KIA Sportage – An In-Car Review
I twisted the key. The screen lit up. The logo came alive. “KIA.” Sharp. Clean. Not trying hard. Yet… stylish. That’s how the Sportage felt from the first second.
I was sitting in the Pearl Black variant. AWD. Top-of-the-line. Glossy but not too shiny. Kinda stealthy. Almost aggressive. It had presence. Didn’t scream for attention. It didn’t have to.
First Impressions
Sitting in it felt… different. Not cheap, not basic. You know when you slide into a car and your hands just rest easy on the wheel? That. It felt like it was made for the hands. Everything fell into place. The driver’s seat was slightly bolstered. Not sporty like a race car. But comfy. Supportive.
I looked around. Nothing out of place. Dual screens. Touch climate control. Soft leather feel everywhere. Even the knobs had a subtle click sound—satisfying. Everything had a “click,” a feedback. No flimsiness.
The dash wrapped around like a cocoon. Black with hints of silver. Minimal. Modern. Not too much going on. And that's good.
Interior & Comfort
The space. Oh boy. This was surprising. Rear seats? Roomy. Leg space was more than enough. Headspace too. Even for tall guys like me.
Front seats? Ventilated. Big bonus in Pakistani summers. Memory settings. And heated too, though I doubt I’d ever need that here. The seats felt plush. Firm but not stiff. You could go on a 5-hour drive and not complain. That’s rare.
Sound insulation? Nice. Shut the door and you’re sealed. Road noise? Minimal. Wind noise? Almost gone, unless you're flying on a highway.
And that panoramic sunroof… Massive. It stretches over the entire cabin. Light pours in. Makes the cabin feel airy. Open. Relaxed.
Materials? No hard plastics in sight. At least not where your hand goes. Dashboard soft-touch. Door panels wrapped. Stitching visible. Seats leather. Quality stuff. No rattles. Everything felt held together.
Driving Experience
Started rolling. Smooth. Throttle was responsive. Not jumpy. Just… balanced. The 2.0L engine isn’t a beast, but it ain’t slow either. It picks up when you press. Doesn't struggle. CVT shifts smooth. No jerks.
Handling? Surprisingly good. The steering is light in city. Weaving through traffic? Easy. But on highway, it firms up. Gives feedback. Felt confident. Like the car had a brain. AWD system helps too. You can feel the grip. Corners didn’t make me nervous.
Suspension? Tuned well. Took potholes without fuss. Speed breakers didn’t shake my bones. Slight body roll in sharp turns but nothing alarming. For a crossover, it’s planted.
Brakes? Sharp. Predictable. No sudden bite. Just the right feedback. Pedal travel’s short. That’s good in city drives.
Mileage & Fuel Efficiency
So here's the thing. It’s not the most fuel-efficient crossover. I drove mostly in city. Stop-go traffic. Got around 10-11 km/l. On highway? Touched 14. Maybe 14.5 if you baby the throttle. That’s decent for an AWD 2.0L crossover.
But if you push it hard? It gulps fuel. It’s not a hybrid. And it doesn’t pretend to be. So yeah, fuel average is okay. Could’ve been better. But it’s fair.
Drive modes help a bit. Eco mode dulls the throttle. Makes it sluggish. But better mileage. Sport mode? Wakes it up. RPM climbs faster. Feels more alive.
Features & Tech
This is where Sportage shines. Packed. Loaded. Almost everything you’d want.
12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment. Crisp. Smooth. No lag. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto? Yes, but wired. Bit disappointing. Wireless would be better.
360 camera. Clear. Super helpful in tight spots. Sensors all around. Parking made easy.
Digital instrument cluster. Customizable. Shows navigation, fuel, radio. Even tyre pressure.
Wireless charger. USB ports everywhere. Even for rear passengers. Dual-zone climate. Rear AC vents. Cruise control. Auto brake hold. Electronic parking brake.
LED lights all around. DRLs sharp. Rear tail lights stretched. Signature KIA look. Clean.
And then there’s smart features. Keyless entry. Push start. Auto wipers. Auto headlights. Drive assist. Lane keep. Hill start assist. Even downhill brake control. It’s more than you’d expect at this price point.
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros:
. Looks premium. Road presence.
. Well-built interior. Feels expensive.
. Tech-loaded. Features galore.
. Comfortable for long drives.
. All-wheel drive confidence.
. Reliable brand. Low maintenance.
Cons:
. Mileage ain’t great.
. No wireless CarPlay.
. CVT may feel dull to enthusiasts.
. Bit pricey compared to some rivals.
. No diesel variant.
Variants & Colours
So, here’s what you get in Pakistan. The AWD variant is the flagship. There’s a 2WD option too. Cheaper. Fewer features. No sunroof. No AWD.
Colour options? You get some slick ones. Black. White. Silver. Grey. Even Blue and Red in some cases. But Pearl Black? That hits different. Classy. Mature. And hides dirt well. Trust me.
AWD variant? Worth the extra money if you care about features and grip. If not, 2WD still gives you most of the comfort.
Personal Opinion
Okay. So what do I think?
I liked it. A lot. It felt mature. Like a grown-up’s car. But still exciting. The tech was there. The comfort was real. It drove well. Handled well.
Would I buy it? Depends. If budget’s flexible and you want a solid, no-nonsense crossover? Yes. But if fuel economy is your top concern? Maybe not. Then you’d look at hybrids.
But as an everyday family car? Or a single-person cruiser with weekend plans? It works. Doesn’t try too hard. Doesn’t shout. It just… is. Confident. Composed.
Summary
Kia Sportage is a balanced ride. Stylish but not flashy. Comfortable but not floaty. Techy but not complicated. It’s made for real people, with real needs. It’s not trying to be a sports car. Or a luxury SUV. It knows its place.
Drives smooth. Looks sharp. Feels premium. Fuel average? Could be better. But it gives you a whole lot for what you pay.
And sitting inside it… driving around the city… highways… wet roads… you start to feel something. Like this is the car you could live with. Every day. No drama. Just presence.
So yeah. That’s the Kia Sportage. Clean. Confident. Capable.
I was sitting in the Pearl Black variant. AWD. Top-of-the-line. Glossy but not too shiny. Kinda stealthy. Almost aggressive. It had presence. Didn’t scream for attention. It didn’t have to.
First Impressions
Sitting in it felt… different. Not cheap, not basic. You know when you slide into a car and your hands just rest easy on the wheel? That. It felt like it was made for the hands. Everything fell into place. The driver’s seat was slightly bolstered. Not sporty like a race car. But comfy. Supportive.
I looked around. Nothing out of place. Dual screens. Touch climate control. Soft leather feel everywhere. Even the knobs had a subtle click sound—satisfying. Everything had a “click,” a feedback. No flimsiness.
The dash wrapped around like a cocoon. Black with hints of silver. Minimal. Modern. Not too much going on. And that's good.
Interior & Comfort
Front seats? Ventilated. Big bonus in Pakistani summers. Memory settings. And heated too, though I doubt I’d ever need that here. The seats felt plush. Firm but not stiff. You could go on a 5-hour drive and not complain. That’s rare.
Sound insulation? Nice. Shut the door and you’re sealed. Road noise? Minimal. Wind noise? Almost gone, unless you're flying on a highway.
And that panoramic sunroof… Massive. It stretches over the entire cabin. Light pours in. Makes the cabin feel airy. Open. Relaxed.
Materials? No hard plastics in sight. At least not where your hand goes. Dashboard soft-touch. Door panels wrapped. Stitching visible. Seats leather. Quality stuff. No rattles. Everything felt held together.
Driving Experience
Started rolling. Smooth. Throttle was responsive. Not jumpy. Just… balanced. The 2.0L engine isn’t a beast, but it ain’t slow either. It picks up when you press. Doesn't struggle. CVT shifts smooth. No jerks.
Handling? Surprisingly good. The steering is light in city. Weaving through traffic? Easy. But on highway, it firms up. Gives feedback. Felt confident. Like the car had a brain. AWD system helps too. You can feel the grip. Corners didn’t make me nervous.
Suspension? Tuned well. Took potholes without fuss. Speed breakers didn’t shake my bones. Slight body roll in sharp turns but nothing alarming. For a crossover, it’s planted.
Brakes? Sharp. Predictable. No sudden bite. Just the right feedback. Pedal travel’s short. That’s good in city drives.
So here's the thing. It’s not the most fuel-efficient crossover. I drove mostly in city. Stop-go traffic. Got around 10-11 km/l. On highway? Touched 14. Maybe 14.5 if you baby the throttle. That’s decent for an AWD 2.0L crossover.
But if you push it hard? It gulps fuel. It’s not a hybrid. And it doesn’t pretend to be. So yeah, fuel average is okay. Could’ve been better. But it’s fair.
Drive modes help a bit. Eco mode dulls the throttle. Makes it sluggish. But better mileage. Sport mode? Wakes it up. RPM climbs faster. Feels more alive.
Features & Tech
This is where Sportage shines. Packed. Loaded. Almost everything you’d want.
12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment. Crisp. Smooth. No lag. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto? Yes, but wired. Bit disappointing. Wireless would be better.
360 camera. Clear. Super helpful in tight spots. Sensors all around. Parking made easy.
Digital instrument cluster. Customizable. Shows navigation, fuel, radio. Even tyre pressure.
Wireless charger. USB ports everywhere. Even for rear passengers. Dual-zone climate. Rear AC vents. Cruise control. Auto brake hold. Electronic parking brake.
LED lights all around. DRLs sharp. Rear tail lights stretched. Signature KIA look. Clean.
And then there’s smart features. Keyless entry. Push start. Auto wipers. Auto headlights. Drive assist. Lane keep. Hill start assist. Even downhill brake control. It’s more than you’d expect at this price point.
Pros:
. Looks premium. Road presence.
. Well-built interior. Feels expensive.
. Tech-loaded. Features galore.
. Comfortable for long drives.
. All-wheel drive confidence.
. Reliable brand. Low maintenance.
Cons:
. Mileage ain’t great.
. No wireless CarPlay.
. CVT may feel dull to enthusiasts.
. Bit pricey compared to some rivals.
. No diesel variant.
Variants & Colours
So, here’s what you get in Pakistan. The AWD variant is the flagship. There’s a 2WD option too. Cheaper. Fewer features. No sunroof. No AWD.
Colour options? You get some slick ones. Black. White. Silver. Grey. Even Blue and Red in some cases. But Pearl Black? That hits different. Classy. Mature. And hides dirt well. Trust me.
AWD variant? Worth the extra money if you care about features and grip. If not, 2WD still gives you most of the comfort.
Okay. So what do I think?
I liked it. A lot. It felt mature. Like a grown-up’s car. But still exciting. The tech was there. The comfort was real. It drove well. Handled well.
Would I buy it? Depends. If budget’s flexible and you want a solid, no-nonsense crossover? Yes. But if fuel economy is your top concern? Maybe not. Then you’d look at hybrids.
But as an everyday family car? Or a single-person cruiser with weekend plans? It works. Doesn’t try too hard. Doesn’t shout. It just… is. Confident. Composed.
Summary
Kia Sportage is a balanced ride. Stylish but not flashy. Comfortable but not floaty. Techy but not complicated. It’s made for real people, with real needs. It’s not trying to be a sports car. Or a luxury SUV. It knows its place.
Drives smooth. Looks sharp. Feels premium. Fuel average? Could be better. But it gives you a whole lot for what you pay.
And sitting inside it… driving around the city… highways… wet roads… you start to feel something. Like this is the car you could live with. Every day. No drama. Just presence.
So yeah. That’s the Kia Sportage. Clean. Confident. Capable.
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