There is a point where more technology stops making a car better. I am reminded of that every time I have to dig through a touchscreen just to change a basic setting, dismiss another warning or figure out why a car has decided to intervene.
That is why I find the Kia Sportage 2.0G 2WD High refreshing. It is not tech-free, far from it, but it does not make technology the centre of the driving experience. Instead, I get a straightforward petrol engine, a conventional automatic gearbox, sensible controls and enough useful equipment to make daily driving easy.
For me, that is increasingly a selling point.
I Don’t Need A Turbo To Get To Work
Under the bonnet is a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine producing 154 hp and 192 Nm, paired with a conventional six-speed automatic driving the front wheels.
Those numbers are not going to dominate a specification sheet. I do not think they need to.
Around town, what matters more to me is predictability. I press the accelerator, the engine responds and the gearbox does what I expect. There is no turbo surge to manage and no dual-clutch transmission trying to second-guess low-speed traffic, something which I can live around with.
The Sportage is not quick, and I notice that more when I ask for hard acceleration or head uphill.
The six-speed automatic suits the character of this car. It is smooth, familiar and undramatic. For a family SUV that is likely to spend most of its life commuting, sitting in traffic, doing school runs and covering highway kilometres, I would rather have consistency than theatrics.
Less Screen Time Is A Good Thing
The cabin is where I appreciate the Sportage most.
Kia has resisted the temptation to move every function into one giant screen. Essential controls such as the climate system and drive modes retain physical switchgear, while the 2.0 High gets an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
That balance works for me.
I still get smartphone connectivity, a wireless charger, keyless operation, a powered driver’s seat and a powered tailgate. I am not sacrificing the conveniences I actually use.
What I am avoiding is unnecessary digital theatre.
I do not need animated graphics every time I change a driving mode. I do not need a touchscreen to control every cabin function. I certainly do not want to spend the first five minutes of every journey navigating menus.
I want to get in, connect my phone, set the air-conditioning and leave.
The Sportage lets me do that.
Simple Does Not Mean Stripped Out
Calling the Sportage 2.0 High “less tech” should not be confused with calling it basic.
I still get the safety technology I would want in a modern family SUV, including forward collision-avoidance assistance, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot collision warning, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality.
That is where I want technology working: Quietly in the background.
I am happy for the car to watch my blind spot or help prevent a collision. I just do not need every part of the driving experience digitised because the technology exists.
That distinction matters.
I’d Rather Have Comfort Than Bigger Wheels
The 2.0 High rides on 17-inch wheels with 235/65 tyres, backed by MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link arrangement at the rear.
Again, Kia could have chased appearance with oversized wheels and thinner tyres. I am glad it did not.
For the roads I actually use, I would take the extra tyre sidewall. It suits the Sportage’s job as an everyday SUV and reinforces the relaxed character of the 2.0-litre powertrain.
The same applies to space. At 4,660mm long with a 2,755mm wheelbase, the Sportage gives me proper family-SUV proportions without becoming unnecessarily cumbersome.
I can carry people and luggage without feeling as though I have bought far more vehicle than I need.
The Middle Variant Makes Sense To Me
The 2.0G High is also an interesting middle ground in the Malaysian Sportage range.
I get the same naturally aspirated 2.0-litre engine and six-speed automatic as the entry model, but the High adds useful conveniences and a broader suite of driver-assistance systems. Above it sits the more powerful 1.6-litre turbo variants with 177 hp, 265 Nm and seven-speed dual-clutch transmissions.
I understand the attraction of the turbo. It is clearly the choice if outright performance matters.
But that is not what attracts me to this Sportage.
I like the 2.0 High because it feels like the version that knows exactly what it is supposed to do. It gives me enough equipment without making performance or technology its entire personality.
That is ultimately what wins me over.
I do not finish a drive in the Sportage 2.0 High thinking about processing power, software architecture or how quickly it reaches 100kmh. I think about how little effort it demanded from me.
And I see value in that.
Cars are becoming smartphones on wheels, but I do not necessarily want another device competing for my attention. I still want technology where it improves safety and convenience; I just do not want it standing between me and basic functions.
The Kia Sportage 2.0G High gets that balance largely right.
I get in, drive and get on with my day. For a daily SUV, sometimes that is exactly the point.
