The Kia KX5 currently sold in China is actually the fourth-generation Sportage overseas, and although the English name of the Zhipao is also called Sportage, it is actually a compact SUV exclusively for the Chinese market, and the hardware base is a generation behind the KX5, and it has nothing to do with global models, which is the same routine as Beijing Hyundai's Tucson and ix35.
 
The Kia KX5 is now powered by a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine mated to a Pyvotec 6-speed automatic transmission, and a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine mated to a Dymos seven-speed dry dual-clutch transmission. The low-spec model uses a 2.0L engine, and the book data is not as good as the current turbo engine, but the tuning is very mature, and the shift logic and shift speed are very satisfactory, which can ensure the smoothness of daily driving. The high-end model uses a 1.6T engine, which is one of the best power systems with small-displacement turbocharged dual-clutch power among the current first-line manufacturers, and Volkswagen's EA211 with DQ200 is the same level, but due to congenital physical limitations, there will still be occasional slight setbacks in the low-speed range.
 
The chassis shock filtration of the KX5 is relatively average, although it is a front MacPherson rear multi-link, and the hardware is in line with this level of configuration, but there seem to be some anomalies in the tuning. First of all, due to the cost, the texture of the bushing is relatively thin, and then the front half of the suspension is hard, and the middle and rear sections are soft. When an SUV passes through some speed bumps, the vehicle will have a sense of throwing and jumping, and the absorption of vibration is not enough, but when changing lanes, it will feel that the lateral support is insufficient, resulting in the result that it is neither home nor sporty.
 
After the KX5 was replaced in 2019, the guide price of the four-wheel drive version was reduced to 180,000 yuan, but in fact, this time-sharing four-wheel drive system could not meet the off-road needs, and the power would only be transmitted to the rear axle when the front wheel skidped.
 
In addition to reducing the price and changing the appearance, the mid-term facelift KX5 has also made small improvements in some aspects of driving and ride comfort, for example, the early KX5 itself has good sound insulation, and it has also been improved after the facelift, and the steering feel has also increased slightly, so that it is not too light as the previous model.
 
There aren't a lot of highlights in the interior, but they all have them, including soft slush molding above the dashboard and more hard plastic on the door panels. The position of the buttons is correct, but the air conditioning panel uses touch control, and the experience of using it in daily driving is not as good as the physical buttons, which is too much. Central control multimedia supportCarLife,But do not support AppleCarPlay,There is basically no feedback on the touch,You can only look at the animation of the screen to confirm,The whole set of multimedia can be said to be good-looking but not very convenient for blind operation。
 
KX5's rear seat space meets the basic requirements of Japanese and Korean cars of this level, there is very ample space in the knees, the head is slightly limited due to the existence of a panoramic sunroof, the backrest angle of the seat can be greatly adjusted, the most reclining position has been close to semi-reclining, and long-distance riding can also ensure better comfort. The middle platform is a little raised, but it's wide enough to sit in the middle without any discomfort. There is no USB interface in the rear, only a 12V cigarette lighter interface, but now many car chargers support QC3.0, which will be faster than the USB port of the original car.
 
Configuration has always been the traditional selling point of Korean cars. The whole system is equipped with keyless entry, keyless start, LED headlights, and on the 1.6T model, it is equipped with a panoramic sunroof, an air purifier in the car, and a rear exhaust air vent as standard, but the higher-end comfort configuration and safety configuration will only be available at the top, such as lane keeping, anti-collision warning, and seat heating and ventilation are optional even if they are the top configuration.
 
KX5 itself this model itself in addition to the dual-clutch gearbox will have a chance of frustration, there is no obvious failure point, but there has been a recall of oil increase before, after upgrading the ECU, there is a decrease in power and an increase in fuel consumption, so that the owner of the car who did not have an increase in oil is very dissatisfied. After the mid-life facelift, the KX5's reliability issues remain to be seen.
 
In terms of safety, the overseas version of the Sportage received a full excellent result in the crash test category of the IIHS, but the headlights did not meet the standard, so it could not win the TSP award. In terms of NCAP, the Sportage took part in the E-NCAP crash test in 2015 and received a five-star rating.