The 2010 Kia Sportage: Jack of all trades
The Kia Sportage has had to deal with a lot of different weather conditions since it appeared on the scene at the end of last November. As though someone had flipped a switch, there was snowfall after snowfall from the moment the vehicle arrived. Week after week, there was always fresh snow for us to really put it to the test, particularly its all-wheel drive system. Although it lacks the mechanical sophistication of some other off-road specialists, this automatic all-wheel drive handled itself quite well. When the centimetres of snow built up on the roads and the drifts became intimidating, locking the differential and getting ourselves out of a tough spot was as easy as pushing the button on the left of the steering wheel.
We should mention that our test model was an LX-V6 AWD with a 2.7-litre 175-hp V6 engine, which is decent for the category considering the expected use. We recorded a fuel consumption of 12.6 L/100 km for the first three months of our test drive, but as the temperature began to rise, fuel economy improved to an average of a little more than 10 L/100 km - the recorded average for June 17, the date that this text was written. The vehicle came equipped with a generic brand of winter tires (as required by Quebec law). They were effective in the snow because of their very deep grooves, but this feature also made them noisy. Come that fateful day, March 15, we quickly replaced the winter tires with the original four season tires. They made for a more pleasant ride, more effective handling and definitely helped reduce fuel consumption. Speaking of fuel economy, an extra gear on the four-speed automatic gearbox would have made for a quieter drive on the highway and helped save several litres of fuel overall.
As reported during a previous test, the new shape for 2009 and the passenger compartment deserved all of the positive comments that it received, but a driver’s seat that doesn’t quite move back far enough and dials that are difficult to read when driving into the sun are among the shortcomings.
While the driver’s seat doesn’t move back far enough relative to the steering wheel when it’s at its most extended position, both it and the passenger seat offer adequate support. As for the rear bench, it features average comfort and roominess for the category, and it folds flat quite easily (although it often catches on the seat belt in the process). The trunk is moderately spacious and covered by a rubber coating that, while protecting it from scratches, is rather slippery. This same rubber coating also covers the back rear seats, thus the floor of the entire luggage compartment is very slippery. One detail: the hatch window can be opened independently, which is nice when transporting long, thin items. However, if you use it to put small packages in the baggage hold, you have to watch out not to get your clothes dirty by rubbing against the rear hatch.
Report for June 17
By the time this article was written, on June 17, our Sportage had logged more than 8,595 km on the odometer and remained flawlessly reliable, which is not surprising considering our previous tests of this brand’s vehicles. The winter weather helped us verify the effectiveness of the heating system while the milder weather helped us discover that the air conditioning was just as effective.
It must be said that the audio system is particularly sophisticated for the category. You can plug a USB key or an MP3 player into it, but we used the satellite radio the most and like it best. This Kia turned out to be excellent in the snow, on the ice and when confronted with snow banks, in addition to being a great all-purpose vehicle once the snow disappeared. In winter as in summer, the ride is predictable, the vehicle handling is decent and the lateral stability is good. Even with a very strong crosswind, the vehicle remains stable, although there was some noise from the roof support.
All in all, this all-season Kia gets a reasonably good report card. The only thing that really got on our nerves was the overly sensitive gas pedal which caused vigorous accelerations at the slightest touch. You’ll have to learn to control your right foot or you’ll risk causing jolts that can be embarrassing when you have one or more passengers. The offending driver will, at best, be subject to a few rolls of the eyes or, at worst, unflattering comments like, “I thought you had to know how to drive to get a driver’s license.”
Although the vehicle has to be returned to Kia before summer’s end, after all those kilometres spent behind the wheel, the experience was a positive one in general. It’s not the best in all aspects, but its overall balance, its high quality for the price and a versatile sound system are definite pros. As for the cons, there’s the accelerator that should be on Ritalin, the indicator dials that are hard to read in the sunlight, a sometimes harsh suspension and a driver’s seat that could stand to move back a little further. But on the whole, it’s very good!