I just returned my turbocharged Sportage tester and already I'm missing it. Sure, I'm a huge fan of most things Korean these days, but this Sportage was special. It was an SX equipped with the T-GDI 260hp 2.0L 4-cylinder engine, the same found under the bonnet of the Optima and Sonata turbo.
I've long since been a fan of forced induction having owned a pair of Mazda MX-6 GTs in my day. Back then, as is the case today, performance was the principal reason for the addition of a turbine to the exhaust system. These days, turbos are being touted as “green” given that they generate the power of larger-displacement engines without their inherent fuel consumption.
In a nutshell, this 2.0L produces more power than many engines 50% larger in capacity. When not required, boost is off and fuel consumption is that of a typical 2.0L 4-pot. However, when the throttle is mashed, the gas gauge will drop. It's only a matter of finding a happy medium.
So far, I've had some luck working on getting the most out of these boosted engines and this latest test proves it. In mixed driving I averaged 11L per 100 km which is, if you look it up, higher than what Kia says the CUV should do. Fact is that these numbers are nothing more than guidelines, and I'm telling you that these numbers are real, and real good considering that I was driving. This is the way of the future.
Have you noticed that more and more manufacturers are coming up with turbos in their engine lineups? GM, BMW, Volkswagen, Audi and Ford are amongst those that have embraced and tweaked this technology, and I thank them. I certainly do.
I, for one, would like to see more turbos, but on one condition: make them available on base cars, not the most expensive out-of-reach versions.
Do you turbo?
I've long since been a fan of forced induction having owned a pair of Mazda MX-6 GTs in my day. Back then, as is the case today, performance was the principal reason for the addition of a turbine to the exhaust system. These days, turbos are being touted as “green” given that they generate the power of larger-displacement engines without their inherent fuel consumption.
In a nutshell, this 2.0L produces more power than many engines 50% larger in capacity. When not required, boost is off and fuel consumption is that of a typical 2.0L 4-pot. However, when the throttle is mashed, the gas gauge will drop. It's only a matter of finding a happy medium.
So far, I've had some luck working on getting the most out of these boosted engines and this latest test proves it. In mixed driving I averaged 11L per 100 km which is, if you look it up, higher than what Kia says the CUV should do. Fact is that these numbers are nothing more than guidelines, and I'm telling you that these numbers are real, and real good considering that I was driving. This is the way of the future.
Have you noticed that more and more manufacturers are coming up with turbos in their engine lineups? GM, BMW, Volkswagen, Audi and Ford are amongst those that have embraced and tweaked this technology, and I thank them. I certainly do.
I, for one, would like to see more turbos, but on one condition: make them available on base cars, not the most expensive out-of-reach versions.
Do you turbo?