2024 Kia Sportage 2.0G 2WD Hight Review

The C-segment SUV market has always been a popular choice among family users and young consumers in Malaysia. This type of vehicle needs to balance practicality, features, and daily driving experience. As a main model in this segment, the 2024 Kia Sportage 2.0G 2WD High focuses on the enhancement of intelligent safety features and the technology-inspired interior updates. The main goal of our test drive is to see whether this model can establish a foothold in its price range with balanced performance, particularly examining if its power response and space practicality meet the needs of local users.

From the exterior, the 2024 Sportage 2.0G High continues the brand's signature "Tiger Nose" grille design, but the inner grille now adopts a more refined black mesh pattern, paired with sharp LED headlamps on both sides, creating a highly recognizable appearance. The side profile features smooth lines, with a waistline running from the front fenders to the rear, making the body look more elongated. The addition of 18-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels also enhances the overall sophistication of the vehicle. At the rear, the standout feature is the full-width LED tail lights, which present a striking visual effect when illuminated. The dual-exhaust layout below adds a touch of sportiness. As for the lighting system, an all-LED setup is standard, including headlights, daytime running lights, and tail lights, ensuring adequate brightness for daily use and clear visibility during nighttime driving.

Sitting inside, the first impression is the materials and craftsmanship of the interior. The top of the dashboard is wrapped in soft-touch plastic materials, providing a pleasant tactile feel. The inner side of the door panels is also covered in leather, giving the overall texture an above-average quality within the same segment. The center console is driver-centric, featuring a 12.3-inch touchscreen seamlessly integrated with a fully digital instrument panel. The screen offers clear display quality, and the operating smoothness is commendable. The infotainment system supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, making daily use very convenient. In terms of features, this High variant comes standard with leather seats; the driver’s seat supports 8-way electric adjustment, while the passenger seat offers 6-way manual adjustment. The seat padding is soft with moderate support. Other practical features include dual-zone automatic climate control, rear air vents, a wireless charging pad, and a panoramic sunroof, all of which enhance daily convenience and comfort during use.

In terms of space performance, the Sportage's dimensions are 4660mm×1865mm×1660mm, with a wheelbase of 2755mm, which are considered mainstream figures in the C-segment SUV category. The front-row seating space is ample, and a passenger with a height of 175cm will still have about a fist's worth of headroom after adjusting the seat. The rear-row space is even more impressive: a passenger of the same height seated in the rear will have more than two fists' worth of legroom and around a fist's worth of headroom, ensuring that three people sitting in the back won’t feel cramped. As for storage capacity, the front armrest box provides a spacious storage area, while the door storage compartments can hold water bottles and small items. The rear armrest also features cup holders, proving practical. The trunk offers a standard volume of 543L, and the rear seats support split folding, expanding the space to 1829L when folded down, making it more than sufficient to meet storage needs for family outings and long trips.

Powertrain: The 2024 Sportage 2.0G is equipped with a 2.0L naturally aspirated engine, offering a maximum output of 156PS and a peak torque of 192N·m, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. From the parameter perspective, this powertrain setup belongs to the conventional level for family cars. In actual driving, the power response during startup is relatively smooth, but when the rpm exceeds 2,000, the torque output becomes more sufficient, providing enough confidence when accelerating to overtake. The transmission's shift logic is clear, and shifts are smooth during daily driving, with almost no noticeable jerkiness. However, during sudden accelerations, the downshifting is slightly delayed and requires a deeper press on the accelerator to trigger. As for driving modes, there are three options: Eco, Normal, and Sport. In Eco mode, the throttle response is more laid-back, suitable for daily commuting, while Sport mode enhances throttle sensitivity for a better driving experience.

Handling and chassis performance: The Sportage's steering wheel has a moderate level of resistance and is precise, making daily driving very comfortable. The chassis features a combination of a front MacPherson strut independent suspension and a rear multi-link independent suspension, tuned towards comfort. It effectively absorbs minor road bumps, but larger potholes can still be felt, especially by rear passengers. At high speeds, the vehicle's stability is commendable, with no noticeable drifting, and body roll during cornering remains within acceptable limits. Overall, it meets the expectations for a family SUV.

Fuel efficiency: During this test drive, which mainly included city roads with occasional highway segments, the measured comprehensive fuel consumption was approximately 8.5L per 100 kilometers. This result is within the normal range for 2.0L naturally aspirated vehicles in the same class, keeping daily usage costs reasonable. For braking performance, the brake pedal provides a linear feel, with evenly distributed braking force. During emergency braking, the vehicle maintains a stable posture without noticeable nose-dive, offering a strong sense of confidence.

Ride comfort: The Sportage performs admirably in terms of comfort. The seats provide good support and cushioning, ensuring no fatigue during long drives. In terms of noise control, the cabin is very quiet during low-speed driving. At high speeds, some wind and tire noise are present but remain within an acceptable range and do not affect normal conversations. The air conditioning system delivers excellent cooling performance, bringing down interior temperatures in just a few minutes, a highly appreciated feature for Malaysia’s hot climate. The rear air vents also ensure comfort for rear-seat passengers.

In summary, the 2024 Kia Sportage 2.0G 2WD High has standout highlights, such as its spacious interior, rich features, and decent interior quality. Compared to the Toyota RAV4 2.0G in the same segment, the Sportage has an edge in terms of features, particularly in intelligent safety and technology configurations, and it might also be more competitively priced. Overall, this vehicle is highly suitable for family users who prioritize space and features, especially those who often travel with a fully loaded vehicle. If you are looking for a well-balanced C-segment SUV, the Sportage 2.0G High is definitely a choice worth considering.