As fuel economy stays top of the mind for Americans and auto manufacturers look for ways to get their hands on customers outside their normal portfolio, the baby ute surge continues to present more and, thankfully, better models.
The new
2011 Kia Sportage is the third generation of this particular small SUV. I had the opportunity to drive the first-generation Sportage and I can tell you this new version is light years ahead of the original. Then again, the Kia brand has made a similar gigantic leap in a short period of time (in car years at least).
The first thing that will leap out at you when you see the new Kia Sportage is the attractive, flowing lines and contemporary styling cues. The sloping roofline aggressively dips behind the B-pillar and dives right into the rear utility space. This profile, coupled with the high beltline, gives it a distinct look that is refined and athletic. These were definitely not words that I could have used to describe the exterior of previous generation Sportages.
Compared to competitors in the class, there is a distinct lack of glass surrounding the cabin and this one style element creates a sporty feel. These high beltlines on sedans can create some visibility issues and the Sportage is no different, although you sit higher up in the SUV and that is an advantage I appreciate when I'm in heavy traffic.
My EX tester had the standard 18-inch alloy rims; they look great on the Sportage's smallish shell. Everything is proportioned well on the Sportage exterior. I like the horizontal "wings" grille up front and how the headlight assembly flows out and around the front quarters, almost to the center of the wheel wells. The wheels are pushed way out to the edges on the Sportage, and this stance looks agile and aggressive.
Inside the cabin you have to pay for those outstanding exterior design cues, as visibility is hampered somewhat. I found myself using the mirrors constantly. My tester had the premium package with leather ($3,000), and this package added a surprising refinement to this little ute.
Included in the package was leather seat trim, heated front seats and an air-cooled driver seat, push-button start, rear sonar (you learn to love this), heated outside mirrors and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
The best part of the premium package was the panoramic sunroof. This huge glass opening really lightens up the interior and makes the cabin feel larger. The Sportage cabin is attractive and highly functional. Surprising was the room for both front and rear passengers. Utility space is very good for this class with just more than 26 cubic feet of space with the rear seats upright (60/40 split); lower the rear bench and you get 54.6 cubic feet.
For this class of vehicle, you cannot get away from the use of plastic surfaces throughout the cabin. After all, the price is affordable for a reason and you have to find savings somewhere (or it would be an Audi). Kia added some padding to the surfaces you are most likely to come in contact with, which I really appreciated. This helps warm up the cabin's overall comfort. It's a small detail, but one I really noticed and I give Kia kudos for adding value inside the cabin.
The steering wheel was covered by leather and fitted with cruise and radio controls on the spokes. The audio system pumps sound from six speakers and offers satellite or CD. USB and auxiliary ports can be used to hook up an iPod or other music player. Also standard are buttons on the bottom spoke to operate a Bluetooth phone. I found the touch-screen operation to be highly intuitive. Navigation and premium audio is $1,500 extra.
The Sportage offers a 176-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder power plant. I was pretty impressed with on-demand acceleration, despite it peaking at 6,000 rpm, and the six-speed automatic transmission delivered crisp and efficient performance. Acceleration from a dead stop will not throw you back in your seat because there is not much low-end torque.
Kia's Dynamax all-wheel-drive system is standard on the EX, and according to Kia it constantly monitors contact between the road and the tires and instantaneously makes adjustments to minimize wheel slippage; that sounds great to me and it sure worked while I had the Sportage. Handling is very good and power four-wheel disc brakes get the job done admirably.
The 2011 Sportage delivers Environmental Protection Agency-estimated ratings of 21 mpg city and 28 highway (22/31 for front-wheel-drive models). Pricing for the 2011 Sportage starts at about $19,000 for the base model with a six-speed manual transmission (does anyone really want to work on shifting anymore?). My Sportage EX AWD tester based at $24,795, but when you add the two premium packages it topped out at $29,990.
Overall, the new Sportage is as sporty and attractive as anything in the class of small crossover utility vehicles. It sips fuel, delivers spirited driving characteristics and offers great interior space for the class. Almost hitting $30,000 is not usually where you expect a Kia to land, but this is not the old Kia anymore.
2011 KIA SPORTAGE EXENGINE: 176-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder
TRANSMISSION: six-speed automatic
FUEL ECONOMY: 21 city/28 highway
BASE PRICE: $24,795
AS TESTED: $29,990
WEBSITE: www.kia.com