Following previous announcements and rumours, official Kia brand importer and distributor Dinamikjaya Motors (Bermaz Auto) has finally unveiled some details regarding its long-awaited new SUV model, the fifth-gen Kia Sportage.
To learn more about this upcoming C-SUV model, we were recently invited by Dinamikjaya Motors to size up the new Sportage at the Inokom Kulim production facility in Kedah, which is the place where this model is locally-assembled (CKD).
For starters, the local-spec Sportage CKD is based on the pre-facelift fifth-gen model (codenamed NQ5), which is not the recently-updated model unveiled in South Korea earlier this month. With said model being exclusively available in its native market for now, it may take at least two more years before the model is ready to be CKD for our local market consumption, according to the company.
Regardless of that, the pre-facelift Sportage is still a stylish-looking SUV, with key design features including the sleek LED headlights with distinctive DRLs, 17- or 18-inch two-tone alloy wheels, plus aggressive faux skid plates on both front and rear, all packaged in a sharp SUV bodystyle.
To match with its bold exterior design, the Sportage CKD also gets a pretty elaborate and tech-laden cabin setup. Primed at the front dash is a dual 12.3-inch display, with the infotainment half coming with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support as standard. Depending on the trim levels, buyers can expect to find amenities such as a multi-colour ambient lighting system, a dual-zone climate control, and even a Harman Kardon premium audio system, to name a few.
On the powertrain front, the Sportage CKD will be offered in two powertrain flavours, with the baseline model featuring a 2.0-litre 4-cyl nat-asp SmartStream petrol mill that is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission to deliver 156 HP and 192 NM to its front wheels (FWD).
Meanwhile, the second variant gets a peppier 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbocharged Gamma II petrol mill that is augmented with a 7-speed DCT gearbox for a total system output of 177 HP and 265 NM. Unlike the 2.0-litre model, drive is sent to all wheels (AWD) for the top-spec 1.6 turbo model.
Given these specs, it seems that Dinamikjaya Motors has elected not to offer the previously-rumoured hybrid variant of the Sportage CKD for our market, thus making its powertrain lineup almost similar to its sister brand’s C-SUV fighter, the fourth-gen Hyundai Tucson (NX4).
To match with its peppy powertrain options, the Sportage CKD will also come standard with a host of active and passive safety features, with the former including ADAS functions like Forward Collision-Avoidance Assistance (FCA), Lane-Keeping Assist (LKA), Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance (BCA), Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA), and many more.
Set to make its local debut at the upcoming Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show 2024 (KLIMS 2024), pre-orders for the all-new 2024 Kia Sportage CKD are now open and can be made at all Kia outlets nationwide. Although no tentative prices were given, the company promises that the new Sportage will feature "very competitive pricing," thus indicating that it will be on- par with other newer C-SUVs out there.
On top of that, the new Sportage CKD will also come with the same 5-year free warranty and a 5-year free service maintenance as other Kia models in Malaysia, providing added value and peace-of-mind ownership to potential customers.
So folks, what do you think of the new 2024 Kia Sportage CKD? Fancy this Korean-badged and Kulim-built SUV over its other adversaries out there? As always, don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments down below…