Saturday, May 24, 2008
Introduced a decade ago, the Kia Sportage was the Korean
manufacturer's second style available in the American market. It had its
supporters and critics, and it eventually became the company's
bestseller.
Three years ago, however, when Kia was in the midst of severe financial
difficulties, the Sportage was discontinued.
But behold, the Sportage is back, having undergone a vast makeover. It
has the same name, but perhaps that's the only similarity to yesteryear's
model.
The new Sportage has a completely new and refined interior and
exterior design, and a good supply of standard and optional features. It
also has a few nice, thoughtful, if small, considerations that could allow
the small to well infiltrate the marketplace.
My test vehicle for the week was the Sportage 4x4 EX model, the larger
of the two engine options offered on only one body style, a four-door
SUV. The 173-horsepower, 2.7-liter V6 is equipped with a four-speed
automatic transmission, the only option. The four-cylinder model has
automatic and five-speed manual transmission options.
The vehicle performed well in all driving scenarios. It's not the quickest
SUV on the market, but it's far from sluggish. In several instances, I was
the aggressor into merging lanes. And while the Sportage doesn't
provide any time-warp sensations, the SUV, while categorized as a
truck, accelerated without hesitation as if it were performing with car-like
smooth, steady advances.
Kia's four-wheel drive system is a single-range offering. It's electronically
controlled with a push-button function on the console. It's designed for
all-weather, all-season traction and primarily offered for on-road
situations, not treacherous off-road conditions. The Sportage does have
7.7 inches of clearance and good traction, so off-road trail driving should
certainly not be discounted. While on the road, the Sportage offers a
comfortable, commanding and surprisingly quiet ride.
Equally impressive, the Sportage's interior and exterior design has a
modern contour of near luxury status. The outside of the vehicle has
nicely shaped panel corners and the headlights, roof rails and various
trim are all sturdy yet provide a sleek appearance. It's as if the vehicle
was molded after advancing into strong headwinds.
The interior has the same "feel." The console and other instrumentation
are well-positioned and handsome. My test vehicle had a bright-red
exterior, matched nicely with a black leather interior. Metal trimmings
around the console look simple, yet stylish and surprisingly upscale
considering the vehicle's value-for-cost considerations.
Speaking of cost, the Sportage EX model has a base price of $21,400,
an appealing amount considering the vehicle's standard options that, in
part, include: air conditioning and sunroof, power windows and locks,
heated outside mirrors, AM/FM/cassette/CD/MP3 audio system with six
speakers and cruise control. The EX model's luxury package ($1,300)
includes the aforementioned leather seating, heated front seats,
automatic headlamps and automatic dimming inside mirror and with a
homelink security function.
Further, the Sportage comfortably seats five and the front and rear leg
and headroom is surprisingly spacious.
The Sportage also provides a few, small yet impressive nuances. The
outside mirror adjustment switch, for example, adeptly moves from the
driver to passenger mirror position with secure, precision shift. Likewise,
the radio dials adjust with precise movements, both qualities often found
on considerably higher-priced vehicles.
Additionally, the Sportage's liftgate glass can be opened without
opening the tailgate. A handy storage compartment and tray are
available under the rear cargo area.
With every option available, the Sportage's price is still well under
$24,000. It's a price point that should give the new Sportage best-value
consideration in the small SUV market.
Safety features – Driver and front passenger dual-stage
airbags. Front seat mounted side airbags. Front and rear curtain
airbags. Four-wheel antilock brakes. Electronic Force Distribution
(EBD), Standard Traction Control (STC) and ESP Electronic Stability
Systems.
Fuel Mileage (estimates) – 19 mpg (city), 23 mpg (highway).
Warranty – Bumper to bumper, 5 years/60,000 miles;
Powertrain, 10 years/100,000 miles; Corrosion, 5 years/100,000 miles,
(24-hour) roadside assistance, 5 years/unlimited mileage.
Base price – $21,400.00
James Raia is a Sacramento, Calif., journalist who writes about sports,
travel and lifestyle topics as well as the automotive column, The Weekly
Driver. To read his articles, visit the web site: ByJamesRaia.com
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