1 March 2024 – The Kia Sportage continued its local awards streak this week by coming out on top in the ‘Family Car’ category of the 2024 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards, simultaneously becoming the first Korean product to ever win an award in the competition. One of 39 finalists overall, and the only diesel-powered finalist in its category, Sportage not only triumphed over the Chery Tiggo8 Pro Max 2.0TGDi 390 Executive and the Haval H6 1.5T HEV Ultra Luxury in what is arguably one of the most hotly contested categories, but also received the highest individual score (81.9%) among all of this year’s finalists.
“This latest award win proves that Sportage is not only the ultimate urban SUV, but that its unbeatable value proposition in a highly competitive segment is relevant to consumers today,” comments Gary Scott, CEO of Kia South Africa. “Sportage truly is the best family car on the market today.”
The latest, fifth-generation Kia Sportage was introduced to the South African market in September 2022. Offering a feature-rich package and punchy performance courtesy of Kia’s acclaimed 1.6-litre turbocharged GDI engine, the range was instantly well-received by fans and critics alike, scoring a nomination in, and indeed a category win, in the mid-size SUV category of the South African Car of the Year competition.
The Sportage range was bolstered in May 2023 with the addition of an equally punchy yet superbly frugal 1.6-litre turbodiesel powerplant. The addition of a diesel powertrain further cemented Sportage’s unique positioning in its segment: in a market that has traditionally favoured diesel engines in SUVs, the availability of such engines have become the exception to the rule.
Celebrating the nameplate’s 30-year anniversary in 2023 – and aligned with Kia’s approach of continuously optimising its product ranges to meet customer needs and changing market trends –Sportage was further refined in November 2023, most notably through the addition of further Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). All models in the Sportage range now feature Lane Follow Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, immediately making the Sportage proposition even more compelling. Subsequently, it also scooped up Car Magazine’s prestigious “2024 Best Buy Award” in the Midsize SUV category and closed off the year with TopGear South Africa’s inaugural Family SUV of the Year Award in December 2023.
