Latest news with #KiaSouthAfrica
The Citizen
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Facelift Kia Sorento sticks to tried and trusted diesel recipe
Korean carmaker not introducing hybrid powertrain yet despite shift towards electrification. Although Kia as a manufacturer probably best known for its compact vehicle offerings, especially in South Africa, where 79% of all vehicles sold retail for less than R550 000, they also service demand on the other end of the budget scale. And today is all about this other end, and Kia's recently facelifted, luxury flagship SUV, the Sorento. Paul Turnbull, CEO of Kia South Africa, says: 'The Sorento's evolution over the past few decades echoes that of the Kia brand as a whole. A rich package of advanced safety features, combined with highly efficient powertrains, make the new Kia Sorento the perfect vehicle for customers looking for a safe, reliable, and relaxed drive.' Putting these claims to the test, we flew into Cape Town and took a leisurely drive out on the N2 to the Arabella Hotel, Golf & Spa resort for the night. And we then did the more scenic coastal route past Gordons the next day to the airport to fly home. It was an outing that reminded us why the Kia Sorento, although a small volume seller, is such a well-loved SUV in the Korean carmaker's stable. Long lives diesel This is a segment dominated by turbodiesel offerings. It's the power and torque, and fuel efficiency that only a turbodiesel can offer that has everybody sold. Kia is somewhat fortunate right now. Unlike their sister company, Hyundai, that can now only offer a turbo petrol hybrid in their all-new Santa Fe, Kia still has access to the 2.2-litre turbodiesel powertrain. The Kia Sorento rides on 20-inch alloy wheels. Picture: Supplied This is a situation Kia says, and hopes, will last for several years to come. But the reality is, even though we love diesel in South Africa, the global drive to electrification will probably get us all in the end. Kia South Africa says they will be watching the local turbo petrol hybrid space closely, because they are in a position to introduce a Sorento hybrid should the market indicate that there is rising demand for such a vehicle. But while there isn't any real demand right now, we got to enjoy the easy driving nature of the 148kW/440Nm 2.2-litre turbodiesel powertrain once again. Married to Kia's new eight-speed double clutch transmission, and with torque like that on demand from a low 1 750rpm all the way up to 2 750 rpm, what more would you want from a family SUV? ALSO READ: Suit straightened updated Kia Sorento officially priced Frugal sipper Well, other than fuel efficiency, I guess. And here the Kia Sorento easily delivered on this want too. Without paying any attention to it. And minus any fancy tech with batteries and electrical assistance, The Citizen Motoring achieved 7.2-litres per 100km for the duration of the media launch drive. I will bet you a cold beer and a few screaming kids that you will improve on this number. Now if screaming kids are your thing, all three Sorento derivatives are equipped with seven seats. And up to seven airbags to keep them safe. You also get a suite of upgraded Advanced Driver Assistance Systems from Forward Collision Avoidance Assist to Evasive Steering Assist, to everything else in between. The Kia Sorento features duel 12.3-inch screens. Picture: Supplied A 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with navigation, and a 12.3-inch driver instrument cluster, in addition to a 10-inch head-up display gives you all the info you need right in front of you. A digital rear-view mirror, that can be used as a normal electric chromatic mirror, or as a digital camera display, gives you an enhanced view of what is happening behind you if you are brave enough to look. If all else fails, crank up the volume of the Bose premium sound system, and go to that happy place in your head. Kia Sorento pricing Sorento 2.2 CRDi 7-Seater EX+ 2WD 8DCT R999 995 Sorento 2.2 CRDi 7-Seater SX AWD 8DCT R1 199 995 Sorento 2.2 CRDi 7-Seater SXL AWD 8DCT R1 299 995 *Pricing includes unlimited kilometre/five-year warranty and six-year/90 000km maintenance plan.
IOL News
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
Kia Picanto now more affordable, but can it claw back sales ground lost to Grand i10, Swift?
The new Kia Picanto 1.0 LS brings the entry price of the range down by R24,000. Once a prime contender in the budget hatch space, the Kia Picanto has seen flagging sales in the past few years as prices gradually rose beyond the level of its key rivals. Consider that in the past three months Kia sold an average of 161 Picantos per month, while the Hyundai Grand i10 averaged 1,373 and the Suzuki Swift 1,834. Until now, the least expensive Picanto, the LX, cost R260,995, considerably more than the R224,900 starting price of both the Grand i10 and Swift. Now Kia South Africa has put its baby hatch back into contention with the launch of the 1.0 LS, which costs R236,995 in manual form and R256,995 as an auto, according to Duoporta and That makes the new, and quietly announced, base model a cool R24,000 less expensive than the LX. But it gets even better, with the Kia SA website now listing further discounts on some of its Picanto models, slashing the price of the new LS to R229,995 and the LX to R245,995.
The Citizen
04-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Hint for South Africa? Mildly restyled Kia Sportage debuts in the UK
An official announcement confirming the facelift Sportage for South Africa is yet to be made. Facelift Sportage incorporates a revised front facia and new alloy wheels up to 19-inches. Image: Kia Shown in North American guise at the Los Angeles International Auto Show at the end of last year, Kia has taken the wraps off of the facelift Sportage the United Kingdom which provides the likely biggest indication of what the South African-market version could look like. New outside On-sale in the island kingdom from the third quarter of this year, the internally named NQ5 Sportage's first revision since its world debut four years ago consists of a new front bumper, redesigned headlights and daytime running diodes, a tweaked Tiger Nose grille and new alloy wheels ranging from 17-inches to 19-inches on GT-Line models. ALSO READ: Dramatic opposite arrives as Kia reveals all-new Sportage At the rear, the updates are subtler and consists of a new bumper and graphics for the light clusters. Subtly new inside Inside, the Sportage gets the same steering wheel as the electric EV models and the Tasman bakkie, as well as newly designed air vents that now run flush across the width of the dashboard. Interior changes include a new steering wheels and redesigned air vents. Image: Kia UK On the centre console, the plethora of physical buttons remain, as does the rotary dial gear selector on higher-end models. A traditional lever on automatic variants also continues as Kia still offers the Sportage with a manual gearbox. Upgraded materials and upholstery colours, including a first-time two-tone on GT-Line grades, and a new optional Head-Up Display round the interior's changes off. Up front On the power front, the UK-spec Sportage continues to offer a choice of two engines; the 1.6 T-GDI rated at 110 kW, and a hybrid that combines the same engine with an electric motor and battery pack for a total output of 175 kW. Transmissions for the former are either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch, with the hybrid having sole access to a unique six-speed automatic. Changes to the rear are subtle. Image: Kia UK Standard across all engine options is front-wheel-drive, with all-wheel-drive being optional on the hybrid only. By comparison, the US Sportage has three engine options; a normally aspirated 2.5-litre petrol pumping-out 140 kW, a 1.6-litre hybrid developing 170 kW and a plug-in hybrid that combines the 1.6 with an electric motor and battery pack for a total system output of 200 kW. Confirmation awaited Priced from $28 690 in the United States, which equates to a directly converted R510 628, Kia South Africa is yet to confirm the updated Sportage for the local market, which, if approved, could happen before year-end. As a reminder, the South African range spans six models and five trim levels: LX, EX, GT-Line, GT-Line Plus and GT-Line S, with a choice of two engines; the 1.6 T-GDI rated at 132kW/265Nm and the 1.6 CRDI turbodiesel outputting 100kW/320Nm. Pricing starts at R662 995 for the 1.6 CRDI LX and ends at R823 995 for the top-spec 1.6 T-GDI GT-Line S, NOW READ: Kia Sportage swaps out bells and whistles for superb diesel mill
