By: Joel Schwartz, 29/03/2022
What’s new?
Sportage, the recreational vehicle sold in the segment for 6 consecutive years (since 2016), is now being launched in a new generation (fifth). It entered the history books in Israel in the last year of the life of the third generation in 2015, when it was launched in a 1.6-liter version and at a price of NIS 135,000 – a well-equipped family price at the time. Today the product is in a different place, and the price accordingly.
what’s the story?
This generation is also in fact one of the twins of the Hyundai Tucson, which was introduced before it and has been rolling in Israel for a year. The new look expresses a new design language called Opposites United, and the dimensions have been slightly increased to improve the living space. Like the Tucson, the Sportage is offered in a variety of hybrid and rechargeable hybrid versions, but as in the case of the Tucson, so in the case of the Sportage, the various hybrids remain in Europe. In Israel, it is offered with a turbo-diesel engine like in the retirement generation (1.6 liters, 136 hp) or with the same engine that is also found in Tucson, an upgraded 1.6-liter turbo gasoline with valve timing and advanced thermal management that produces 180 hp. In both cases the box is a dual-clutch with 7 gears and front-wheel drive.
what is on the menu?
There are 4 trim levels, ‘Urban’ which includes 12.3-inch multimedia (8-inch in the replaced model), a projected dashboard (12-inch), split climate control, 17-inch rims and more. The ‘Top’ level adds an open panoramic roof and interior LED lighting. The EX level upgrades the 12.3-inch dashboard with a richer and richer display, adding leather-integrated upholstery with electric direction and heating for the front seats, rear-wheel drive levers, adaptive cruise control, and 18-inch rims. The ‘Premium’ level upgrades to full leather upholstery with a combination of suede, replaces the gear selector for the dial (instead of a handle), and adds ventilation to the front seats, memories for the driver’s seat, electric trunk door, LED matrix lighting and 19-inch rims.
At all finish levels the supply active safety system includes autonomous braking, lane departure correction including center maintenance, active perimeter monitoring of dead areas (prevents entry to unavailable lane), reverse traffic monitoring, adaptive lighting, door opening warning when no space is available. The EX level adds autonomous braking when turning left at the junction and adaptive cruise control.
What is the price?
The retiring generation managed to keep the entry price relatively low even as the whole category became more expensive. The new generation is already aligning itself with the competition and presents a more expensive entry price of about NIS 25,000 than that of its predecessor. This increase in prices undermines Sportage’s status as the sales king.
‘Urban’ petrol – NIS 169,900
‘Urban’ diesel – 174,900 shekels
Gasoline Top – NIS 179,900
Petrol EX – NIS 184,900
Premium gasoline – NIS 194,900
To the model page >> Kia Sportage