Summer Escape With Kia Sportage

A few weeks ago, I was persuaded to climb a mountain. It was my first time to trek so I was pretty excited despite having to wake up in the middle of the night to ascend. Since Mount Pico was just a few kilometres away from the beach, Mr. GJ & I decided to do one last sweet summer escape with our kids just before school started for them. You can read our last summer escape HERE.

It was the perfect weekend to road test the all-new KIA Sportage.

Just like when I first road tested a KIA (read my KIA Forte experience HERE), I was again warmly welcomed by Dindo Aquino, Nenuka Guba of Columbian Autocar Corporation (KIA) and Anton of KIA Greenhills.

 The KIA Sportage GT was all to ourselves that weekend.

Here’s a quick video of the KIA Sportage as we took it out of town over the weekend.

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Officially launched last March 2016, the new KIA Sportage wears a totally different exterior from its predecessor. I like how it’s much sportier. The signature KIA grill coupled with its spankingly sweet LED lights made the front more good looking.

Need I say more? 😉

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS, ICE CUBE FOG LIGHTS & AERODYNAMIC IMPROVEMENTS

We were trying to figure out why the lights were on every time we start the car only to find out its daytime running. Heehee. The ice cube fog lights though is an exclusive GT feature. It’s also got some aerodynamic improvements through the state-of-the-art wheel air curtain which improves the flow of air from the front & side spoilers passing through the wheels–minimising drag & therefore improves fuel efficiency.

The tailgate has a semi-reflective finish making it more stylish than the usual chrome. And the dual exhaust pipes make it more powerfully sporty.

SMART KEY

I’m getting used to Kia’s smart key. No need to fiddle inside my bag for it ‘coz of the convenience of the push start/stop button.

D-SHAPED STEERING WHEEL & PADDLE-SHIFTER

Two distinct features of the KIA Sportage GT. The 2.0 diesel engine runs strong yet smooth whether through paddle shifter or cruise control. The D-shape steering wheel gives that legit sporty feel–which Mr. JG regards as masculine while I find it sleek & sexy.

Normal, Eco or Sporty. You choose according to your adventure.

Don’t you just hate it when you get inside your car and the heat is unbearable? I know I do. With Sportage, I need not to crank up the aircon on full blast since it automatically does it for me. It also lets me control the aircon on the passenger side separately from the driver’s–one of the features that I appreciate most since my husband loves turning it on full blast while I like it just right. No need to choose one when we can have two different settings which we can also sync with a push of a button.

That intoxicating smell of leather– I’ve never been excited to sit still inside a car! Haha. I didn’t mind the hours of travel as long as I got to sit on the luxurious leather–so soft & supple. We made use of not just the cup holders but as well as the other (coin?) holder to put our french fries. Heehee.

Even the lil’ GJs enjoyed our drive-through with the convenient rear holders.

PANORAMIC GLASS ROOF

AUTO DEFOGGER

I get all panicky whenever my car’s windshield starts to fog. Afraid to drive further, oftentimes I find myself stopping and manually defogging the windshield. With Sportage, I am not worried at all . It’s got a sophisticated sensor which detects fogging on the front windshield and clears it automatically.

ALUMINUM ALLOY & AIR BAG

Check out the aluminium alloy pedals (GT Line exclusive) which makes the interior more than pleasing to the eyes. The Sportage is also air bag loaded. It’s got 6 air bags that are strategically placed throughout the interior –providing safety of not just the driver but it’s passengers as well.

LED INTERIOR LIGHTS

LED lights not only for the exterior but interior as well.AUTO

INTERIOR CAR HANDLE LIGHT & EASY SEAT SLIDE/RECLINE

No reason to get used to the darkness inside the Sportage for there are interior LED lights installed. Now if you’re having trouble adjusting the driver’s seat to your liking, you’ll love the Sportage’s. Recline, slide, more forward or backward the driver’s & the fron passenger seats with ease.

FULLY FOLDABLE REAR SEAT

Rear seat can be fully folded or folded 60-40 should you wish to access the rear from the inside. It also has a larger compartment compared to its previous model so there’s definitely more room to lug around an extra luggage, baby stroller, school trolley or go the extra mile and shop til’ you drop.

 

STURDY & SMOOTH RIDE

Overall, the new Sportage didn’t disappoint in showing off its capacity to go Eco mode or all out Sport mode. Whether it’s on cruise control or paddle-shifter, it’s powerful engine made the drive sturdy yet smooth. The LED lights make it more handsome than it already is. The all-new KIA Sportage is totally a head-turner and game changer in the CUV category.

Watch the video of our KIA Sportage experience

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