Kia’s representative compact SUV, the Sportage, has once again demonstrated its top competitiveness in a comparison evaluation conducted by a prominent German automotive magazine.

The Sportage secured first place in a recent compact SUV comparison test performed by the German automotive magazine Auto Motor und Sport, surpassing competitive models from Mazda and Ford.

Auto Motor und Sport is one of Germany’s three most trusted automotive magazines alongside Auto Bild and Auto Zeitung, having a significant influence on consumers across Germany and Europe.

This comparison evaluated three models that are fiercely competing in the European compact SUV market: the Sportage, Mazda CX-5, and Ford Kuga, across seven categories: Body, Safety, Convenience, Powertrain, Driving Performance, Environmental Friendliness, and Cost.

The Sportage dominated six out of the seven evaluation categories, scoring 586 points in total, significantly outpacing the CX-5 (542 points) and Kuga (530 points).

In the body category, which includes interior space, trunk, and load capacity, the Sportage received the highest score of 107 points, well ahead of the CX-5’s 101 points and the Kuga’s 96 points.

In this regard, Auto Motor und Sport praised, “The Sportage offers the most generous interior space and trunk capacity despite being the shortest in length among the comparison models,” highlighting the optimized package design. (※ Length: Sportage 4,515mm, CX-5 4,575mm, Kuga 4,614mm)

Additionally, in the powertrain (85 points) and convenience (72 points) categories, the Sportage outclassed the second-ranked model by a remarkable 8 points, proving its superior product quality. The powertrain category evaluates driving quality, acceleration capability, and towing capacity, while the convenience category includes criteria such as seat comfort, infotainment system, and climate control system.

Auto Motor und Sport commented, “The Sportage excels in ride comfort, driving performance, and efficiency without lacking in any aspect,” stating that various features harmoniously come together to present a highly refined vehicle.

This evaluation holds significant meaning as it reaffirmed the Sportage’s excellence in the compact SUV segment, a key battleground of the European automobile market.

Since the launch of the fifth generation model in 2021, the Sportage has showcased its strength by winning the ‘Car of the Year’ titles in various European countries such as Spain, Greece, and Ireland.

Notably, last year, it clinched first place in comparison tests held by three major German media outlets. In the first half of the year alone, in two comparison tests from Auto Motor und Sport, it beat the Volkswagen Tiguan in March with the mild hybrid model, and in June, it surpassed the Toyota RAV4, Opel Grandland, and Volvo XC40 with the plug-in hybrid model.

In September’s comparison test conducted by Auto Bild, the hybrid model once again defeated the RAV4, and in December’s Auto Zeitung comparison test, the mild hybrid model ranked first against Japan’s leading hybrid SUVs, the RAV4, CX-5, and Nissan Qashqai.

Thus, the Sportage’s various powertrains, from the base mild hybrid to hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions, have all been recognized for their value.

Furthermore, in January of this year, it was selected as the ‘Family SUV of the Year’ at the prestigious 2023 What Car? Awards in the UK.

Thanks to these accolades, the Sportage sold over 137,000 units in Europe last year and has already sold more than 82,000 units in the first half of this year, gaining strong popularity among consumers.

Meanwhile, the Sportage celebrates its 30th anniversary this year since the launch of its first generation model in 1993 and has surpassed cumulative global sales of 7 million units, making it Kia’s best-selling model.

Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr