Kia's compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) Sportage has secured the top spot in a comparison evaluation conducted by a leading German automotive magazine, surpassing its competitors.
According to Kia, the Sportage achieved a total score of 541 points in the recent compact SUV comparison by Auto Motor und Sport, earning the overall first place.
Auto Motor und Sport is considered one of Germany's top three automotive magazines, alongside Auto Bild and Auto Zeitung. This prestigious evaluation is influential in shaping European consumers' purchasing decisions.
The assessment compared the Sportage with the Mazda CX-5, Ford Kuga, and Citroën C5 Aircross across seven categories: body, safety, convenience, powertrain, driving performance, environmental friendliness, and cost.
The Sportage received the highest scores in four categories: body, convenience, powertrain, and driving performance, culminating in its overall score of 541 points. It outperformed the Mazda CX-5 and Ford Kuga, which both scored 535 points, and the Citroën C5 Aircross, which scored 533 points.
Notably, in the body category, the Sportage was praised for its superior material quality, finish, spacious interior, and intuitive physical button controls, earning a top score of 96 points.
In the powertrain category, the Sportage was recognized for its strong acceleration performance, achieving a time of 6.8 seconds to accelerate from 80 km/h to 120 km/h, earning the highest score of 83 points.
For driving performance, the Sportage was commended for its stable body dynamics, comfortable ride quality, and agile cornering, receiving a score of 70 points, the highest in this category. Its braking performance was also impressive, with a stopping distance of 36 meters from 100 km/h, surpassing all competitors.
A Kia representative stated, "The Sportage has been a beloved model in the European market, making this evaluation result even more significant."
Meanwhile, the Sportage continues to enjoy steady popularity in the local market, with approximately 149,000 units sold in Europe last year, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA). Recently, Kia launched the 2026 model year Sportage, enhancing its appeal.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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