KIA SPORTAGE
Options GT-Line, which is 50,000 rubles. more expensive than the Premium version, it is purely stylistic in nature: other bumpers, LED “four-barreled” foglights, a bifurcated exhaust and matte chrome on the body. The cabin also has a little bit of everything: a steering wheel truncated in a sporty manner along the chord (not always convenient, by the way, an option), metal pedals, and other leather seat upholstery. That's all. And if the European version of the Sportage GT-Line will really differ in motion (reduced ground clearance, tighter suspension and sharper steering due to a different electric power steering scheme), then we have differences only in statics. That is why I don’t see much point in overpaying for such a complete set: Kia has enough aggression and charisma even without these embellishments.
But differences in behavior between crossovers are still observed. This is partly due to different wheel sizes: Kia has 19-inch Continental ContiSportContact 5 (245 / 45R19), and Tusan has higher-profile and less “speedy” Hankook Ventus Prime 2 (225 / 60R17). Thanks to this, the Sportage is more confident in corners, more responsive to steering turns, but more prone to scouring in ruts and harder to handle small surface roughness. However, there are other differences that are not related to shoes.
We came across both cars with the best, in my opinion, for this line of power units: 185-horsepower turbodiesels and 6-speed automatics. Beautiful, I tell you, tandem! It is a pity that, due to the high cost, such versions account for a meager sales volume. Both Toyota and Hyundai provide almost gambling acceleration with effective traction starting from the very bottom. At the same time, there is no need to indulge in frequent visits to gas stations: the consumption in a mixed rhythm did not go beyond 9.5 l / 100 km for me. Compared to the previous generation, the union of turbodiesel and automatic transmission has become more “noble”: shifts have become softer and more precise, acceleration is more linear and more energetic, and vibrations and sound are almost imperceptible. In Sport mode, as expected, crossovers become even more lively, but this mode, in my opinion, has little effect on the operation of the automatic transmission: yes, the reactions to the gas are aggravated, but lower gears (if you do not push the accelerator into kickdown) not in a hurry to push. The most beautiful thing is that crossovers have finally become more collected and manageable. Last but not least, this was achieved thanks to the use of new bodies, which received a 39 percent increase in torsional rigidity. They also seriously worked on the suspensions, which only the lazy did not complain about: now their work is quieter, the stroke is longer, the energy intensity has become better. Although SUVs can still be called harsh, it is now almost not annoying. The main thing is that there is no former laxity. But off-road, the path is still booked: the angle of entry has decreased from 24 to 17.5 degrees, and the real clearance remains too modest (I measured about 16.5 cm). At the same time, the suspension on the intersection seems to work tolerably, but breakdowns sometimes occur on more or less strong drops, and you can hit the bottom more than once. Therefore, I advise you not to get carried away with the conquest of the unexplored expanses of our vast.
What is the result? Is there a chance for our newcomers to break into the class leaders? There is no doubt about this, because Kia and Hyundai are still the best deals on the market, except for the production of AvtoVAZ cars . And this applies not only to the ratio of the number of options to the weight of the car. In terms of comfort, design and driving qualities, our couple looks no worse than the not-so-modern Mazda CX-5, Nissan Qashqai and Toyota RAV4, and even surpass them in some ways. The newest VW Tiguan will undoubtedly get involved in the struggle for leadership, but it’s too early to talk about it without announced price tags.