In Malaysia, Kia Sportage is offered in only two variants; Kia Sportage 2.0 EX at RM 123,480 and Kia Sportage 2.0D GT-LINE for RM 139,888. With Malaysia stocked with about 316 SUVs, analyzing those equivalent to the Sportage in terms of pricing is not only tricky but confusing.
The design employed in every brand greatly differs from each other and the interior configurations and alignments tell a different experience and motive. However, analyzing the design and performance of all the SUVs selling between RM 123,480 and RM 139,888, Kia Sportage Malaysia is at par with the rest.
SUVs like the All-New X-Trail, Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-5 and Mazda CX-3 are famous car models aggressively fighting for the largest share of the Malaysian SUV market. To those looking for the best SUV, is Kia Sportage the best in the market today?
New Kia Sportage Review
Interior & Exterior
Appearing uniquely at the forefront is a GT Line Radiator Grille surrounded by silver plating and front accents just above the bumper. To keep the road shinning at night, the two variants are fitted with LED Bi-Functional headlights, front fog lights, LED Daytime running lights and LED rear lamplights.
Giving the Sportage an exceptional clearance are 18-inch alloy wheels for the EX trim and 19-inch for the GT-Line trim.
Welcoming you into the cabin is a center fascia and a smartly covered interior that offers a premium relaxing experience when seated at the ergonomically designed seats. The soft-touch material covering the seats, sides and steering wheel distinguishes Kia Sportage Malaysia from the other SUVs.
To keep you entertained, Kia fitted the Sportage with a JBL sound system that is effortlessly controlled from the audio controls on the steering wheel. And for the driver to be informed about the car there is a 4.2-inch TFT –LCD between the gauge displays for easy visibility.
The cabin has enough space for all 5 occupants and the boot is extra-large. To maximize the cargo space, the rear seats are fully foldable and there is an included dual-level luggage board to help keep the bags organized.
Advanced Safety Technologies
In case of a collision, Sportage is packed with 6 airbags located at the driver and front passenger front positions while the rest covers the sides.
At the front and rear bumper are ultrasonic sensors to help the driver avoid a collision. Again, this SUV has a rear-cross traffic collision warning. More similar to the Isuzu, the body structure is made strong by utilizing strong steel and hot-stamped at crucial parts to resist easy crumpling of the cabin.
Kia Sportage Performance
To tackle road bends without worries, Sportage has an AWD system that makes it fit for all kinds of roads and weather conditions.
The two Sportage variants are offered in Malaysia with two engine options; NU 2.0 MPI gasoline engine and a 2.0 diesel engine. At 6200rpm, the gasoline engine powers 155ps and 192Nm at 4000rpm while the diesel engine produces 400Nm of torque at 1750-2750 rpm and 185ps at 4000rpm.
For smooth transmission, both the diesel and gasoline engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Conclusion
Even though the majority of SUVs are equipped with the same safety and security systems, Kia Sportage Malaysia encompasses almost every safety system for maximum protection. Without forgetting the practicality offered by the elegant interior, the exterior is superbly designed.
