Is Sportage the Sportage or the Sportage R?
2 Answers
Sportage is the Sportage; the Sportage is an SUV model under the Kia brand, positioned as a city-level SUV. It belongs to the early SUV models, combining the advantages of sedans, SUVs, and MPVs. Initially, it was sold in China through imports, and later, a domestic version was introduced. Body dimensions of the Sportage: The body length is 4350 mm, the width is 1840 mm, the height is 1730 mm, the wheelbase is 2630 mm, and the minimum ground clearance is 185 mm. The vehicle is a five-door, five-seat SUV with a fuel tank capacity of 58 liters. It is positioned as a compact SUV, equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. Differences between the Sportage and the Sportage R: Both are SUVs produced by Dongfeng Kia. The Sportage R is an improved version of the Sportage, featuring enhancements in space and performance based on the Sportage, and naturally, its price is higher. The Sportage R is positioned above the Sportage, with a more attractive appearance, richer configurations, and stronger power. The latest Sportage R offers two engine options: 1.4T and 2.0L. The 1.4T model is equipped with a 1.4T L4 turbocharged engine, delivering a maximum horsepower of 140 PS, maximum power of 103 kW, and maximum torque of 242 Nm, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. The 2.0L model is equipped with a 2.0L L4 naturally aspirated engine, delivering a maximum horsepower of 160 PS, maximum power of 118 kW, and maximum torque of 193 N·m, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. All models feature front-wheel drive, with a front suspension type of MacPherson independent suspension and a rear suspension type of multi-link independent suspension.
A few days ago when I was flipping through car magazines, I noticed that the naming of the Kia Sportage in China is indeed quite confusing. When it first entered China in 2006, the manufacturer called it the Sportage Lion Run (Shi Pao). That generation had a boxy design, and you can still occasionally spot a few of them being used as ride-hailing cars. Then in 2010 when the next-generation model launched, the name suddenly changed to Sportage Smart Run (Zhi Pao). The salesperson at the time told me this generation came with a more fuel-efficient Nu engine and had trendy LED light strips for taillights. The current third-generation latest model still uses the Smart Run name, but with its split headlights and tiger-nose grille, it's completely different from the Lion Run of ten years ago. So to be precise, Lion Run specifically refers to the 2004-2010 domestic models, while all subsequent generations are called Smart Run.