2020 Kia Sportage GT Line Review | Philkotse Philippines

Five-seater crossover vehicles are arguably becoming one of the hottest selling cars in the Philippines today. The local market has the Ford Territory, the Geely Azkarra, the Toyota Corolla Cross, among others. One of the reasons why Filipino car buyers are considering owning a five-seater crossover is because of the versatility and functionality it offers.

Most of the crossovers available in the Philippine market comes with a gasoline engine. However, the Kia Sportage is one of the few diesel-powered compact crossovers you can buy locally. Other options include the Hyundai Tucson and the SsangYong Korando.

With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at what the Korean-made compact crossover can offer. Can it be a daily city driver as well as an occasional weekend road trip car? To know the answer to that, here’s Philkotse’s 2020 Kia Sportage GT Line car review.

2020 Kia Sportage's exterior comes with a sporty and composed look. It has a confident stance, which is highlighted by a striking front end. The Sportage also comes with a hint of a Euro car vibe but still managed to maintain its distinct Kia look.

The 2020 Kia Sportage GT Line

The front end of the Kia Sportage has the right balance of having a sporty and aggressive design that doesn’t compromise the overall premium look of the car. In fact, I can’t help but notice that the Sportage’s fascia share a bit of similarity to the Porsche Cayenne.

One of the things I liked most about this compact crossover is that all of its lights come in LED. It’s equipped with automatic LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, and LED fog lamps. As such, nighttime driving is never a problem since the all-LED setup brightly lights up the road. It also comes with a glossy black grille, which complements the Mercury Blue exterior color of the vehicle. In addition, the 2020 Kia Sportage GT Line gets a silver skid plate.  

The 19-inch alloy wheels give the Sportage a more distinctive look

Turning at the side, the vehicle features a straight character line along with prominent wheel arches. You can also see that the Sportage comes with black claddings, a silver roof rack, and subtle chrome accents. Of note, the vehicle’s side mirrors are integrated with signal lights. The Sportage is finished off with a set of two-tone 19-inch alloy wheels that give the vehicle extra style points.

The Sportage comes with a bold and composed stance

The sporty design cue continues to be seen at the rear, which features a much stronger look than a previous model, the Kia Sportage 2015 for sale. The Sportage is fitted with wraparound LED taillights that look as sharp as a spear. The vehicle also has a spoiler that’s integrated with a third brake light. The tailgate comes with a distinctive straight line, which adds flair to the rear’s overall look.

Not to mention, the Sportage has a large bumper that makes the vehicle look muscular and thick when viewed from the back. The rear of Kia’s compact crossover also has a silver skid plate and dual exhaust pipes.

The interior of the 2020 Kia Sportage GT Line has a dark theme along with glossy black accents and silver trims. The Sportage also comes with a black roof lining, which I find appealing since it makes the cabin appear easy on the eyes, more seamless, and more premium looking.

Also, the said design will pay off in the long run as it will not look as dirty as the one fitted with a silver or a beige roof lining.

The 2020 Sportage features a driver-oriented interior

Once you’re settled on the driver’s seat, you’ll be greeted with a driver-oriented dashboard layout. This means that the center console leans slightly towards the driver’s seat to let the driver reach essential vehicle functions easier and with less effort. Kia has also done a good job in making the buttons as straightforward as possible.

You’ll never get confused as to which button is for. In addition, the Sportage gets an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The glossy black trims add flair to the cabin

The Sportage’s cabin, specifically the dashboard, is integrated with soft-touch materials, which is way better than hard plastic. Another thing worth mentioning is the subtle yet effective placement of glossy black accents. You can see it on the center console, which sort of make it stand out on the whole dashboard layout.

Black accents can also be seen on the aircon vents, door panels, and on the flat-bottomed leather steering wheel with paddle shifters. Speaking of which, the Sportage’s steering wheel comes with a tilt and telescopic adjustment.

The 2020 Sportage GT Line is equipped with a distinct Kia design when it comes to the parking brake. Similar to other Kia vehicles I’ve driven before such as the 2007 Carens, the Sportage comes with a foot parking brake where you need to step on it to engage and disengage.

Now, I don’t find this feature peculiar but I wish that Kia has fitted this Sportage with an electronic parking brake instead. To put things in perspective, the Sportage’s foot brake sort of doesn’t go hand-in-hand with its price tag of Php 1,820,000.

On the brighter side, the 2020 Sportage GT Line features leather seats all throughout. To make things better, the driver’s and front passenger seats come with an 8-way power adjustment. As such, finding your most preferred driving or seating position is easy-peasy.

2020 Kia Sportage's interior comes with rear aircon vents

The Sportage can accommodate up to five occupants. The rear seats are also in leather and have ample leg- and head-room. Three individuals can sit on the back but having two rear passengers is the best way to maximize the Sportage’s second-row seats. Yes, you can fit a third passenger in the middle but that would be ideal for short driving stints.

Look at all that space

In terms of cargo space, you can load up to three medium-sized luggage or maletas at the back with the rear seats up. The Kia Sportage can also accommodate a week’s supply of groceries, four to five overnight bags, a baby stroller, among others. The vehicle’s cargo space increases further when you fold the rear seats down, which adds to the Sportage versatility.

>>> Related: 2021 Kia Sportage: Expectations and what we know so far

The 2020 Kia Sportage GT Line features an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

This allows you to connect your smartphone to the infotainment system and allow the multimedia system to display as well as access certain apps on your iOS or Android device. As such, your Waze app can be viewed on the 8-inch screen, which will make your overall driving experience more comfortable.

Parking the Sportage is easier and safer

The 2020 Kia Sportage also comes with a rear camera with static guidelines, which move simultaneously in the direction of the steering wheel. In this way, parking the vehicle becomes easier and safer.

Parking the vehicle and driving through tight streets are more bearable since the 2020 Kia Sportage GT Line comes with front and rear sensors. In addition, the vehicle is equipped with cruise control, speed-sensing door locks, dual-zone automatic climate control, and rear aircon vents.

For your peace of mind, the Sportage GT Line comes standard with an ensemble of airbags (front, side, and curtain), an anti-lock brake system, stability control, downhill brake control, hill-start assist, Isofix, among others.

The 2020 Kia Sportage GT Line is powered by a 2.0-liter CRDI diesel engine that puts out 183 hp and 400 Nm of torque. The engine is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Of note, the Sportage comes with three driving modes: Normal, Eco, and Sport. I opted to use the Normal mode more often during the duration of this test drive.

This Sportage is powered by a 2.0-liter diesel engine

The Sportage’s 2.0-liter diesel engine is more than adequate for the vehicle’s overall size and weight. As such, power delivery is good and the vehicle’s diesel engine is relaxed when driven at highway speeds.

One of the things I liked about the Sportage is its ability to accelerate well and to deliver the right amount of power instantly, which gives you confidence in overtaking slower vehicles. The paddle shifters also respond well when you want to shift gears on the fly.

Sharp and sporty

Driving the Sportage around the city, I noticed that the eight-speed automatic transmission shifts early, just above the 1,500rpm mark. This is ideal for achieving a more fuel-efficient drive. To add, the Kia Sportage’s automatic transmission shifts smoothly, which further adds to the overall ride comfort of the vehicle.

It has no shift shocks except for when the engine is downshifting, which causes a feeling of a very subtle nudge. But, you’ll only notice it if you particularly give attention to it. Otherwise, the Sportage’s 8-speed automatic transmission is as smooth as silk.

The Sportage can be a daily driver as well as a weekend road trip car

Aside from its notable power delivery, the Kia Sportage also comes with a comfortable ride. The crossover’s ride comfort is nice as it can absorb impacts within reason. It also drives smooth along the dilapidated roads of EDSA. The Sportage’s steering wheel is also light, which is ideal whenever you’re driving through tight city streets as well as when you’re parking the vehicle.

The light steering feel gets firm when you drive at highway speeds, giving you better control of the vehicle. It also has a stable ride when driven at an average speed of 90 km/h, which will make you comfortable and safe while cruising.

The Kia Sportage’s 2.0-liter diesel engine is a fuel-efficient power unit. During the weeklong test drive, the Sportage registered 16 km/l while driving at an average speed of 50 km/h using the Normal drive mode. On the open highway, it posted 18.5 km/l while driving at an average speed of 90 km/h on Normal mode.

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Overall, the 2020 Kia Sportage GT Line is a compact crossover that can be a daily city driver as well as a weekend road trip car. With all the features it offers, the Sportage is probably one of the crossovers that should have had a more notable sales performance in the Philippine market.

It comes with a distinctive design, a fuel-efficient diesel engine that generates adequate power, and a smooth ride. The Sportage also comes with tech and safety features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an ensemble of airbags, speed-sensing door locks, parking sensors, rear camera, among others.

The 2020 Kia Sportage GT Line

However, the Achilles heel of the 2020 Kia Sportage GT Line is its price, which is at Php 1,820,000. For that price, you can already get a midsize SUV that offers seating for seven individuals and a more spacious interior.

But, midsize SUVs can’t give the same smooth and car-like ride comfort of a compact crossover. If you want to have utmost comfort while you’re on the road, the Kia Sportage GT Line is a worthy choice.

Q: How much is a Kia Sportage 2020?

A: The 2020 Kia Sportage is available in three variants with a starting price of Php 1,290,000. The top-of-the-line Kia Sportage GT line is priced at Php 1,820,000.

Q: Is Kia Sportage fuel efficient?

A: The 2020 Kia Sportage GT Line that we reviewed registered a notable fuel economy. It posted 16 km/l while driving at an average speed of 50 km/h using the Normal drive mode. On the open highway, it posted 18.5 km/l while driving at an average speed of 90 km/h on Normal mode.

Q: Why should I buy a Kia Sportage?

A: The Kia Sportage is one of the compact crossovers in the Philippines. If you’re looking for a diesel-powered crossover in the Philippines, the Kia Sportage is one of the vehicles you can get.