If ordered this week, the specialist stated a December arrival after I had a 1hr test drive in a Sportage GT-Line S HEV this morning.
Nice! How did you find the test drive? Did you check the mpg? Curious that’s all haha
That’s alright, haha. I’m used to driving crossovers so this was rather unusual. Even with the seat at its lowest setting, I was still perched up with the top of the steering wheel aligned with the top of my sternum.
Naturally, the steering wasn’t particularly communicative, even in ‘Sports’ mode but the car did ride surprisingly comfortably, absorbing small bumps with aplomb. Ergonomically, apart from a few centre console buttons facing more towards the front passenger, the haptic buttons and actual buttons and knobs were logically laid out.
With a mixture of high-speed (60mph) driving and low-speed (30mph) driving, numerous gradients, and speed bumps, I achieved 40.2mpg with the climate control on as it was warm. The vehicle picked up speed quite quickly, making me believe it’s 0-62mph time of around 8 seconds.
I did criticise the powertrain as I found the petrol engine to be quite coarse when the electricity was depleted but together, the system worked seamlessly alongside the gearbox. In EV mode, there’s a rather irritating ‘whirring’ noise from the motors. The ‘Remote Parking’ feature is cool but it’s a shame you can’t steer the vehicle in any direction; back and forth only.
Small niggles such as the loud bleeping noise coming from electric bootlid, the mechanical noise from the electric folding door mirrors, and questionable dashboard plastics (behind the monitors) ruin the overall refinement for me.
Motability cars:
2015 RR Evoque AWD 2.0 TD4 SE Tech - written off
2017 Toyota CH-R 1.2T Dynamic CVT AWD - written off
2019 BMW X2 2.0L Sport
2023 Nissan Qashqai e-Power N-Connecta