Kia Sportage range Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Car: Kia Sportage
Prices: £16,645-£26,170 – on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 10-16 [1-50 groupings scale]
Emissions: 135g/km-195g/km
Performance: [1.6GDi] 0-60mph 10.7s / top speed 111mph
Fuel Consumption: [1.6 GDi] (combined) 44.1mpg
Safety: ABS, ESP, four airbags
Dimensions: length/width/heightmm 4350/1800/1730mm

AGE OF ADVENTURE?

Our Rating: 7.0 / 10

Kia has taken aim at the UK’s top compact 4x4s with its latest Sportage. Steve Walker reports.

It’s funny how people form emotional attachments to cars. I’ll always have a soft spot for the Kia Sportage purely because an acquaintance bought one and consistently referred to it as a Kia "Sport-idge" for the two years that he owned it, ignoring regular attempts to set him straight. The MK2 Sportage was launched in 2005 and, mispronunciations aside, there wasn’t a whole lot to raise a smile. It was an overwhelmingly ordinary compact 4x4 but it was cheap and one of relatively few such vehicles on the market. Today, competition is far tougher and the latest Sportage will need a broader appeal to succeed.

In combination with its sister brand Hyundai, Kia has been one of the automotive industry’s major success stories over recent years. Its products have taken giant strides in terms of quality and engineering to the point where they’ve become realistic challengers in the European market’s mainstream. If recent Kia efforts have lacked anything, it’s been that spark of design flair and character that can make all the difference in helping a vehicle stand out but the latest Sportage seeks to address that.

As has become fashionable in many compact 4x4s products, many of the entry-level Kia Sportage models that leave the showroom only have two-wheel-drive. For most owners, most of the time, this will be more than adequate but those looking for some off-road or towing ability and greater security in wet or icy conditions can choose a full 4x4 model.

The Sportage uses a part-time all-wheel-drive system which sends 100 per cent of power to the front wheels unless slippage is detected and it’s automatically diverted to the rear. There’s a Lock Mode for off-road driving which splits the available power 50/50 between the front and rear wheels but it only operates below 25mph. All Sportage models have Hillstart Assist Control to help with uphill getaways and Downhill Brake Control to provide reassurance on steep descents.

The car has fully independent suspension front and rear with the option of fitting Kia’s Amplitude Selective Dampers which adjust their firmness according to the speed of the vehicle. Steering is via an electric system which adjusts the level of assistance according to speed.

The engine bay of the Sportage is populated by one of four powerplants. There are 1.7 or 2.0-litre common-rail diesels with 113 and 134bhp respectively or 1.6 and 2.0-litre petrols packing 138 and 161bhp. Performance is similar with the 2.0-litre units as both manage the 0-62mph trial in under 11s with the manual gearbox installed.

Instantly looking like one of Kia’s most adventurous styling efforts to date, the Sportage follows the established compact 4x4 design cues. It’s a longer and wider car than the previous generation model, bringing it in line with today’s top compact 4x4s size-wise, but it’s also lower, helping it achieve a more streamlined profile. The shoulder line is particularly high making for a small glass area and a more dynamic appearance while the large head and fog lights produce a distinctive front end. Inside, there’s the same kind of sporty feel with a tiered dashboard and a high centre console dividing the cabin.

The generous dimensions of the Sportage are made to count inside where efforts have been made to increase passenger space over the old car. There’s also a substantial boot measuring in at 564 litres when the rear seats are occupied or 1,353 litres when they’re folded down. Storage space in