ALAN DOUGLAS: Dynamics and drama on offer in a quality drive in this Kia Sportage 1.6 GT-Line ‘S’ HEV Auto front-wheel drive road test
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Like “shooting brake”, the term “dashboard” is a legacy of the past.
The word originally referred to the wooden board attached to the front of carriages to prevent mud and rocks from being splashed or “dashed” onto drivers and their passengers by the horses that were pulling them. They were simply mud flaps for horses’ hooves.
But the idea goes even further back as far as 3000BC when chariots were fitted with guards against mud and rocks.
It was only in the early 1900s when horses were replaced by engines that “dashboards” were repurposed to house vehicle instruments, like speedometers and fuel gauges.
They’ve certainly moved on over the century and instead of a couple of dials and switches they incorporate the latest technology and in some cases are advanced computer tablets through which almost all of the car’s functions are activated.
The result is that a lot of the clutter of buttons, switches and controls has been cleared away to leave a minimalist, clean and functional look, even if it means you have to navigate through the screen’s menu sometimes for the very simplest of operations, like altering the cabin temperature or direction of air flow.
One of the best and most stylish dash displays – it’s a million miles from a dash board – is in the latest version of Kia’s superbly successful Sportage family SUV.
Sit behind the wheel of the featured GT-Line S test car and you are greeted by a pair of fabulous integrated screens which are each more than a foot wide, stretching across two-thirds of the available space.
It’s best described as a smaller version of a cinematic widescreen experience but best of all, it’s easy to access and works well without the need for laborious menu-scrolling.
It’s an example of just how much Kia has progressed in its relatively short time in the UK and especially since the original Sportage arrived in 1995. Now in its fifth generation, it was designed and developed specifically for the European market but has become the best-selling Kia model in the UK and globally.
The latest version comes in no fewer than 18 different versions with a range of powertrains of petrol, diesel, mild hybrid, full hybrid and plug-in hybrid and five model grades.
The top of the range GT-Line S test car was the HEV full self-charging hybrid with a 1.6-litre petrol engine tied to an electric motor for a combined 226bhp to all four wheels while returning impressive economy of just under 50mpg, thanks to the electric input.
Around a decade ago, I bought a new third-generation Sportage, attracted by its stylish design, bargain price and its unique seven-year, 100,000 mile warranty. It gave first-class service, although the full set of alloy wheels were prone to corrosion and had to be replaced three times, but covered throughout by the warranty.
The latest version has moved on a lot since then, not least in price, getting on for double what I paid for my albeit lower grade version in 2013.
The styling is dramatic with a fresh new look all round along with the brand’s signature boomerang-style daytime running lights and tiger nose grille. It’s longer, wider and higher with a longer wheelbase to give greater head room, leg room, and boot space than the outgoing model.
There’s plenty of adjustment in the seats and the ride quality and driving dynamics are as good, if not better than some of the more expensive competition, but then the Sportage is not the bargain-basement model it once was.
The shift-by-wire automatic transmission is controlled through a rotary dial on the central console and is neat and compact, taking up less space than a traditional gear selector. There are some clever touches around the cabin like integrated hangers within the slim headrests which allow jackets and handbags to be hooked into place, while the driver and front passenger seats have fast-charge USB ports.
CAR FACTS
CAR: Kia Sportage 1.6 GT-Line ‘S’ HEV Auto front-wheel drive
PRICE: £38,655
ENGINE: 1598cc 4 cyl petrol + 1.49 kWh Li-ion battery
POWER: 226bhp
TORQUE: 350 Nm
PERFORMANCE: Top speed 120mph 0-60mph 7.7 secs
TOWING ABILITY: 1650Kgs (braked)
ECONOMY: 48mpg combined
CO2 EMISSIONS: 132g/km
