Kia SportageOnwards and upwards they go. A small player twenty years ago when they started here in the UK, Kia in 2010 took 2.8% of the UK market, and to put that in context it’s more than Fiat and not too far short of the Honda total. Why does it go on increasing you ask. Well, if you took a survey of owners they’d have two big answers – reliability and value. And in the harsh economic landscape which we now occupy, those two make better sense than ever.The value in their new Sportage is immediately evident. Take a look at the SUV/crossover competitors, and the Sportage looks well priced, but does it have the quality and desirability? I think so. The whole thing feels well built, and most of those at the launch reckoned it looked good too. As to reliability that’s hard to assess, but Kia always does well in the JD Power survey, and discussions with the growing band of Kia owners reveals a tribe for the most part very content.The new car is longer, lower and wider than the more traditional SUV it succeeds. It also weighs around 90kg less and has a sleeker aerodynamic profile, with a Cd down from 0.40 to 0.37. All of which has helped to make it more stylish and sporty, and also more environmentally friendly. Unusually, right hand drive models came to our roads pretty early, but the narrow choice offered at the launch very soon expanded to the whole current range, which runs from the 1.6GDI 1 up to the 2.0 CRDi KX-3 auto AWD model. Though the name might have a dieselish ring to it, that GDI 1 is a petrol-powered base model (2 and 3 are the higher spec versions) with just two-wheel drive. Kia have taken the sensible route of offering buyers the choice of 2WD or 4WD, secure in the knowledge that few of them will need 4WD on a regular basis. The overall line-up is of two petrol and two diesel engines.We drove the 1.6 petrol and the smaller diesel engine. The petrol was surprisingly quick for so small an engine in what is a fair sized car; an impression that was certainly assisted by the 6-speed gearbox, which is a rarity when you’re on the bottom rung of the spec ladder. Remarkably, the larger petrol engine is fitted with a 5-speed box, which actually makes wondrous sense as the bigger engine has much greater torque and can therefore make do perfectly well with just five ratios, but it’s still mighty surprising, especially as the larger diesel gets a 6-speeder. Auto transmission, a six-speed £1300 option, is available with the larger petrol and diesel engines. The smaller 1.7 diesel which we drove emits noticeable amounts of noise at idle, but aside from that it’s very easy to live with.Out on the road both models felt reassuringly solid on the road, taking corners well and with little lean considering the vehicle height. Suspension is medium firm and feels comfortable, which just about sums up the seats too. Get the car onto a rough surface, which you’re going to find hard to avoid here in the UK in the coming year, and the Sportage can feel a bit fidgety, but the handling is ultimately fine. View out from the driving position is mildly affected by the shallow windows, but seated up high – which is a fundamental for buyers of off-roaders and SUVs – there are no major problems in manoeuvring.The Sportage interior looks smart, and is finished in a mix of black and dark greys. Rear seat backs fold very easily to increase the luggage capacity from its minimum of 564 litres – a capacious 20 cubic feet – up to its maximum of 1353. Take a look at our boot pic, and you’ll see how uncluttered the boot area is, but although the seat backs fold the cushion doesn’t, so when you want maximum capacity you’re left with a sloping front end.The 16-model range is based on Kia's familiar 1, 2 and 3 trim designations, with all-wheel-drive versions given the KX preface. The range-topping ‘Sat-Nav’ grade of new Sportage 3 and KX-3 feature a fully integrated 7-inch touch screen satnav system with built-in reversing camera and upgraded audio sound system.The new Sportage is a long, long way from the old one, with a modern design that’s going to attract a whole new raft of buyers looking for more than the traditional Kia attractions, not that there’s too much wrong with reliability, low purchase price and a 7-yr warranty!Size: 4.44m x 1.86mEngines: Petrol: 1.6 & 2.0 litres – 133 & 161PS Diesel: 1.7 & 2.0 litres – 114 & 134PSGearbox: 5/6-speed FWD or 4WDBest Consumption: 1.7CRDi engine – 54.3mpgPrice at Jan ’11: from £17,015Full details of the Sportage are available on the manufacturer’s website: www.kia.co.ukPeter Cracknell – Jan 2011
Kia Sportage
Onwards and upwards they go. A small player twenty
years ago when they started here in the UK, Kia in
2010 took 2.8% of the UK market, and to put that in
context it’s more than Fiat and not too far short of the
Honda total. Why does it go on increasing you ask.
Well, if you took a survey of owners they’d have two
big answers – reliability and value. And in the harsh
economic landscape which we now occupy, those two
make better sense than ever.
The value in their new Sportage is immediately
evident. Take a look
at the SUV/crossover
competitors, and the
Sportage looks well
priced, but does it
have the quality and
desirability? I think
so. The whole thing
feels well built, and
most of those at the
launch reckoned it
looked good too. As
to reliability that’s
hard to assess, but
Kia always does well
in the JD Power
survey, and
discussions with the
growing band of Kia
owners reveals a tribe for the most part very content.
The new car is longer, lower and wider than the more
traditional SUV it succeeds. It also weighs around
90kg less and has a sleeker aerodynamic profile, with
a Cd down from 0.40 to 0.37. All of which has helped
to make it more stylish and sporty, and also more
environmentally friendly. Unusually, right hand drive
models came to our roads pretty early, but the narrow
choice offered at the launch very soon expanded to
the whole current range, which runs from the 1.6GDI 1
up to the 2.0 CRDi KX-3 auto AWD model. Though the
name might have a dieselish ring to it, that GDI 1 is a
petrol-powered base model (2 and 3 are the higher
spec versions) with just two-wheel drive. Kia have
taken the sensible route of offering buyers the choice
of 2WD or 4WD, secure in the knowledge that few of
them will need 4WD on a regular basis. The overall
line-up is of two petrol and two diesel engines.
We drove the 1.6 petrol and the smaller diesel engine.
The petrol was surprisingly quick for so small an
engine in what is a fair sized car; an impression that
was certainly assisted by the 6-speed gearbox, which
is a rarity when you’re on the bottom rung of the spec
ladder. Remarkably, the larger petrol engine is fitted
with a 5-speed box, which actually makes wondrous
sense as the bigger engine has much greater torque
and can therefore make do perfectly well with just five
ratios, but it’s still mighty surprising, especially as the
larger diesel gets a 6-speeder. Auto transmission, a
six-speed £1300 option, is available with the larger
petrol and diesel engines. The smaller 1.7 diesel
which we drove emits noticeable amounts of noise at
idle, but aside from that it’s very easy to live with.
Out on the road both models felt reassuringly solid on
the road, taking corners well and with little lean
considering the vehicle height. Suspension is medium
firm and feels comfortable, which just about sums up the
seats too. Get the car onto a rough surface, which you’re
going to find hard to avoid here in the UK in the coming
year, and the Sportage can feel a bit fidgety, but the
handling is ultimately fine. View out from the driving
position is mildly affected by the shallow windows, but
seated up high – which is a fundamental for buyers of
off-roaders and SUVs –
there are no major problems
in manoeuvring.
The Sportage interior looks
smart, and is finished in a
mix of black and dark greys.
Rear seat backs fold very
easily to increase the
luggage capacity from its
minimum of 564 litres – a
capacious 20 cubic feet –
up to its maximum of 1353.
Take a look at our boot pic,
and you’ll see how
uncluttered the boot area is,
but although the seat backs
fold the cushion doesn’t, so
when you want maximum
capacity you’re left with a
sloping front end.
The 16-model range is based on Kia's familiar 1, 2 and 3
trim designations, with all-wheel-drive versions given the
KX preface. The range-topping ‘Sat-Nav’ grade of new
Sportage 3 and KX-3 feature a fully integrated 7-inch
touch screen satnav system with built-in reversing
camera and upgraded audio sound system.
The new Sportage is a long, long way from the old one,
with a modern design that’s going to attract a whole new
raft of buyers looking for more than the traditional Kia
attractions, not that there’s too much wrong with
reliability, low purchase price and a 7-yr warranty!
Size:
4.44m x 1.86m
Engines:
Petrol: 1.6 & 2.0 litres – 133 & 161PS
Diesel: 1.7 & 2.0 litres – 114 & 134PS
Gearbox:
5/6-speed FWD or 4WD
Best Consumption: 1.7CRDi engine – 54.3mpg
Price at Jan ’11:
from £17,015
Full details of the Sportage are available on the
manufacturer’s website: www.kia.co.uk
Peter Cracknell – Jan 2011
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