Kia Sportage Review

In Malaysia's C-Segment SUV market, pragmatic family users and young consumers who prioritize cost-effectiveness dominate the mainstream. They not only seek vehicles with attractive designs but also demand practical space, decent configurations, and reasonable daily fuel consumption and maintenance costs. The 2024 Kia Sportage 2.0G 2WD, as the entry-level fuel version of the series, targets precisely this group of needs—it continues the iconic avant-garde design of the Sportage family, comes standard with a rare 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster for its class, and is equipped with a reliable 2.0L naturally aspirated engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. In this test drive, we focus on verifying: can it strike a balance between design, space, features, and driving quality, making it one of the most worthwhile choices in its price range?

In terms of exterior design, the 2024 Sportage 2.0G 2WD retains the highly recognizable family "Tiger Nose" front grille. However, the mesh structure inside the grille appears more refined, paired with the angular LED daytime running lights on both sides, offering a more tech-savvy feel compared to the halogen headlights of the 2019 model. The side of the car adopts a segmented waistline design, with creases extending from the front fender to the rear, enhancing the muscular look. The 18-inch alloy wheels also feature a sportier style compared to the older version. The rear-end's highlight is the continuous LED taillight, which creates an impression of width when illuminated. The silver skid plate at the bottom retains the rugged SUV feel. Overall, the design is younger and more aligned with current aesthetic trends compared to the 2019 model.

Stepping inside, the first thing that catches the eye is the 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster, a feature absent from the 2019 model. The display is clear and allows switching between different driving information interfaces. The center console layout is simple and practical. Although it does not adopt the popular dual-screen design, the retention of physical buttons and knobs ensures more intuitive operation, especially for the air conditioning control area, which is convenient for blind operation while driving. Regarding interior materials, the top of the dashboard is wrapped in soft-touch materials, offering a more refined texture than the old model. The inner side of the door panels also features leather wrapping. While the overall emphasis remains on practicality, there is a noticeable improvement in luxury compared to the 2019 model. The seats use a combination of fabric and leather materials, providing decent support, and the lumbar support adjustment for the front seats helps alleviate fatigue during long-distance driving.

In terms of space performance, the 2024 Sportage 2.0G 2WD's wheelbase is expected to remain consistent with the 2019 model (2670mm). In actual experience, the rear legroom offers about two fists of space, and headroom is also ample. Even passengers who are 180cm tall will not feel cramped while sitting in the rear. The rear middle floor does not have a high protrusion, making foot space for the middle passenger less constrained. The rear seat also features air conditioning vents and USB charging ports, making it highly practical. Although the official trunk volume has not been announced, referring to the 2019 model's 466L, it can easily accommodate several suitcases for daily use. The rear seats support a split-folding design, which, when folded, expands the storage space to allow for larger items, making it very convenient for carrying big objects.

In terms of power, the 2024 Sportage 2.0G 2WD is equipped with a 2.0L naturally aspirated engine, delivering a maximum power of 156PS and a peak torque of 192N·m, slightly improved compared to the 155PS of the 2019 model. It is matched with a 6-speed automatic transmission. During actual driving, the start is relatively smooth, and the throttle response is linear, without the abruptness of a turbocharged engine, making it suitable for daily city commuting. At low and medium speeds, the transmission shift logic is clear, with proactive upshifting that keeps the engine rpm below 2000, ensuring fuel efficiency. During high-speed overtaking, you need to press the accelerator pedal harder to make the transmission downshift, and the engine offers more noticeable power output above 3000 rpm. However, the overall acceleration performance is moderate, fully meeting daily household needs, although it falls slightly short in power reserves compared to the 1.6T version's 265N·m torque.

In terms of handling and chassis, the 2024 Sportage 2.0G 2WD adopts a combination of a front MacPherson independent suspension and a rear multi-link independent suspension, with chassis tuning that leans towards comfort. During daily drives on urban roads, it filters out most of the small bumps, and vibrations when going over speed bumps are handled relatively softly without feeling hard or jarring. The steering feel is light, with little play, making it very agile and suitable for female drivers. When going through corners, the body roll is well controlled, and the suspension support has improved compared to the previous model. Overall driving quality feels more stable than the 2019 model.

In terms of fuel consumption, we drove 100km each on urban and highway roads. The fuel consumption in urban conditions is about 8.5L/100km, while on highways, it's about 6.8L/100km. The combined fuel consumption is approximately 7.6L/100km, which is slightly higher than the 2019 model's 6.5L/100km. This may be due to the increased weight of the new model, but overall, the fuel consumption performance is still within a normal range compared to other vehicles in the same class.

In terms of safety features, the 2024 Sportage 2.0G 2WD comes standard with ABS, lane change assist, active braking/active safety system, forward collision warning, and rear parking sensors. These features were only available on mid-to-high trims of the 2019 model, so the safety configuration of the new model is now more comprehensive, providing users with a more reassuring driving experience.

In summary, the core strength of the 2024 Kia Sportage 2.0G 2WD lies in its balance — a youthful design, upgraded configurations (especially the 12.3-inch full LCD instrument panel and active safety configurations), practical space, and stable driving quality. Compared to competitors in the same class like the Honda CR-V 2.0L and Toyota RAV4 2.0L, it offers more features and is expected to be more competitively priced. This car is suitable for family users who value cost-effectiveness. It's ideal for daily commuting and weekend family outings, as well as for young people who have recently started working. As a first SUV, it excels in practicality and reliability. If you don't need the powerful performance of the 1.6T version, the 2024 Sportage 2.0G 2WD is a very practical choice in the C-Segment SUV market.