2026 Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi 180 HP AWD 7DCT - POV Test Drive

POV Test Drive of the new (facelift) 2026 Kia Sportage in the 2nd highest trim called Platinum. New Kia Sportage has 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine producing 180 HP. It is the most powerful petrol version without electrification. This one also have 7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission and all wheel drive - AWD (4x4).

Facelifted Sportage has new front and back lights, new infotainment, new steering wheel, no more piano black plastics and the most important is much more quiet inside.

Pros: I like the suspension setup, new Sportage is actually fun to drive. Roads here in Slovakia (where is Sportage built) are really bad and the car has no problem with it. Car is table, visibility is okay, self driving is working perfectly fine too. I really like rev counter on the right side and speedo on the left.

Cons: There is massive delay and lag with the throttle. I am not sure if it is a software issue, technical issue or cluth slippage but sometimes and mostly uphill, when you try to move from the crossroad faster, it is just not going. If you do not aggressively press throttle for kickdown, it just will not downshift. Especially moving from the crossroads - it is not constant - every time the initial move is different. Even when you slowly press the throttle fully, it takes more than 3 secs while the car realises you actually want to move faster. I hope a software update will fix it.
There is also a high consuption, when driving very defensive there is consuption around 7,5 l/100 km, combined is around 8,5 l/100 km and in the city about 10,5 l/100 km.

0:00 Interior & Exterior
2:15 Descent Assistant
2:52 Offroad
3:07 4x4 Differential Lock
3:45 Spirited Driving
5:55 Acceleration
6:07 Highway Drive
7:45 Self-Driving & Adaptive Cruise Control
10:25 City Driving
15:56 Parking

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