In a segment that’s fast moving to auto-only, amazingly, you can still get the Kia Sportage with a manual transmission – but should you?
- Safe and stable handling
- Manual transmission
- Excellent second row and boot
- Keyless entry would be nice
- Thirsty
- Resale on a less popular variant might be tricky
Introduction
Cars like the 2022 Kia Sportage S are anomalies.
Whether they exist to enable a low drive-away price in marketing material, or simply because they’re worth the handful of sales they’ll ever achieve, depends on the staff member you’re talking to.
However, it’s worth celebrating the fact you can still buy a mid-size SUV with a manual transmission. If you’re the type that keeps your cars for eons, uses and abuses them on the weekends, or just appreciates longevity, it could prove fruitful to pick the manual.
I’m also told that orders for manual-transmission cars are easier to fulfil. Why? They use far, far less computer chips than higher-spec, turbocharged and dual-clutch-equipped Sportage GT models.
If you’re unaware of the situation, please read our coverage on the worldwide shortage of semiconductors due to a string of events influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the austerity setting in, it’s probably good timing to discuss the price. An entry-level 2022 Kia Sportage S manual costs $34,690 drive-away, making it great value agnostic of the transmission. If you did decide the automatic version of the same was more your flavour, it’s just $1000 more.
So, ease of availability, low prices and a brand-new-generation product? Let’s find out if it’s worth your time.
| Key details | 2022 Kia Sportage S manual |
| Price | $34,690 drive-away |
| Colour of test car | Clear White |
| Options | None |
| Price as tested | $34,690 drive-away |
| Rivals | Mazda CX-5 | Toyota RAV4 | Hyundai Tucson |
Inside
Before you ask, the 2022 Kia Sportage S manual doesn’t feel akin to your usual white rental car.
The seats are trimmed in a nice, high-quality black cloth that’s seemingly hard-wearing. The dash is clad with a detailed and faceted silver plastic trim that looks and feels far nicer than the price suggests. There’s even a pair of 8.0-inch digital displays taking care of infotainment and instrument cluster duties.
Aside from the myriad blanking buttons (for features you don’t have) and the wobbly stick in the middle, it doesn’t feel like the cheap interior. General occupant space in the first row is also excellent, with a manually adjustable driver’s seat offering stacks of height and backrest adjustment, but sadly no lumbar support.
In turn, visibility is great from behind the wheel, regardless of your height. Regarding storage, the front door bins will fit a phone and a water bottle, armrest big enough for baby wipes, nappies and the odd change bag, and its two cupholders in the lower centre console are accepting of an iced coffee procured from the brand with the golden arches.
Over in the second row, space is excellent. Sitting behind my own driving position (183cm tall), I was presented with over 5cm of knee room, stacks of foot room, and plenty of headroom. The glasshouse has been well-considered for second-row occupants, meaning when you’re relaxed in the seat, you retain great peripheral vision, and are not cocooned by structural members or a general dark atmosphere.
There’s plenty of space to fit a pair of convertible child seats or booster seats. A Britax Graphene, suitable from birth to four years rearward-facing, fit nicely and did not impede on the first row of seating. Equally, a booster seat suitable from four years and up had plenty of width and height to work with.
Other than a pair of bottle holders in the doors, some fold-down cupholders in the armrest and some air vents, the biggest benefit of the second row is the seat hip point. Getting in and out is a breeze, and suitable if you’re older or with frail joints.
Boot space starts at a respectable 543L with all five seats in play or 1829L with the second row folded. Like the seats, the boot features a fantastic load height, and the overall space is well-proportioned too. There’s a single 12-volt power outlet, a light, and thankfully a full-size spare wheel under the boot floor.
Infotainment and Connectivity
As mentioned earlier, even the entry-level 2022 Kia Sportage features a pair of digital displays.Both 8.0-inch panels feature clear graphics and sharp resolution, despite being a watered-down version of what’s found in higher-spec Kia Sportage models. Those ones feature a 12.3-inch ‘curved’ set-up that’s complete with more processing power and a totally different software interface.
Fancy graphics aside, legibility is arguably the biggest priority in terms of being a gauge. Thankfully, the digital speedo is large and viewable in all conditions. The tacho is also digital; something that became easy to use after figuring out to look for ‘6.5’ and not ‘6500’ when changing gears.
The other 8.0-inch screen manages infotainment. It features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but smartphone connectivity in the 2022 Kia Sportage is only conducted wirelessly.
Despite sounding exotic, it has its flaws. Thankfully set-up isn’t one, as it was quick and easy to pair up with both Apple and Android devices. Earlier renditions of Kia’s wireless smartphone connectivity did feature bugs, but the current software on both devices saw fuss-free operation over the duration of the loan.
What is a flaw is how much wireless phone connectivity gives your smartphone’s battery a hiding. It means unless the journey is short, you’ll probably need to plug it in anyway. Don’t get confused if you can’t access CarPlay via the wire, though, as you can’t. It’s a problem the brand is desperately trying to solve and hopefully will do so soon enough.
The six-speaker sound system is good enough for the money, with Massive Attack’s Angel sounding large enough, and Q-Tip’s Breathe and Stop sounding nice and crisp.
Safety and Technology
The 2022 Kia Sportage range is yet to be tested by Australian crash-test authority ANCAP.
It’s also the case for both Euro NCAP, which doesn’t yet offer an official rating for the car internationally as of the time of writing, in December 2021.
However, the 2022 Kia Sportage S manual does feature a wide array of active safety systems. Blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning, autonomous (automatic models upgrade this to include avoidance tech as well) autonomous emergency braking with cyclist, pedestrian and intersection intervention, lane guidance and following assist, occupant exit alert, rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera, and a whole heap more.
Compared to the wider market, it’s very well-equipped safety-wise for the money. It’s worth noting though that trailer stability assist and auto high beam are auto-only features not offered on manual models of the Sportage.
| 2022 Kia Sportage S manual | |
| ANCAP rating | Unrated |
Value for Money
If a manual transmission matters, the other real choice is the 2022 Mazda CX-5.
It can also be ordered with a manual transmission and starts from around $35,000 drive-away. However, I reckon you’ll probably be squabbling with an internal competitor, rather than one from outside the fraternity.
Kia offers not just one, but two manual-transmission-equipped Sportages, so if you want one with the fancy wheels and larger infotainment system, you can have your cake and eat it.
The 2022 Kia Sportage SX manual costs just $2800 more, or $37,490 drive-away. Aside from value for money, there’s half a chance your chosen Kia dealer will be able to fulfill the order sooner rather than later, given the semiconductor shortage that’s currently plaguing the automotive manufacturing industry globally.
| At a glance | 2022 Kia Sportage S manual |
| Warranty | Seven years / unlimited km |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
| Servicing costs | $1280 (3 years), $2395 (5 years), $3479 (7 years) |
| Fuel cons. (claimed) | 7.7L/100km |
| Fuel cons. (on test) | 8.8L/100km |
| Fuel type | 91-octane petrol |
| Fuel tank size | 54L |
Driving
Aside from the novelty of shifting gears yourself, the 2022 Kia Sportage is a great drive.
The Australian ride and handling team spent plenty of time in Australia tuning the Kia’s suspension to ensure it both feels safe and actually is safe for our unique conditions. Despite feeling soft and with some roll initially, there’s plenty of grip and composure left underneath, so it feels confident at speed.
Jumping on the picks and directional changes are simple matters the Kia handles without fuss, all while retaining excellent lower-speed ride quality and comfort. I spent my time buzzing through Sydney’s suburban haunts before dashing through Arcadia, where the roads are long, fast and sweeping.
Some of the roads here are representative of more rural areas typically seen farther out too. The weakest link of the package are its tyres, as they do lack some wet-weather grip, but the rest is safe and honest. It makes the 2022 Kia Sportage great for newcomers behind the wheel, or if your kids are sharing what’s yours.
The 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine feels willing, however, it only produces 115kW/192Nm and has to lug around 1500kg, so it needs all the help it can get.
It means you may have to rev the car harder to get the same result or, better put, drive it like a six-speed manual. With larger inputs comes a larger fuel bill, as our car returned an efficiency figure of 8.8L/100km versus the official figure of 7.7L/100km.
I’d say achieving 7.7L/100km in Sydney metro’s frantic driving conditions is impossible given the pace you need to maintain. Out of the big smoke, I’d wager you’d get closer.
| Key details | 2022 Kia Sportage S manual |
| Engine | 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol |
| Power | 115kW @ 6200rpm |
| Torque | 192Nm @ 4500rpm |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
| Transmission | Six-speed manual |
| Power to weight ratio | 76.3kW/t |
| Weight | 1508kg |
| Tow rating | 750kg unbraked, 1900kg braked, 100kg down |
| Turning circle | 11.4m |
Conclusion
If you’re not hung up on the transmission, it’s probably one of the best family cars you can buy brand-new for under $35,000 drive-away.
Not only do you get a seven-year warranty with all the roadside trimmings, but you also get the best of a latest-generation product, in a highly desirable segment, for a steal.
The second row is great, the boot equally so, and it’s filled with plenty of safety systems, fancy screens, and a wobbly stick that’ll impress everyone from your neighbors to car enthusiasts alike.
But we all know the transmission will hold it back from greatness. I’ll be honest – everyone that popped their head in and saw the transmission asked for a drive.
I know you’re in the showroom buying the auto, but if you see the manual, humour yourself and have a go. It’s a great car.
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