Hyundai Tucson Ultimate vs. Kia Sportage Black Edition vs. MG HS Essence

Lucky Motor Corporation Limited (LMCL) has officially introduced the Kia Sportage ‘Black Limited Edition’ in Pakistan. The HS was first introduced by the company in late 2019.

Sportage has been a favourite among crossover SUV customers in Pakistan since its introduction. The slick new ‘Black Edition’ wants to capitalise on the trend and compete with premium crossovers.

At this pricing bracket, the Sportage Black Edition faces two direct competitors: the Hyundai Tucson Ultimate and the MG HS Essence. So, does the Sportage Black Edition have what it takes to dominate its competitors? Let us investigate:

Exterior

Kia Sportage Black Edition

Pakistanis have become accustomed to Sportage’s eccentric appearance over the years. The Black Edition, on the other hand, takes the game to a whole new level.

The same LED headlights with quad-DRLs, Kia’s iconic tiger-nose grille, and a radical front bumper design can be found on the front end. Although everything, including the insignia, has been blackened out, giving the SUV a demonic appearance.

The SUV has 19-inch gloss black alloy wheels, which are an inch larger than the FWD and AWD models. Furthermore, everything on the side has been completely blacked out, including the door sashes, handles, mouldings, and roof rails.

The rear end retains the same basic look, but with darkened Kia, Sportage, and AWD logos and a gloss black rear scuff plate.

To summarise, the Sportage’s unusual appearance hasn’t aged as horribly as the following SUV on this list. Furthermore, the ‘blackening’ of the exterior has improved its overall appearance.

Hyundai Tucson Ultimate

Tucson, while delicate and attractive, is becoming stale. It boasts a big slatted hexagonal grille, sharp headlamps, a sleek hood, and a noisy bumper design.

The side profile is clean and simple, with silver roof rails, body-colored door handles, and a pair of sharp alloy wheels.

The back has lengthened taillights, two bottom reflectors, a boot lid that slopes forward, and a shark-fin antenna. Tucson appears antiquated in comparison to other SUVs, especially since the international premiere of a new model.

MG HS Essence

The MG HS is still one of Pakistan’s best-looking crossover SUVs two years after its debut. It has the perfect combination of classic good looks and modern stylistic cues.

The front headlights are understated but eye-catching, with projector lighting and prominent DRLs that also double as turn signals. The star-patterned front grille, which has a huge MG emblem in the centre, is surrounded by a chrome trim piece.

The SUV’s side shape is standard, but the 18-inch alloy wheels, chrome side-impact strips, brushed aluminium roof rails, and chrome strips surrounding the A, B, and C pillars give it a glamorous appearance.

The taillights are reminiscent of the third-generation BMW X3. An exquisite rear fascia is comprised of them, as well as sharp reflectors, dual exhausts, and a scuff-plate-like trim below.

Overall, HS Essence outperforms its opponent in terms of design. It’s a shame that MG only offers the SUV in black or white.

Interior

Sportage Black Edition

The interior of the new Sportage is substantially the same as the conventional models, save from the change from beige and brown to black and grey.

Although the design is simple and effective, there are other SUVs on the market with more modern interiors.

It boasts leatherette seats and a wide and comfy cabin that can comfortably seat five persons. A panoramic sunroof and reclining back seats complement the interior.

All of these elements come together to provide a slightly dated but passable family SUV.

Tucson Ultimate

Hyundai Tucson features nearly the same design flaws as the Sportage. The cockpit is more modern than the Sportage’s, with a more angular and sophisticated dash design.

It boasts a 10′′ infotainment screen, a soft-touch dashboard, an instrument panel with an additional digital screen for information, leatherette seats, and a spacious and pleasant cabin area.

Tucson also has a great interior, but it is beginning to show its age.

HS Essence

One of the key reasons for the MG HS’s popularity is the luxurious look and feel of the inside.

Stitched leather seats, soft-touch door panels and dashboard, and brushed aluminium trim pieces are featured throughout the cabin.

In comparison to its competitors, HS’s cabin is the most spacious. It can comfortably seat four adult people on prolonged excursions. The HS is a functional and elegant SUV that seats five people.

Measurements

The following are the dimensions of all three SUVs:

Measurements	HS Essence	Sportage Black Edition	Tucson Ultimate
Overall Length	4,574 mm	4,485 mm	4,480 mm
Width	1,876 mm	1,855 mm	1,850 mm
Overall Height	1,685 mm	1,635 mm	1,660 mm
Wheelbase	2,722 mm	2,670 mm	2,670 mm
Ground Clearance	175 mm	172 mm	172 mm
Luggage Capacity	463 Liters	491 liters	491 liters
Max. Curb Weight	1,550 KG	1,544 kg	1,500 kg

Performance

Sportage and Tucson (Same Powertrain and Other Mechanical Components)

Both the Kia Sportage Black Edition and the Hyundai Tucson Ultimate share the same powertrains and mechanical components, including a 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder petrol engine that delivers 155 horsepower and 196 Nm of torque to all four wheels via a 6-speed torque-converter automatic transmission.

Both SUVs are equipped with McPherson struts in the front and a multi-link coil spring suspension in the rear. They also include four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, EBD, and BA technology.

According to owner reports on numerous forums, the Tucson and Sportage both have a fuel efficiency of 10-12 km per litre.

MG HS Essence

The HS is powered by a 1.5 Litre turbocharged 4 cylinder petrol engine that produces 160 horsepower (hp) and 250 Newton metres (Nm) of torque via a 7-speed automated gearbox.

It has McPherson struts in the front and a multi-link coil spring suspension in the rear. In addition, the car includes disc brakes on all four tyres, as well as ABS, EBD, and BA technology.

The MG HS has a claimed fuel economy of 10 to 14 km/liter, which, considering the vehicle’s size and weight, appears to be an ambitious figure.

Features

The specifications and features of all three vehicles are as follows:

Specs and Features	Sportage Black Edition	Tucson Ultimate	HS Essence
Safety
Central Power Doorlocks	Yes	Yes	Yes
Contact Sensing Doorlocks and Windows	Yes	Yes	Yes
Immobilizer System & Burglar Alarm	Yes	Yes	Yes
Parking Sensors	Yes	Yes	Yes
Camera	Rear Only	Rear Only	Surround View
All-Wheel Drive	Yes	Yes	No
Hill Start and Descent Brake Assist	Yes	Yes	Hill-Start Only
Electronic Parking Brake	Yes	Yes	Yes
Speed Sensing Auto Doorlock	Yes	Yes	Yes
Parking Assist	Yes	Yes	Yes
Lane Departure Warning	No	No	Yes
Forward Collision Warning	No	No	Yes
Automatic Headlights	Yes	Yes	Yes
Blind Spot Detection System	No	No	Yes
Lane Keep Assist	No	No	Yes
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	No	No	Yes
Traction and Stability Control	Yes	Yes	Yes
Cruise Control	Normal	Normal	Adaptive
Airbags	2	2	6
Convenience
Power Tailgate	Yes	Yes	Yes
Infotainment System w/ Android Auto and Apple Carplay	No	Yes	Yes
Gauge Cluster with TFT Screen	Yes	Yes	Yes
Multiple Driving Modes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Wireless Phone Charger	No	Yes	No
Dual Zone Climate Control	Yes	Yes	Yes
Auto defogging system	Yes	Yes	Yes
Outside Rear View Mirror Electric Folding and Heating Function	Yes	Yes	Yes
Puddle lamp	Yes	Yes	Yes
Ambient Lighting	No	No	Yes
Cooled Glove Box	No	Yes	No
Keyless entry and go	Yes	Yes	Yes
Adjustable steering wheel	Yes	Yes	Yes
Electronically Adjustable Front Seats	Yes	Yes	Yes
Heated Front Seats	No	No	Yes
Reclinable rear seats	Yes	Yes	No
ISOFIX Child Seat Anchors	Yes	Yes	Yes
Rear USB Connectivity	Yes	Yes	Yes
Auto Rain Sensing Windshield Viper	Yes	Yes	Yes

Price

The following are the pricing for all variations of these SUVs:

Model	Price (Rs.)
MG HS Essence	8,800,000
Hyundai Tucson Ultimate	8,859,000
Kia Sportage Black Edition	9,050,000

Verdict

In terms of automobile category, the comparison reveals that the Kia Sportage Black Edition competes with the MG HS Essence and the Tucson GLS Ultimate, but not in terms of value for money.

Tucson Ultimate and HS Essence are both less expensive than Sportage Black Edition. The former has nearly identical features, but the latter has better features than the new Sportage.

The only thing new about the Sportage Black Edition is its appearance. Time will tell whether this update is sufficient to keep the Sportage relevant in Pakistan.