Watch before you buy! Kia Sportage 2022 GT-Line review: Surprise findings from five months driving.

[@Raul.TravelSports]

After days of watching and listening to all the more or less entertaining presenters in the car industry (but all of them equally useles from information sharing perspective) I can only but thank you for this review. I am not an expert in how this type of reviewing turns out for you in terms of views and income, but I cannot thank you enough for an honest, detailed and realistic review. Much appreciated!

[@Funkydood]

You're the ONLY "car tester" that complained so much about that KIA jewel!!! I got my wife a 2.5L petrol engine. 8-gear auto', and we LOVE her! We're getting way over the 32-mile-per-gallon rated by the EPA!!! Hyundai and KIA have raised the bar, both in quality and reliability!!!

[@Chris-hw4mq]

8 speed auto is great, 7 speed DCT is not recommended, people say it lasts 30000kms and then you replace the clutch pack

[@KoDeMondo]

Hi there Thanks for sharing your information. I'm interested in buying this car but I have heard that there is a class action against it. Do you have any information about it and if you can assist me will be highly appreciated!

[@peterwarwyk7860]

I have a GT-line diesel and I think the reviewer was looking for ways to be unhappy and was a bit harsh. I traded a recent model E class merc and the shift is no worse than the merc imo. I use the paddle shifters a bit though, especially when accelerating out of a round about, but I am a little bit of a lead foot.. That great lump of pod on the roof would surely affect mileage and driving characteristics too? Overall, I'm very happy with my Sportage. It does everything I want it too, and furthermore, I always get a smile on my face when I hop into that drivers seat.

[@tycannah4271]

The review was based on the petrol not your diesel model. They have two different gear boxes with the diesel providing much higher torque. He did say in his review that the diesel model is the one to select if you buy the sportage and apparently it has a completely different driving experience. Still researching my options since current waiting times are about 12 months for a new vehicle.

[@jessaravena5139]

What a scathing review! Opinions are like noses. Everyone has one! I’m absolutely delighted with my KIA Sportage 2022 😁👍

[@Gatsun]

Me too. This review doesn't make any sense. Maybe KIA cut off their sponsorship to this Aussie?

[@jessaravena5139]

@@Gatsun yes, something is not right? I’ve never seen such a harsh review on any car, let alone ‘car of the year’ 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@KoDeMondo]

Hi there Thanks for sharing your information. I'm interested in buying this car but I have heard that there is a class action against it. Do you have any information about it and if you can assist me will be highly appreciated!

[@ShinMusha]

Hey Matt I’ve bought this car and have owned it for just over two months. I initially thought. It didn’t have the automatic boot features aswell however you have to turn the setting on next to the lights and all you literally do is stand behind the car and the boot will open up. How I know this I was playing around with it and as I was at the car wash it started to do it 😅. The button is on the driver side and it’s near the fog lamp adjuster. It gives you the option to have it turned or or off. Hope this helps overall love the car it’s fantastic for its value.

[@lisaoc679]

Not everything here is accurate and parts are over exaggerated. The tailgate does open, and the while the DCT can be jerky, it is how you drive it. Don't base your decision on this review, drive the car yourself. Soft steady touch on take off, smooth driving = no problems at all. The car seat issues are not unique, happens on many cars with various angles of front and back seat. Our old forester had the same issue and there was heaps of space for passengers. Rear facing car seats are not forever, just move the front seat forward, and get over it. Fun to drive, very comfortable.

[@josephsong7169]

I totally agree with you.

[@albertolopez478]

Thank you, as a parent of a baby girl looking to get a bigger SUV, your comments of family pros and cons are so valuable!!

[@bobar_montior9920]

My dad got the executive line (the grade before the gt line). It’s a manual and I got to say, compared to the older model (model 4 Kia sportage) the clutch feels a bit harder but easier to operate. The ride quality is amazing and the headlights are doing an amazing job with locating and following the other cars on the road. Overall i think it’s worth it for the money.

[@b-z8180]

Hi Matt, please give accurate information to the people. If you stand up with the key close to the boot it will automatically open. I have the same car and so happy .

[@lisaoc679]

Agree, there is a bit of misinformation and exaggeration in the review.

[@josephsong7169]

@@lisaoc679 Yea, DCT could be a bit jerky, but he made it sounds like an absolute disaster

[@Paul-ck5tb]

​@@josephsong7169 amen, ofcourse it could be better but he talks it is a compleet disaster 😂

[@DMcOz_Down_Under]

Great in-depth review, Matt, thank you! I especially really appreciate you sharing the pro's and con's - the latter of which pretty much rule the Sportage out for me (even in Diesel guise). I think the larger Sorento GT-Line Diesel seems a better driving package (despite my not needing 7 seats - the extra space is often useful).

[@125kingo125]

Trying to find an equivalent to a Rav4 as im not waiting 2 years and copping 2 price increases. Enjoying your reviews mate. Great work.

[@huyjtran]

Hey Matt, the tailgate on the GT does have the auto open feature when the car senses a person and the proximity key. This setting is in the infotainment unit. It’s default setting is off.

[@johnherron]

Hey Matt you got a few things wrong. I can't say anything on the 1.6L turbo as I have never driven one. I've had the 2.0L turbo diesel for 5 months and can't follow the basis of some of your comments as I find that it's a superb car both around town and on the highway. I do get the impression that you clearly prefer RAV4 - having test drove one while looking last November I know I made the right choice - I owned a Toyota at the time and never having owned a KIA or a diesel. 1. Try fitting your oversize baby capsule in a RAV4 and then you can complain about room in the front passenger seat. 2. Smart opening rear tailgate - what a furphy! Clearly couldn't be bothered to read the online setup on the 12inch monitor screen. 3. Gearbox - imperceptible shifts on the 8-speed on the turbo diesel. VW's DSG is still a dog - ditto all CVTs - ask the mechanics. 4. Steering - yes it could have more feel but fine otherwise. 5. Dumb gear dial knob - stupid idea and 5 months later I'm still not used to it. However I do like the auto engaging park brake. 6. Ride - brilliant around town. Fabulous on the highway/s. I don't know which highways you travelled but a 1600km 2-day trip to deliver a Toyota ute on some 3rd rate Qld highways via Theodore to Mackay and back down the Bruce to home had my co-driver constantly disbelieving that he was in a diesel SUV. It returned 5.9L/100km in spite of having to continually lift off from speeds considerably in excess of the limit in spite of the road quality. I have no issue with hard reporting on a factual basis but I detect bias against the Sportage here. I've been driving the Sportage for as long as you drove it (since Dec 2021) and at times with 4 people up over various situations and no issues that you imply. My real bugbear is the near total digital control of the car's features.

[@KoDeMondo]

Hi there Thanks for sharing your information. I'm interested in buying this car but I have heard that there is a class action against it. Do you have any information about it and if you can assist me will be highly appreciated!

[@johnherron]

@@KoDeMondo I'm not aware of anything of the kind. Certanly not in Australia - the US is a different animal and may be there is a campaign against it over there. What you do get is promotors of other brands firing up false rumours to run another brand of the product down. An example is a mate of mine was trying to sell his house and had quite a few genuine buyers who always pulled out at the point of contract. He sold it two weeks ago after dropping $30k and the buyer has told him that another agent who had two houses in the immediate area for sale was telling people that it had structural defects. Overall, the car is a definite winner by a long shot - and over the last 12 months I see so many on the roads now. My only beef is the all-black interior including the black roof lining. Diesel turbo is my recommended way to go. Sensible driving on the highway and not too much over the limit you will see 5.0 L/100km. Leave a msg if you want anythng more.

[@robsama906]

Great review Matt, we've had ours for 4 months and absolutely love it - coming from a Volkswagen Golf GTI, X-Trail and Mazda Cx3 previously.

[@mondiepots]

Diesel or Turbo? We have a Turbo coming in next week.

[@KoDeMondo]

Hi there Thanks for sharing your information. I'm interested in buying this car but I have heard that there is a class action against it. Do you have any information about it and if you can assist me will be highly appreciated!

[@tonyb3629]

Nice. An honest overview, and a reviewer who doesn't feel obliged to kiss Kia/Hyundai's butt as most other reviews of those companies vehicles do.

[@webby189402194134]

The DCT in my Hyundai 2022 Kona n-line is actually fine. For low speed driving I usually leave it in Eco mode and I don't have any issues with it. However any other mode whilst low speed driving doesn't feel too good and a lil unpredictable, so for anyone thinking of getting a Hyundai or Kia with the 7spd DCT I'd recommend leaving it in Eco mode going slow

[@raymondayeung]

I have the 2020 Hyundai Elantra GT N-line Ultimate DCT and I still get judders at slow speeds in all driving modes: eco, normal and sport. I brought it to the dealership 6 months ago and they couldn't reproduce it nor recognize it as an issue. I brought it in again 2 weeks ago and now they have a judder test which means they are definitely aware it's a worldwide concern.

[@nissenherrera8559]

Exactly! I’d say Eco mode is more like comfort mode, Normal mode is more like stressed out driving. When in Sport mode, it really rides the clutch badly and you can tell by transmission temperature getting hot real quick. If you know what you’re doing, sport mode + manual gear change offers great shifting while preserving the clutch! 1.6tgdi sportage dct awd

[@BigBirdMustang]

I just come across this older review as I m looking for a car for my Mrs. Not normally looking at non enthusiast, vehicles. Been watching you on this channel for a while, then on your own channel for a fair while now. I think I might know why you either left, or got pushed out, now. Thanks for an honest review though, I'll absolutely support your new endeavour. Respect, man.

[@roddaniels1809]

Great review Matt. I appreciate your honesty, it confirmed my DCT experience when I drove the Seltos. $50K for this car,? I think not.

[@shaddolf6662]

I've owned this cars cousin, the tucson, for 5 weeks in diesel and it is fantastic.

[@alanh4471]

Just a note on the rear boot opening. On our 2018 2.4petrol Gt line - if the car is locked (gone to do the shopping etc), and we go back to the rear of the car with our shopping, the hatch lifts automatically due to the proximity key in my pocket or the wife’s handbag. We don’t press or do anything…

[@lisaoc679]

Agree, with key in pocket the hatch lifts after 3 seconds. Review isn't accurate.

[@AnshunHE]

I couldn’t agree more about the DCT. I came to the same conclusion-unsafe and sometimes dangerous after test drive. Shame because we really love the interior. It’s probably designed with a electric motor, which we don’t get.

[@richardhewitt3175]

When looking to change my VW Tiguan R-Line DSG I took the new Sportage GT Line S Petrol Hybrid for a 30 minute test drive. The following annoyances were dealbreakers for me: - excessive wind noise at higher speeds (probably from around the wing mirrors) - Steering lacking feel and artificially quick to return to straight ahead - Lane assist far too intrusive. It was making corrections when accelerating even when in the middle of the lane. Also, cannot be permanently disabled. Re-activates after every engine restart. - gloss black console trim and screen shows all marks and fingerprints - Cheap interior plastics and door handles Purchased another Tiguan

[@tyzon00800]

Easily pleased with the Tiguan , and you have gone back a 2nd time 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Steve-nk6vl]

yep only another $20k plus though :)

[@ryanthompson8029]

So impressed with the tiguan you wanted a kia 😂😂😂😂

[@tycannah4271]

asked the dealer questions on what electronics could be switched off and whether I would have to disable every time i restarted the sportage and he was unable to tell me which ones could not retain settings. A real deal breaker.

[@leigh7225]

Yeah, I am currently comparing the Sportage to the Tiguan, and the Tiguan drives better, and the suspension is better sorted. Plus, the performance is better with the VW, and the fit and finish feel better as well, not as many hard plastics in the VW. The diesel is certainly the pick of the drivelines for the shortage as the 1.6 DCT is just rubbish.

[@s.c5307]

The new 2022 Kia Sportage has been named carsales Best Mid-Size SUV for 2022. It wouldn’t have won if this was the case, just saying

[@vivekchandran1]

you can activate smart boot release in menu so that the car will open up when you approach back door.

[@Dave-sy9wl]

Drove both, ordered the 1.6 turbo. Diesel sounds like a truck although more powerful. DCT takes some getting used to, and prefers a lighter, steady foot rather than spirited driving. Its just different, not bad. If you think it’s bad, it’s because you haven’t adapted to it. Driven a lot of cars in my life, high performance, luxury, auto and manual and they all have their quirks.

[@JahjaMan]

Sorry mate, but that's bollocks. We've had first generation CLA250 with 7sp DCT. That sucked at low speed manoeuvring. Current gen CLA35, which also sucks at low speed driving. Current gen Sorento GT Line diesel with 8 speed wet clutch DCT - it's not bad but I can feel it slipping the clutch at take off. Current gen Carnival Platinum Diesel with 8sp torque converter. M140i with 8 speed ZF8 torque converter. X1 F48 with 8 speed Aisin torque converter. X3 30i with 8 speed ZF8. Kia Cerato with 6 speed torque converter. Toyota Corolla Hybrid with eCVT. All of the DCTs are terrible at low speed driving. I would never buy a commuter car that has a DCT. Notwithstanding the number of failures in the Sorento GT Line diesel in USA and AU, it's a fail of a transmission.

[@MisterKN]

Agree, the Diesel is very unrefined and ticks like a truck. The test drive in the 1.6 Turbo was far smoother and quieter.

[@bb-qk8mp]

he had it 5 months, I think he adapted. Its brilliant on the open road, but lets face it, it blows in terms of city living.

[@cannon1156]

@@bb-qk8mp .. I have the same engine/DCT combo in an Elantra. Have absolutely no issue with the transmission around town. You just have to know how to drive it. His fuel consumption indicate that he is thumping the throttle

[@lisaoc679]

@@cannon1156 Agree, it doesn't take long to adapt, once you understand how the DCT works, it makes a lot more sense. It's a bit jerky if you're hard on the accelerator, soft touch and it's easy as.

[@edwinbetts3069]

Great review. My wife and I test drove this car. Yes, the screens were impressive. We ended up buying a Mazda CX-5 2.5L Turbo Petrol Akera. In terms of driving experience, the Sportage does not come close.

[@sprayguy9]

Your fuel consumption numbers need to be balanced out with the box on the roof which will add quite a drag to the whole vehicle. You never mentioned that in your monolog - just the fact that your gas mileage was less than what KIA is advertising. We've had ours for about 3 months and are in that 7.5 to 8.0 L/100 with at lease 50% city driving...... Be fair

[@31hallite]

The guy just hates the car let's face it.

[@rajindernijjer]

I had old Kia and there's not a bad thing I can say about it, love that it was so comfortable, love that nobody notices it, me being black I always get pulled over and in my Kia I never did this is the best thing about it but there new one is too bling I would be scared to break it.

[@donr62]

After recently having to drive 100kms on a space saver spare tyre, give me a full sized spare over storage of the cargo cover any day of the week.

[@zoltrix7779]

I think this is very well done interior. The screens actually look well integrated. The Rotary shifter is just silly, its non sensical, just like in Fords. The logical way to operate a direction control is forward for reverse, pull for drive. Just make it a very small lever, or better still move it to the column. I notice the suede on the top of the seat, nice, but again, not all over the seat as an option, we don't all want to sit on leather seats because we want the top model. Still way too much piano black, its just such a horrible finish. Agree, DCT transmissions are just a pain in the arse, they CAN be decent in a sports car, but not something like this. But having to buy the diesel just to get the transmission you want. Diesel is on the way out. Overall though, I have no idea why people choose to pay double this car for a Merc/BMW/Audi, its almost as good.

[@ozoutbackowners1267]

Great review. After buying a used 2016 VW passat a year ago, I had issues with the dual clutch and so I sold it to buy a new car. I looked at buying the kia sportage 1.6 gt line or a Subaru Outback Touring. The Kia appeared more attractive to me initially with its high tech features, but the dual clutch and 12 month wait was a turn off, so I ended up with the Subaru Outback which was delivered 2.5 months after my order. After watching your review, and with my few months experience with my Subaru, I am very happy with my choice.

[@marksweet8740]

Better to have a full size spare than worrying about having enough space to put the cargo barrier, you can't have your cake and eat it as well.

[@amrdaking1]

Exactly. I was like do u really prefer a cargo barrier space rather than a full size spare tire? like seriously?

[@MatchFixah]

Appreciate the honest review. Very informative and excellent presentation.

[@kp1991]

It’s a great dive, beautiful interior, love the steering. The dual clutch takes a little to adapt to…don’t floor it. It will kangaroo. Allow the revs to build and the it goes like a rocket. Using the auto break makes all the difference to city drive stop/start driving. The dual clutch really doesn’t like you sitting on the break and hitting the accelerator. Transitioning from the auto break to the accelerator creates a smooth ride - as long as ur not heavy footed.

[@miyagidough8923]

i agree with this once i adapted to how to drive it, it feels good and decent speed, i also get 31mpg hwy and 28mg city with the SX AWD, very nice steering and awesome tech

[@unfnshd]

Pretty sure the tailgate opens if you stand behind the car with the key in your pocket. Mine does

[@sighmon6213]

Definitely does, it's called a smart powered tailgate. You need to turn it on in settings, it'll allow you to walk up to the boot and when the car senses the key it'll open automatically 👍

[@martins1329]

Plus the vehicle has to be locked for it to work, if you are going to review a vehicle know what your talking about .

[@gurgy69]

I have the 1.6 turbo and I have to say my experience with the DCT has been fine. You have to try pretty hard to confuse the gearbox at lower speeds with erratic braking and accelerating in order to make it hesitate and lurch around. Driving around town normally it shifts fine. I think they may have updated the gearbox software since launch and recalibrated the shifts?

[@ClarityRyZze]

Dude talks about the engine, never mentiones horse power, way to go buddy

[@davids5313]

This car looks like a bloody luxury car inside.🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@31hallite]

Don't what you lot are moaning about I have one and love it good saving on fuel with hybrid auto gear changes smooth interior great the best yet.

[@phillipwilliams7133]

Who buys a SUV for the driving experience? This car hits the day to day experience out of the park. So tired of motoring journo’s talking up the rav4, which only has redeeming feature of a good hybrid system otherwise is torture to sit in

[@Klatikita]

Honest review. We just bought QN5 Sportage 2022 lx 1.6 150hp with 6 gear manuel transmision. Iam from Serbia so its a smaller version but it has in enough space for a family. And its very fuel efficient than the automatic. Here we can only buy 2 engins 1.6 150hp 6 speed manuel and automatic 1.6 180hp 7 speed. In Europe we dont have disel.

[@old0range]

that comment you had about taller front seat passengers and capsules is a great thing to mention. Alot of my taller mates have had to say no to certain cars because of this issue. good highlight!

[@Maheedhar333]

Hi Matt, the sportate it’s self got automatic boot opening system and all you need to do is just stand behind the car with the key in your pocket.

[@kirkby0076]

I'm getting, the GT-LINE S HEV.. Self Charging.. (1.6 Turbo Auto, Flame Blue- With Black Roof Option) The test drive, was brilliant on a mix of, different speed roads, here in the UK. I understand, what you mean about the stirring, but I found that it was much better, at higher speeds, & in Sport mode. The AWD system, & the turn breaking system, helped a lot when cornering. All the bells & whistles, on this top version, is as you say fantastic! But of course, we get the shorter wheelbase version, without any suspension tinkering (In the rest of Europe, they get a variable, adaptive suspension system) The Mild Hybrid, the Full Hybrid & now the... Plug In Hybrid, all help with the fuel efficiency. You seemed, to get great efficiency, compared witg, Kia's published figures. I did laugh, when you mentioned, the brilliant panoramic sunroof, letting un loads of light, then demonstrating it, only to have it blocked, mostly by your pod hehe... But yeah, it is great, when not covered up 👍😉😉... I wonder, if your efficiency figures, might have increased a little, especially on faster roads, if you didn't carry around the pod, & cross bars, when not needed!? All the best, from the UK.. And yes, stay clear of the totally ICE versions, of this car! 👍👍👍

[@mesmusics2012]

Got s Gt s line turbo petrol hybrid beginning of March and i love it. I change car every 3 years but I will keep this one longer as it is so good. Looking forward to my first long trip next week end to see efficiency as only doing 8 kilomètres trois at the moment. Even though, the efficiency is much better than my previous Peugeot 5008 on same trips (5.2l compared to previously 7.1l/km)

[@KoDeMondo]

Hi there Thanks for sharing your information. I'm interested in buying this car but I have heard that there is a class action against it. Do you have any information about it and if you can assist me will be highly appreciated!

[@julzyin]

thanks for the honest review matt.

[@V_Dubya]

Seen so many reviews for this car with universal positive comments. Not sure how this review can be so different

[@karlfarrugia1204]

This is the best review I have looked at well done Matt.

[@camiloposada3344]

100% agree with the transmission issue. I tested this vehicle in the exact same specifications and although the vehicle aesthetics are beautiful, this transmission issue is definitely a deal breaker 🥲😥 it’s a shame because I really wanted this vehicle but I can’t live with that in a vehicle, it’s very annoying.

[@SinR0ck]

Don't you guys have a classic 6-clutch automatic gearbox in a 230 HP hybrid version as we have in Europe? The general feeling about the car is better (0-100km/h in 7,5sek) and fuel consumption is lower when you drive in cities. I chose the HEV version and didn't notice that issue 😉

[@MindLukas]

what is the issue? I dont get it from the video, he says trans is issue but he doesnt detail it.

[@DOHC16vMPFI]

Hi,@@SinR0ck The hybrid has finally been confirmed for our market earlier this year, and it is likely to arrive next year (2024). The Sportage Hybrid will most likely come here with a 1.6L 4cyl 169kW (226HP) hybrid petrol engine. The article I've found from January 2023, says that overseas markets have the option of FWD or AWD and a 6-speed automatic as standard, so I think Australia will get the 6-speed automatic too. Not sure about the option of FWD, though the Sorento Hybrid has a FWD option, so the Sportage should too - especially if KIA Australia wants a direct rival to the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid which is both FWD and AWD out here. Are you enjoying your Sportage HEV? 😉

[@SinR0ck]

@@DOHC16vMPFI Overall, I love the car. I would say that the 1.6 T-GDi HEV 230KM 6AT 2WD is the most economical and fast version of this car. Typical petrol consumption is 5-6l in the city and 6,5-8l on high-speed roads/highways (up to 140-150km/h). The best score I got in town was 4,5l! The only thing I don't like is Harman & Kardon audio - it's worse than the basic audio in my old Skoda Octavia 3 FL. It could be also quieter at a speed above 130km/h but this is the issue of most SUVs. What is great, is that HEV is really quiet below 100lm/h. The 6-clutch automatic transmission works smoothly and well, it could just respond a little quicker to kick-down. I like the space, handling (we have only short version in Europe) and the suspension. I heard that If you don't need AWD you can save ~0,3-0,5l/100km of petrol by choosing FWD.

[@adamski101]

6 clutches?

[@The9meister]

I would be happy with the base model S with 2 ltr motor, and six speed gearbox.

[@trojanhman8136]

Thank you for your honest review. I will be keeping an eye out for you in the future.

[@dw1508]

Your review reinforces the fact that a bad transmission can make or break a car.

[@TheXn30x]

You can set the smart tailgate to auto open when it detects the key fob. However it only works when the doors are locked!

[@Luciano-IL]

this is not so important!the important things in these cars are not so good.....

[@marcusjackson4063]

I loved rest driving this car! but opted for the new outlander in exceed trim. Even though it has the dreaded cvt I found it to shift gears much nicer than the Kia. The extra tech, awd system and overall quality of the interior fit out got me over the line. I wish the engine had a turbo but does the job. Good review

[@chaoseus]

2022 Outlander is my choice too. Smoother to drive and the 7 seat option is a bonus. And dont forget the 10 YEAR WARRANTY ;)

[@chefgav1]

CVT are hand grenades. Lucky Mitsubishi-has long warranty

[@User-cb4jm]

@@chefgav1 Have a 15 year old Lancer with a CVT with zero mechanical problems - its just noisy thats all, and have never heard anything bad about their reliability in Toyotas either, same bulletproof reputation - its only Nissan CVTs that are the issue, same with Ford dual clutches.

[@pregardt]

@@User-cb4jm The only problem is the new Outlander has a co developed cvt by Nissan and Mitsubishi and to my understanding the outlander has a nissan cvt.

[@Tila_tr]

omg thanks to you i gave up buying kia sportage. I am using it always at low speeds because of the traffic. And you said at low speed, it bahaves absurdly. I trust your opinion

[@hinan187]

I have Petrol GT. Best vehicle ever own. No slugging or lag in stop or slow traffic. DCT learns your driving behaviour and adopt accordingly. If you keep switching driver and drive one another then it may not adopt 100% your throttle pattern and you will feel jerk or sluggish

[@SmokingAcesHQ]

Odd, I have that car and when I walk to the boot it opens automatically

[@anderspersson6134]

Terrific to see a guy focusing on child seats and practicality. This is a family car after all and in some families these smaller creatures have a tendancy to turn up for the ride. And change nappies:)

[@thommyk70]

My Tucson Highlander with the same engine has the automatic boot opener…leave the key in your pocket and when you walk to the rear of the car the tailgate opens automatically.

[@theodopoulos]

Glad I'm not the only one changing nappies on the back

[@yakiddinrite]

Exactly my thoughts, that's why I chose the SX Diesel with the 8 speed torque converter auto

[@helenpostle5814]

I’ve got the gt line turbo diesel and I bought it over a Mazda CX-5. The only thing I would say I dislike is there is so much going on tech wise you can be distracted more than the car reading out emails. That’s a feature in the Mazda I liked but isn’t available in the Kia. Kia service departments are very last century too

[@stockey]

You need to stand a few seconds behind the tailgate for it to automatically open, all top trim KIA suv have that feature

[@tw2374]

Refreshing to see a review that highlights the con's of a car - there are way too many of the ones only highlighting the pro's. Although the 8AT transmission that come with the diesel engine doesn't have the DCT's hesitation, I do find it having an unclear shifting logic - it seems to easily fall too low/high of a gear and has to switch back and forth especially on a hilly road. That said, the ultimate deal breaker for me on the Kia/Hyundais are the lane keeping assist, it's way too intrusive and unsafe at times.

[@peterwarwyk7860]

You can switch the lane keeping off, or adjust it. Did you even look at settings? smh

[@tw2374]

@@peterwarwyk7860 from MY21 (or earlier?) Tucson you cannot turn off lane keep assist permanently. You have to turn it off every single time you start the car.

[@tycannah4271]

@@tw2374 That is a deal breaker if it cannot recall settings.

[@def1nity]

Hey, great review, really good points in there that nobody else touched on! Question - Did you travel with the two dogs next to the baby in the back or your partner was there and the dogs rode shotgun? Let's say the boot is full of stuff for the sake of this example. I'm in this position with 2 dogs and a baby on the way and considering the Kia Sportage you're the only reviewer I found with the same usecase as me :)

[@matthewrafferty4117]

About time an honest review about this cars short comings. There is no wonder the Rav4 is selling the way it is. I wanted to like the Sportage as it is impressive sitting behind the steering wheel with that huge screen and modern feel. Sit in the rear though and the hard plastics on the door trims just don't feel in tune with the front. The 1.6T and DCT is an appalling combo certainly not suited to a car with semi luxury aspirations. We owned an i30 with the same engine/transmission for 4 years and just over 90k and couldn't wait to trade it. It is a rough transmission that only gets worse with age. Diesel was a no for me as the economy isn't great and the price of Diesel would make it no cheaper and possibly dearer to run. Kia service prices aren't cheap either. We bought a Rav4 Cruiser hybrid AWD and while it is typically Toyota boring it is well finished and comfortable in all seats, cheap to service at only $230 for the first 5 and uses 6.3L/100km. Best thing is after owning it 6 month's and 15,000 it is worth thousands more than we payed for it which was enough to upgrade to a new Kluger GX hybrid at zero cost which we will keep for 6 months or so until our new Rav4 arrives.

[@ronsmith2241]

Interesting. I'm looking at other options as I am still waiting for my Toyota Corolla Cross Atmos hybrid. Been waiting 9 months and they haven't even started to make it yet.

[@Kat43146]

I wonder if your feelings would be the same in the new 2023 one... the 1.6 turbo specifically. I'm also curious how the drive compares to the 2.0 CVT Rav4 for you?

[@michaelgortsilas8637]

How does it compare with the Hyundai Tucson?

[@johnseaman5569]

I'm getting Kia Sportage SX plus 2.0L Automatic it Arrives in about 1 month

[@davidstraker8336]

Good honest review. Thanks. PHEV is the way to go if you do lots of local driving.

[@donaldduck5695]

Could you please tell me how to fit your dash cam and hiding the cable through 12V socket?

[@andrewlucan9017]

Hopefully a Hybrid version of this car will be available in the not too distant future. That will eliminate any DCT problems whilst providing even better fuel economy.

[@GeorgeTsitsinaros]

I have the 1.6 petrol dct 7 speed 180ps european version and i fully disagree with this man's opinion regarding the transmission. He obviously didn't get paid from KIA and he got angry. Dct works flawlessly never had a problem with it and in sport mode it is sweet. Totally recommended car thats why it took the reward for 2022. Also it was the was of the year in Greece in 2023.

[@mccleaf724]

Great job Matt! To bad about the DCT. The US version gets 8 speed automatic on the entire range. Of course US only gets 1 engine, the turbo is gone for 2023. Different specs for different markets? That would be a good topic for the pod cast.

[@maxd4968]

You guys get hybrids though with this engine don’t you

[@kyalsauer1408]

I'd like a basic model of the Sportage and in turbo diesel to.

[@nine8three310]

I agree. I’ve been looking at the AWD in trim setting. Great value for money.

[@kyalsauer1408]

Yeah ok nice

[@InIn456]

I have the new GT-LINE Diesel, it's excellent

[@jeffaitken9921]

Is the base model ok,or do I go for the Sorrento,hard decision??

[@bluehorntail28]

The review is spot on about the transmission . I drove the mg hs with 7 speed dct for 5 days when I was on a trip to Sydney . I had more than one near misses due to that clutch. Never again.

[@Masoniteable]

Looks amazing Gabi. Defo now on my list.

[@costyn19]

Sad to hear that Australians are not having the possibility to enjoy the HEV or at least the MHEV versions of this engine. It's absolutely brilliant tbh. Mine is 1.6 T-GDI HEV Petrol 6AT with a total of 230HP. You would totally see and understand the difference. Sorry guys :(

[@AntonDanilchenko]

I heard that DCT needs to have a regular software updates at the dealership to improve performance and fix bugs. Don’t know if it will fix the issues you faced. So, maybe I will select a base version with 2.0 liter engine (non turbo) with 6-speed auto gearbox. It has less torque and horsepower, but seems will be more reliable in the long term (but probably will be a bit slower)

[@MrrrrMime]

How did the lashing of piano black hold up? I can only imagine what it might look like after this amount of time

[@miketaylor117]

Hi Matt, Good review. I've ordered the diesel GT-Line, which I have test driven. Without a heavy load or luggage capsule, the steering was reasonable and the ride very good. Do you think the extra weight of the diesel engine would have improved the steering's response, or would Kia have adjusted the springs and shockers to compensate for the different engine weights?

[@InIn456]

I've had the new GT-LINE Diesel for over 5 months and it's an excellent car and handles really well. No issues so far and it's very practical and the tech/safety is superb. You won't regret getting the Diesel!

[@chefgav1]

@@InIn456 except I found it a bit thirsty.

[@brendanhay559]

Also have a GT-Line (now called X-Line) diesel, and couldn't be happier. Handling and steering is really good in Normal and great in Sport where it is a bit stiffer and better balanced. The diesel is a gem with the 8 speed auto and the fuel consumption is decent. For us there wasn't a better choice in any respect for the same money

[@danielsteiner3015]

Having the weight of the pod on the roof is certainly not going to help body roll especially if carrying heavy items

[@funk21in]

Thanks for Honest review

[@organictarot1018]

It’s a shame that the drive experience is so bad because everything about this car is as if I was a kid in a candy store , I love the looks and the infotainment system the whole experience and look in the cabin is second to none . I just wish they had of out more effort into what cars are basically for , you know driving . I’d love a review of how it feels on wet roads as I live in the tropics and no one seems to do test drive reviews of vehicles during the wet season which is important

[@idesireit31]

Did you test drive it?

[@k9-unit-australia275]

What were you reviewing the car or the baby ?

[@jackiekhoapham7804]

Great review mate, thanks!

[@coolmanu55]

hi mate, what is the main difference bw GT-Line Petrol and GT-line Diesel. Like Petrol is more easy to maintain ? or good mileage ? Please advise. APpreciate it. Thanks in advance. Cheers.

[@davidnjuguna-ok5vh]

Thank you for your detailed review of the Kia Sportage! @ 17:51 you say the fuel economy you have seen over 5 months and 5,500km of driving has been 9.1l/100km as opposed to the 7.2l/100km that the car is rated for. Have you had the roof box/cargo pod on the car for the whole 5 months of driving? Does it affect the fuel economy and/or driving characteristics in any way?

[@scotttribbick366]

Hi Matt, have you actually tried ordering a diesel sportage in any model......? everyone keeps saying go for the diesel however not a lot of people are explaining the issues with supply. After a 14 month ordeal with a Dealer in Perth (waited 8 months for a Diesel sorento then to be told another 4months, changed ordered to a diesel sx plus sportage....6months later to be told no eta) we decided on the GT Turbo Petrol Sportage. I feel the real finger pointing should be at dealers who lie. I think the Turbo petrol will be popular as it seems the easier car to obtain. Great review otherwise. Cheers Scott

[@bobji8806]

Sorry but there is a smart tailgate you just have to go to your settings and scroll all the way down to “door” then activate the smart tailgate function. 3:17

[@rajindernijjer]

Yeh mine 1.6 diesel 48v and it's such a brilliant engine.

[@nevillegreg1]

I have no issues with the DCT and steering in my Cerato GT and I drive it very spiritedly. Use the damn auto hold function when taking off on hills and stop start traffic.

[@stendecstretcher5678]

Thankyou for telling the truth not many Journos do.

[@balutvm2008]

Thank you Matt for the honest review. i remember Richard Berry also commented same about dual clutch auto. Yes the cabin and tech are great but you can't bypass the city driving glitches , still wondering how few other channels selected Sportage as best medium sized suv.

[@jasonwright9405]

Are hearing people HONEST? Yeah righto

[@CaiandtheMoose]

The Sportage gets such great reviews but the engine range is a bit frustrating from a driveline perspective. The 2.0l has woeful performance, 1.6 DCT is jerky around town, and the 2.0L diesel sounds fine but I’ve heard so many issues about diesels having issues if you do lots of shorter trips / spend a lot of time in heavy traffic.

[@InIn456]

I've had the GT-LINE Diesel for over 5 months and I only do short trips a couple of times a week (work from home so don't drive much) and I haven't experienced any issues. It has plenty of power and handles well. I previously had performance vehicles and surprisingly I adapted to the GT-LINE just fine

[@CaiandtheMoose]

@@InIn456 That’s good to hear. Sounds like the diesel is the one to have then.

[@taskmaster58]

You should be able to set the tail gate to open if you stand behind it for 3 seconds. At least the Canadian version has that feature.

[@xcomputronx]

How would this version of Kia Sportage 4x4 diesel version compare to a 4x4 TDi (200 hp) DSG Skoda Kodiaq(in my region it has a similar price)? I am interested in drive handling/maneuverability and soundproofing... Thank you for the great feedback review!

[@Justdigit2]

EU versions GT-line has airco and temperature control on the second row and heated backseat.

[@rufdymond]

I’m astonished that they even sell this car with this engine and no electrical assistance. All the U.K. Sportage models have some form of electrical assistance.