was appreciated not only by his colleague Stefan Serches: “Four adults plus luggage travel in comfort and quite acceptable comfort,” he said in the attached tables. As far as comfort is concerned, comments about the rather inelastic suspension are relatively common on the maps, especially on short bumps. "Jumping on the undercarriage" or "strong shocks with short waves on asphalt" are some of the notes we read there.
Less unanimity in the evaluation of places; only senior colleagues from the editorial office note that the dimensions of the front seats are slightly smaller than necessary. “Only small seats with no noticeable shoulder support can be annoying,” complains, for example, a member of the editorial board. However, most consumers have no reason to be dissatisfied with the seats. Colleagues prefer to praise good workmanship, as does editor-in-chief Jens Kathemann, who wrote after a 300-kilometer trip: "Very high-quality machine with excellent equipment, everything is very good, except for problems on short bumps." Everything is very good - this is how we can formulate the quintessence of our marathon test. Because not everyone can achieve such an achievement - to become the best SUV model in the history of marathon tests of automotive motorcycles and sports!
Conclusion
So, Kia Sportage 2.0 CRDi 4WD found no defects, but how do we remember this? Like a reliable comrade who will never leave you and who also does not make you angry at anything. Simple operation of functions, a clear interior and rich equipment - this is what you will learn to appreciate in everyday life, as well as a large trunk and a very decent place for passengers.
Text: Heinrich Lingner
Photos: Hans-Dieter Soifert, Holger Wittich, Timo Fleck, Markus Steer, Dino Eisele, Jochen Albich, Jonas Greiner, Stefan Sersches, Thomas Fischer, Joachim Schall
