ROAD TEST
Kia Sportage — handicapped by hefty price
Mark Smyth put the new Kia Sportage to the test, but has it priced itself out of contention?
When the Kia Sportage arrived on the market, it heralded a new chapter for the brand, but the newcomer shared not only a platform but also its looks with the Hyundai Tucson. You know there has to be a lot of kit when you open up the glove box and find an owner’s manual thicker than War and Peace. The steering response is superb, although on occasion it was slightly oversensitive. It weights up nicely when you press on and shows that the engineers wanted to balance the needs to the A-to-B city driver with those who like to drive in a slightly more spirited fashion from time to time. It is a great package and has all the characteristics to make it another success. But then there is that price. At R599,995 for the range topper, it is downright expensive. It is playing with much bigger toys at this price. The range does start at R369,995 but you get something far more basic. You could get a top-of-the-range Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line and still have 40 grand to spend on options. That is a ...
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