2011 Kia Sportage: All the ingredients!

For many years, Kia has been trying to become a manufacturer that has more than just low-priced cars. But no matter what the Korean manufacturer does, if their products aren’t up to snuff, there’s no way they can reach this objective. Fresh off the recent introduction of several interesting new vehicles, Kia Canada’s sales figures are rising constantly and the manufacturer is on a real hot streak, in spite of the current gloom in the market.

Kia owes its success both to the improved quality of its products and to the fact that they are offering highly competitive vehicles in the most popular categories in Canada: compact cars and compact SUVs, segments that represent 40% of the market. With the arrival of the new generation Sportage, Kia’s making another big splash and this new vehicle may very well do nothing less than solidify the manufacturer’s new aspirations.

Style that gets noticed

The compact SUV segment is definitely one of the most competitive segments right now, with many manufacturers offering excellent vehicles. In fact, it can be overwhelming with so many choices. Of course, style plays a big role here, and in this regard, the third generation Sportage has what it takes to strike fear in the hearts of the competition. Gone are the safe or copycat designs everywhere you look; the Korean manufacturer is now adopting its own style philosophy. Yes, the Sportage is attractive because of its good value, but many will also fall for renowned designer Peter Shreyer’s lines and style. The new Sportage represents a radical departure from the previous generation. It has a much more modern and fluid style, with the large and prominent front grille that is typical of new Kia products. On the sides, the vehicle has smaller windows and the very high beltline common to many new SUVs. It feels a lot more muscular and the rims add to this. The element that sets it off most is the colour choices, with some a lot more daring than others, such as Electronic Yellow, Techno Orange and Sand Track. This is an SUV that stands out from the pack.

Under the hood, the 2011 Sportage has a four-cylinder engine featuring 176 hp for a torque of 168 lbs-ft and can be paired with a six-speed manual transmission in the two-wheel drive version, while the all-wheel drive version adopts a six-speed automatic. With only a slightly higher price, it’s hard not to recommend the all-wheel drive, which is the main reason for buying such a vehicle. Say good-bye to the V6, an engine that was offered on the previous generation and upon which Kia relied a great deal, just like Hyundai with its Tucson. For those who can’t live without the V6, you’ll have to turn to the Sorento. However, a second engine will be introduced in the first quarter of 2011 with the more athletic Sportage SX, to be equipped with the 2.0-litre supercharged engine used in the Hyundai Genesis Coupe that combines fuel economy and increased power.

Still an excellent value

The changes are just as noteworthy on board. Forget the previous generation’s six year old passenger compartment. The dashboard features much more modern workmanship and the materials quality is improving. In fact, you’ll find it hard to believe that you’re in a vehicle at this price point. The assembly and ergonomics are flawless, the various controls are easy to use and we like their dual-level layout in the central part of the dash, and even the base versions don’t look too depleted since they include a good deal of standard equipment that is superior to that of many rivals. Same goes for the different security systems, which are not reserved for the more posh versions.

On board, the Sportage offers an excellent driving position. It’s easy to get a feel for the sport steering wheel and the visibility is excellent in front. The large footrest helps anchor you to the seat, with its wide seatback that is comfortable for bigger people, but it’s less supportive for the very slight. However, the seat is a somewhat short so it lacks a little support for the legs. The final pet peeve is the creaking noise in the dashboard that we noticed in our test drive.

Space is not going to be a concern, and that’s doubly true for the passengers in the back who won’t lack for headroom, which is surprising considering the plunging roof line. The large hatch also facilitates loading larger items and there’s a very generous cargo space, a feature maximized with the larger dimensions of the new Sportage.

On the road

At the wheel, you’ll find this vehicle fun to drive and, generally, it handles much more like a car than an SUV. The engine offers good output and more than sufficient power. Its excellent torque in low gear favours pick-up and passing manoeuvres. It’s all well supported by the six-speed automatic gearbox that gets a lot more out of every last horse.

The only problem is that the power steering seems a little uncooperative at low speed. Other than that, the handling turns out to be quite good. You’ll also feel very much in control of the vehicle. In turns, weight transfers are kept to a minimum and the newly added rear multi-link suspension strikes a good balance between handling and comfort. The more posh EX versions also come with amplitude selective dampers, which help the shocks react according to the type of road and the type of shock.

Basically, you haven’t heard the last of the new Sportage. Expect to see a lot of them on the road in the near future.