This past week in the Times Live, the
caption directly underneath the first photo of the 2019 Sportage reads “looking
good, there, Tiger!” All of us here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis have no
choice but to agree and we are excited about the Sportage's 25th
year in existence. This was the vehicle that cemented Kia's arrival with scores
of serious SUV buyers and established a firm sense of loyalty and longevity.
Regarding the new model, South African writer
Phuti Mpyane spent half an exhilarating day huffing and puffing up and down
Western Cape roads and was delighted with its performance. Standard on the SA
version is automatic headlamp control, LED daytime running lights, electric
side mirrors with integrated indicator lamps, a center console armrest with
integrated storage box, Bluetooth connectivity, six-speaker sound system, front
and rear electric windows, leather-wrapped steering wheel with remote controls,
and ultra-cool 16-inch alloy wheels with 215/70 R16 rubber.
The CRDI was given high amount of props for its
power, and the powertrain choice is available with the Ignite plus
specification, adding auto-folding side mirrors an electro chromatic rear-view
mirror, front fog lamps, and 17-inch wheels with 225/60 R17 rubber. The front
bumper is completely re-designed, sporting larger air-ducts around a revised
tiger nose grille. Rear styling is dominated by a new connecting strip between
the tail light clusters, and adding to the visual enhancement is a selection of
cool new paint choices, as well as brand-new alloy wheel designs in 16, 17, or
19-inch sizes.
The Sportage is the vehicle that U.S. News and
World Report also ranked as having a “spacious, upscale cabin, very smooth
ride, and agile handling.” As the holidays are upon us and we know how
important the value factor is for so many different families, this was an SUV
that was manufactured with those looking for a “bang for the buck” factor
without a doubt. We feel that it is the superior choice when put to the test up
against the Mazda CX-5, Hyundai Tucson, and Toyota RAV4. Standard features now
included a rearview camera, six-speaker audio system, satellite radio,
Bluetooth, a USB port, and 5-inch touchscreen.
