The first month of summer turned out to be triumphant for the Kia Sportage crossover. According to the results of June, this model not only topped the SUV segment in Ukraine, but also became the most popular on the entire market — such data is provided by the UkrAvtoprom association. June was also successful for the brand itself: Kia entered the top five brands, and its sales grew by 8% compared to May 2016 and by 138% compared to June of the previous year.
The fact that Sportage returned to the top is hardly a surprise — this model has a rich history of success in our country. Since 2009, when the distributor company Falcon-AUTO started operating, more than 11,000 such cars have been sold in Ukraine. In 2012–2013, Sportage held the title of the most popular SUV on the market, and in the following two years it consistently entered the top three leaders in its class.
Let us remind you that the official premiere of the new generation Kia Sportage in Ukraine took place in early February of this year. The new product immediately attracted the attention of motorists: the first batch was completely sold out through pre-orders, and by the end of February some modifications were already impossible to find due to overwhelming demand.
The secret of the updated Sportage's success lies in the harmonious combination of bold, even daring design, reliable safety, rich equipment, a wide choice of engines, and an attractive price.
Currently, the fourth-generation Kia Sportage is available with five petrol and diesel engines, as well as three types of transmissions. The base diesel is a 1.7-liter unit with 115 hp (280 Nm), working exclusively with a 6-speed manual. The flagship two-liter turbodiesel produces 185 hp and 400 Nm, and it is paired with a 6-speed automatic. Among petrol engines, the entry-level one is a naturally aspirated 1.6-liter (132 hp, 160 Nm) — like the diesel, it is combined only with a manual gearbox. Higher up is a 155-horsepower two-liter engine with a classic automatic. And the most spirited character belongs to the new turbo engine: 177 hp and a modern robotic DCT gearbox with two clutches, which requires no maintenance for its entire service life.
The body of the new Sportage actively uses high-strength steels, which increased structural rigidity, improved handling, and enhanced safety. The car received maximum ratings both in EuroNCAP crash tests and from the American IIHS institute.
On the Ukrainian market, the crossover is offered in four trim levels, and even the starting Comfort version is richly equipped: six airbags, ABS, ESC, VSM, hill descent and ascent assist systems (DBC/HAC), disc brakes on all wheels, active front and rear headrests, cruise control, automatic headlights, 16-inch alloy wheels, tire pressure monitoring, mirrors with electric adjustment and folding, and much more. For winter, the "Warm Options" package is especially useful, which includes heated front and rear seats, heated steering wheel, and heated windshield wiper zone.
Prices for the new generation Kia Sportage start from UAH 510,120 and reach UAH 875,160* depending on the trim level. Current trim levels and prices — at the link: http://kia.ua/dir/sportage_new.
* Prices for the Kia Sportage car are indicated including VAT as of 05.07.2016. The seller reserves the right to change prices.
