Kia Sportage Review, Specs & Performance
SUV's interior impresses - Hybrids are economical and there's lots of space
The latest contract hire Kia Sportage delivers an impressive car with a stylish interior and low running costs. It's in its fifth generation and has managed to improve on the great offering of its predecessor.
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Overview of the Kia Sportage
ENGINES AND PERFORMANCE FOR THE KIA SPORTAGE
The Kia Sportage car leasing range now features a plug-in hybrid for the first time, which will deliver 35 miles of battery-powered range. It also delivers power of 261 bhp and is the quickest model in the range.
There's also a hybrid delivering 227 bhp and both hybrids are mated with the firm's 1.6-litre petrol unit. The power is delivered using a six-speed gearbox as standard, while the plug-in version gets all-wheel drive so it's a well-planted SUV.
Kia also offers on all the trims, the 1.6-litre petrol engine that delivers 148 bhp. There's a choice of a six-speed manual box and a seven-speed automatic transmission. The automatic comes with 48V mild-hybrid technology to help boost fuel economy - which is around 42 mpg.
There's also a 1.6-litre diesel unit that delivers 113 bhp and is mated to either the manual or automatic gearbox. It's a great choice for high-mileage drivers. The hybrid versions get a 1.49kW battery, while the plug-in Sportage car lease comes with a 13.8kW battery.
The plug-in hybrid models have very low running costs when the electric motor is used regularly, while the hybrid delivers around 50 mpg and a reasonable Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax rate for company car users.
Kia Sportage in a nutshell
EQUIPMENT AND HANDLING FOR THE KIA SPORTAGE
The new contract hire Kia Sportage offers a lot of car for the money, and this is an eye-catching design with LED daytime running lights and a wide grille. The sportier GT-Line versions are worth checking out and the interior, in all trims, is attractive and comfortable.
The most obvious addition are the twin screens that first appeared in the Kia EV6. They have crisp graphics, intuitive menus and are lovely to look at. There's also a lot of equipment including a digital radio, automatic wipers and lights, a reversing camera and a touchscreen with smartphone mirroring.
Other models feature larger displays, tinted glass, heated seats, sunroof and wireless phone charging. There's plenty of space in the cabin, and there's an airy feel for those versions with the panoramic sunroof, and the boot size of 587 litres is practical and useful.
The steering feels light and there's little body roll, and it's a comfortable car to drive on long motorway journeys. In many ways, the new Sportage feels a tad upmarket than the model it replaces with some nice design ideas and the stylish cabin.
And since this is one of the best-selling cars in the UK, there's a lot riding on the new Kia Sportage and with the long list of equipment and nice handling, it's still a winning car leasing opportunity.
Along with the firm's seven-year warranty, a five-star safety score is expected from Euro NCAP but there is a lot of standard safety equipment, including autonomous emergency braking, hill hold assist and intelligent speed-limit assistance. Some models also come with highway driving assist, adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring.
Essentially, the Kia Sportage car lease is a well-made and well-designed offering to help continue this contract hire car's popularity with UK drivers.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE KIA SPORTAGE
Why not have a look at the Sportage on the official Kia company website? Or why not look at some of these similar car lease deals from First Vehicle Leasing: the Peugeot 3008 and the Ford Kuga.