With a new bodyshell, new engines and fresh, bold styling that introduces a new kind of dynamic aesthetics, the latest Kia Sportage is an urban-friendly compact SUV for today's families - consuming less fuel and emitting less CO2.
Longer, wider and lower than the previous model - by 90 mm, 15 mm and 60 mm respectively - the all-new design successfully retains the key SUV features - a commanding driving position, heightened sense of security and powerful road presence - that made the second-generation Kia Sportage so popular.
The second-generation Kia Sportage was introduced in 2004 and marked a huge step forward for Kia. Over the next six years, it attracted thousands of new customers to Kia, and achieved global sales of more than 860,000 units - including 150,000 units in Western Europe.
Now, under the direction of Kia's Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer, the Kia design teams have created a third-generation Sportage incorporating Kia's new design DNA and many features from the 2007 Kia Kue concept car, to be immediately identifiable and to stand out from potential rivals in an increasingly crowded segment.
South Korean siblings Hyundai and Kia are industry pacesetters for standard features and the 2011 Kia Sportage is a fine example. Every model comes with alloy wheels, air conditioning, and power windows, mirrors, and locks. Cruise control, tilt steering wheel, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, three 12-volt power outlets, and a 60/40 split/folding rear seat also are included. And while many rival crossover offer Bluetooth hands-free mobile phone connectivity and USB iPod interface only as options -- sometimes only on their higher priced models -- Kia makes them standard on all versions of the 2011 Sportage. It also throws in a digital-audio auxiliary plug and Sirius satellite-radio with three months free subscription. All 2011 Sportage models also have steering-wheel button controls for cruise, audio, and Bluetooth. The wheel is leather-wrapped on the EX model, which also adds a telescopic adjustment that’s optional for the LX. The LX and EX also come with remote keyless entry, and the EX is available with keyless ignition that allows pushbutton starting while the keyfob remains n a purse, pocket, or briefcase. Leather upholstery is optionally exclusive to the EX, as are heated front seats, a cooled driver’s seat, and a dual-pane panoramic sunroof with opening panel over the front seats. Optional for LX and EX is a voice-activated navigation system that includes traffic data, rearview camera, and rear parking sensors. It’s combined with an audio upgrade that, like the base unit, includes six speakers but adds a subwoofer and external amplifier. Kia teamed with Microsoft to develop a hands-free communication and entertainment system it calls UVO, for “Your Voice.” Standard on the EX and optional on the LX, UVO is basically an enhanced Bluetooth experience. It works through a dashboard screen to provide phone and text-message reception and response and can access and store music from a variety of digital sources. UVO’s talents stop just short of the Ford/Microsoft Sync system’s because it doesn’t offer turn by turn navigation instructions.
Like a futuristic European design, the Sportage looks like a smallish station wagon that was once exposed to too much human growth hormone and has ballooned to gargantuan proportions. Well that’s not true, but they have taken the station wagon feeling to heart at the Kia Design studios in California, where the Sportage was penned.
Thankfully, the days of totally body-colored are behind us. Including the Hot Wheels-inspired alloys, the Kia Sportage SX has just the right amount of bling to make it interesting. Scalloped side panels add character to the overall vehicle while the corporate identity of the grill immediately identifies this crossover as a Kia.
A strong rear presence at the C-pillars helps to strengthen the rear end. Finally it appears that Kia design chief Peter Schreyer is paying homage to where he came from (Audi) in the form of LED running lights that are visible on the front of the Sportage.
Everywhere we look, the fit and finish of the Sportage is excellent. Panel gaps are consistently tight, and the paint is flawless. We love the look and think it’s time for Kia to come sit with the big boys.
Hamsters seem to be the Kia brand’s mascot du jour, but you won’t find one of those pet exercise wheels under the hood. Instead, you’ll see an inline four-cylinder gas direct injection turbocharged engine. Sizing out at 2.0-liters, this turbocharged mill produces 256 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 264 lb-ft. of torque between 1,850 and 3,000 rpm, which in the grand scheme of things results in a relatively flat, if not especially wide, power band. Using a twin-scroll turbocharger allows for more efficient combustion and the elimination of most turbo lag.
A six-speed automatic transmission with Sportmatic gearshift selection, enables the driver to row it himself (or herself) as needed.
Suspension bits for the Sportage including now ubiquitous McPherson strut system with coil springs and stabilizer bar in front, and an independent MultiLink setup with stabilizer bar in the rear. The same motor power–assisted rack and pinion set up that is in the standard Sportage is found here, and offered really good feedback from the road.
All-wheel-drive is on the options list, but our Sportage was a strictly light-duty model with front-wheel-drive. The curb weight of this spooled-up Kia is 3,466 lbs. and the EPA tags mileage for the Sportage at 22/27 mpg, about what we saw during our evaluation.
Fitted as standard in most European countries, new safety features will include ESC with a new Roll-over Sensor that deploys the side airbags, curtain airbags and seatbelt pretensioners when required, Hillstart Assist Control to prevent roll-back when starting on an incline, Downhill Brake Control to limit speed during a steep descent and an ESS system which flashes the brake lights during an emergency.
A new rear-view safety camera providing on an LCD colour display integrated into the interior rear-view mirror will be available as an option on all models.
reference:iguida.com,www.leftlanenews.com,www.netcarshow.com
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