The new Kia Sportage is roomier and better to drive than its predecessor. It’s also better to tow with.

Stability at speed is very good indeed, even at speeds which would get your collar felt on UK motorways. Only when slowing down from 70mph did the Al-Ko ATC sensors pick up any sway from the caravan, but it soon stopped without any intervention from the driver.

The Sportage mastered the lane-change test. Only on the third and fastest run did the caravan begin to slide, and even then the Kia had no trouble pulling it straight again.

It’s a quick tow car as well as a stable one, needing just 12.2 seconds to pull from 30-60mph. But it’s a shame that the engine is noisy as well as brawny.

Hill starts ought to be easy for a 4×4 with an automatic gearbox, and so it proved with the Sportage. The electronic parking brake held the caravan still on the 1-in-6 slope, and wet or dry the Kia had no trouble pulling to the top.

Inside, the new Sportage has enough space for adults to travel in the back in reasonable comfort, and fit and finish have taken a step forward. With the adjustable boot floor on its lowest setting we found room for a full load of holiday luggage, and the practicality testers awarded points for the car’s reversing camera and trailer stability control.

2019
Category Winners
2019 Up to 1400kg

Škoda Octavia

Hatch 1.5 TSI 150PS SE L DSG

2019 1400-1549kg

Seat Ateca

2.0 TSI 190PS FR DSG

2019 1550-1699kg

Volkswagen Arteon

2.0 TDI 150PS Elegance DSG

2019 1700-1899kg

BMW 520d

Touring xDrive M Sport

2019 1900kg+

Land Rover Discovery

3.0 SDV6 HSE

2019 Best Budget 4x4

Dacia Duster

1.5 dCi Ambiance 4x4

2019 Best Plug-In Hybrid

Land Rover Range Rover Sport

P400e HSE Dynamic

2019 Best Ultralight Tow Car

Seat Arona

1.0 TSI 115 FR

2019 Fuel Economy Award

Ford Focus Estate

1.5 EcoBlue 120PS Titanium X

Previous Winners
2018
1700-1899kg

BMW 520d

Touring xDrive M Sport

2017
1900kg+

Land Rover Discovery

3.0 Td6 HSE*

2016
1400-1549kg

Skoda Superb Hatch

2.0 TDI 150PS SE Business

2015
1400-1549kg

Volkswagen Passat Estate

2.0 TDI BMT 150PS SE Business DSG

2014
1400-1549kg

Nissan Qashqai

1.6 dCi (130PS) Stop/Start System Acenta Premium

2013
Up to 1424kg

Skoda Octavia

2.0 TDI CR 150PS Elegance

2012
1725–1899kg

Jaguar XF

2.2D Premium Luxury

2011
1425-1574kg

Volkswagen Passat Estate

2.0 TDI 170 Bluemotion Sport

2010
1900kg+

Land Rover Discovery 4

3.0 TDV6 XS

2009
1900kg+

Volvo XC60

D5 SE Geartronic

2008
1575-1724kg

Ford Mondeo Estate

2.0 TDCi Titanium auto

2007
1575-1724kg

Volkswagen Passat Estate

2.0 TDI Sport 4Motion

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