High Kia cuisine its hajgab against the competition in the hybridklubben

High cars have the wind in its sails. Therefore, Kia has put forth the effort to give his three year old SUV Sportage a facelift that can give the model a new pouf out over the ramp.

It includes in addition to a visual upgrade is also a re-engine program as a result of new EU requirements.

Sportage debuts as the first in the Kia-Hyundai group with a hybrid system on 48 volts. It makes the car to a so-called 'mild hybrid', in which a battery and an electric motor provides a boost in acceleration, while the charging is done by collecting energy from braking.

According to Kia, the technology will lower fuel consumption by four percent. It is launched in the first place in the top model of the 2.0 CRDI MHEV ’GT-line’ Aut 4WD which has a diesel engine at 185 horsepower, a torque of 400 Nm, four-wheel drive and the new sporting ’GT-line’equipment.

the Machinery was being helped by an electric motor 12 kW (16 hp). Testbilen costs 467.000 crowns, but the cheapest Sportage may be obtained from 302.000 dollars. For the money get the base model 'Advance' with front-wheel drive and a gasoline engine of 132 hp.

48 volt hybrid

48 volts the system is a kind of intercompany account on the road against pluginhybrider and electric vehicles.The advantage of this system is that it can be built on existing systems, so you don't have to develop a completely new powertrain for the car.You can consider the new hybrid systems of 48 volts as an advanced form of the stop/start system.

the Interior is somewhat gloomy, but the finish and functionality is in order. Photo: Jens Overgaard
Nice overview
Sportage with its almost Porsche-like hajgab of a front quite a trendy car to behold.

In classic SUV style, you have great ground clearance, good visibility in traffic and the high ceilings in the cabin, where there is good space both fore and aft.

Behind the wheel experienced the car stable, and is well on the way. You feel, however, that the center of gravity is high, and here is running and controls the klassemesteren VW Tiguan better and more personvognsagtigt in both the for - as a four-wheeled versions. Here is the price for the base version, however, also 50,000 dollars higher.

Testbilen doing on the paper to 17.2 km/l calculated according to the WLTP-norm, which is okay. We landed at around 14.5 km/l after a week with a lot of highway driving. In the daily brands you, however, not much to hybridteknologen that works in the background.
the Sportage is practical, but the battery pack takes some of the bagagerumspladsen in hybridversionen. Photo: Jens Overgaard
More features
In contrast to the produced hybrid car can not run a short stretch of clean power.

the Battery on 0,48 kWh in turn has a new start/stop function, which turns on, while car is in motion. The internal combustion engine is stopped automatically upon deceleration in gear and during braking, and it starts the first again, when the driver steps on the accelerator. We experienced, however rarely.

The diesel engine with its torque of 400 Nm powerful for the most part, and automatgearet shifts soft and smooth. However, we saw a number of cases where the power is briefly disappeared during downshifts.

the Interior experienced very inviting in spite of its dark appearance. Mini allows for sophisticated equipment like the frameless screen, surround view camera, electronic p-brake and adaptive cruise control.

It is already neat display that contains, among other infotainmentskærm, DAB Plus radio with Apple CarPlay and navigationsanlæg, expanded in the ’GT-line’ with, among other electric-adjustable leather seats and a number of design details. Automatic emergency brake costs, however, the dkk 15,000 extra, which is below all criticism in so expensive a car.
TomTom navigation with storbykort, where you can see the distinctive buildings delineated, works excellent. Photo: Jens Overgaard
Conclusion
Kia Sportage is both smart and practical. The price is okay, but compared to competitors is not a slagtilbud.

It is a minus that the automatic emergency brake is not standard equipment, and it is difficult to determine the impact of the new mild hybrid technology on 48 volts.

the Technique will make sense, when it becomes available to the less motorudgaver with front-wheel drive.

Kia Sportage

the 2.0 CRDI MHEV ’GT-line’

466.798 crowns

to 17.2 km/l

Diesel/electric motor, 185 hp, 400 Nm

9,5 seconds