IT’S hard to write something detrimental about a car that’s been successfully improved over the years – really hard.

Not that it was anything you’d turn your nose up at in the first instance. From day one, Kia’s Sportage has been one of those ‘go to’ cars for anyone seeking a relatively spacious mode of family transport. 

And it’s a car that has definitely been improved over the years. Bit by bit, a honing of the product into a smart SUV that people genuinely want to buy. The fifth gen here has had a comprehensive update, but it still keeps that recognisable Sportage profile. 

Just take a look around you on your next trip and the evidence is there. The Sportage, which hit our shores in 1995, is a regular on our highways and you’ll spot one with a fair degree of regularity.

The 1.6 litre here with its hybrid assistance is certainly efficient, swift off the mark and with that useful ability to run on electric power from its onboard battery when conditions suit.
In everyday use the ride quality is well up to the mark, and the power assisted steering has a light feel that makes what is a decent sized car easy to manoeuvre round town. Potholes tend to prove to thankfully be nothing more than a minor annoyance, given the parlous state of the UK road network.

Part of the problem we sometimes have testing cars (if it is a problem at all) is that they usually arrive in top spec trim like this GT Line S model ((list price £43,725) so it’s a case of disregarding some of the ‘extras’ to boil it all down to how good the basic machine is. In this case, well up there with the best.

Having said all that, the equipment on this version is hugely impressive. Cameras front and rear, a top view camera to find the lines in a parking space, sunroof, heated seats, heated steering wheel (useful even though weather forecasting has moved on a bit from the days of licking your finger and holding it up in the air), and a wide sweep of information across the dash from a couple of 12.3 inch displays. A lot of thought has gone into what’s on offer for there 21st century family. 

‘Sportage’ might a bit of a misnomer as it’s not really that sporty, but it’s a car that very adequately does all the boring bits of daily life – weekly shopping, the school run, commuting, weekending – and does it with a bit of style.

There are plenty versions of the new Sportage, so plenty to choose from depending on the size of your bank account, or how much of the kids inheritance you’re prepared to wave goodbye to.

It’ll undoubtedly stay as Kia’s best seller for quite a few more years.

Kia Sportage HEV GT-Line S AWD

Price: £43,725
Engine: 1.6 litre, four cylinder, petrol, 1.49kWh Li-on polymer battery
Power: 235bhp
Torque: 195lb/ft
Transmission: 6 speed automatic
Top speed: 121mph
0-62mph: 8.1 seconds
Economy: 44.1 mpg
CO2 emissions: 126g/km

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