The Kia Sportage GT-Line has touched down in SA and we’ve driven it. With an all-new Sportage due in 2022, you might think this is a run-out special, but there’s more to it than meets the eye.

The Sportage has been Kia’s best-selling model (globally) since it appeared on the world stage back in 1991. More than 5 million units of the Sportage (now in its 4th generation) have been sold and the Korean family car is on the cusp of being replaced by an all-new model. This futuristically styled 5th-gen Sportage will arrive on local shores in 2022, but in the meantime, Kia South Africa has introduced a limited-edition Sportage GT-Line to tide us over.

What is a Sportage GT-Line?

The GT-Line treatment incorporates some sporty cosmetic upgrades and a generous derivative-specific equipment list. The newcomer sports bold-looking 19-inch alloy wheels, vivid LED daytime running lights, and lashings of chrome detailing. Decked out in this Infra Red finish, the Kia Sportage GT-Line really looks the part…

Inside, the GT-Line theme continues with 2-tone leather trim on the seats with a diamond-patterned stitching and aflat-bottomed multifunction steering wheel. As this derivative is 2nd from the top of the range, it comes equipped with a comprehensive array of creature comforts, plus the latest in tech, gadgets and gizmos.

Standard equipment includes an Apple CarPlay- and Android Auto compatible 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a wireless charging pad, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry & start, electrically adjustable front seats, heated seats (front+rear), auto headlights, a panoramic sunroof, an electrically-powered tailgate and cruise control.

As far as safety features are concerned, the Kia Sportage GT-Line comes with 6 airbags, electronic stability control, hill-start assist, anti-lock brakes (ABS) with emergency brake-force distribution (EBD), and downhill brake control, as well as a reverse-view camera in combination with front- and rear parking sensors.

Powertrain

To justify its GT-Line badging, the newcomer needs to deliver a notably sportier driving experience than its brethren – a so-so naturally-aspirated petrol or a thrifty diesel motor would not suffice! To that end, the Kia Sportage GT-Line features a 1.6-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol engine, which punches out 130 kW and 265 Nm. Power goes to all wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Kia claims a 0-100 kph time of 9.1 sec and a 210-kph top speed.

What is the Kia Sportage GT-Line like to drive?

Kia South Africa prepared an impressive (and sufficiently lengthy) test route (it spanned a few hundred kilometres of the Western Cape) so that we could thoroughly assess its new Sportage GT-Line. Also on hand were a brace of Seltos GT-Line units, with which we got reacquainted; the smaller model remains a very accomplished offering!

Considering the Sportage GT-Line rides on stylish 19-inch alloy wheels, we were expecting to hear more road noise than usual and experience a compromised (read: firm) ride quality, but although this 4th-gen Sportage’s quite old, it certainly doesn’t feel obsolete. The low-speed ride comfort is fair; the pliant suspension keeps occupants relaxed.

Kia says that its newcomer can sprint from 0 to 100 kph in a brisk 9.1 sec, but we suspect the Sportage GT-Line is, in actual fact, a tad quicker than its manufacturer claims. The turbopetrol engine is a willing performer, with a fair spread of grunt across the rev range, but the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission deserves the most praise. Not only is it fairly intuitive (it consistently selects the right gears to suit various conditions) – it shifts unobtrusively.

Indeed, the engine feels perkier than its outputs of 130 kW and 265 Nm suggest. The steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles are a tactile pleasure and, when the Sportage GT-Line’s Sport drive mode is engaged, the Kia does not feel like an “uninvolving family car” to drive. The engine’s best trait is its ability to deliver eager in-gear acceleration when you need to execute quick overtaking manoeuvres. The vehicle simply surges ahead with minimal hesitation.

Given its GT-Line designation, you’d expect some sportiness – well, within reason, this is a high-riding family car, after all. It won’t deliver cornering thrills, but there’s a bit more hands-on engagement that sets it apart from its siblings and some segment rivals. The sporty-looking GT-Line-badged ‘wheel is both nice to look at and wield.

The real ace up the Sportage GT-Line’s sleeve is its part-time all-wheel-drive system, however. There’s no low-range transfer case fitted, obviously, but the Kia musters enough grip to be more than useful on the sandiest of dirt roads (we tested this at one of the stops). Should you decide to take your brave pill and venture further off the beaten track, there’s hill-descent control. The all-wheel drive will also come in handy on wet or slippery roads.

How much does the Kia Sportage GT-Line cost in South Africa?

The Kia Sportage GT-Line costs R649 995 and is sold with a 5-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty with roadside assistance and a 5-year/90 000 km service plan. The vehicle will go on sale on 15 October 2021.

Verdict

Should you consider this Sportage GT-Line – or wait for the all-new 5th-gen model? It’s a question many prospective buyers will be asking. With the latter due to land in South Africa at some point in 2022, we got the impression from Kia SA that planning for the new Sportage is still in its infancy…

With its utterly comprehensive standard specification and punchy turbopetrol motor, the Sportage GT-Line makes an interesting case for itself. Logically, the fractionally more affordable turbodiesel-powered derivative will be lighter on fuel, but the AWD version only comes in EX grade, which has substantially fewer features than the GT-Line.

Further Reading

Kia Sportage GT-Line Specs and Price

All-new Kia Sportage Cool Facts