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IN the
hypercompetitive compact SUV market, a serious matter
when looking for a great small SUV buy is the
combination of quality and price. Although great finds
such as the Nissan X-Trail and the Ford mechanical twins
(the Ford Escape and the Mazda Tribute) still make their
mark locally, the Kia Sportage has quietly made itself
more common.
They say
beauty comes from within, and that is true with the
Sportage. The lines are soft and inoffensive with a
decidedly organic look, and the short rear end lends
itself to space efficiency, making it easier for
parallel parking.
But it’s
the Sportage’s interior that really shines, with a cabin
that is downright cavernous. It boasts 40.7 inches of
front headroom and 42.1 inches of front legroom.
Rear-seat legroom and headroom aren’t quite as
plentiful, but very acceptable for a compact SUV. The
rear can swallow two balikbayan boxes and three to four
large duffel bags with the rear bench folded flat. Also,
the rear hatch has separate partitions (and handles) for
the windshield and tailgate, a big help for the short
family homo sapiens constantly lugging two armloads of
groceries.
 Even
the interior ergonomics are very much attractive. The
black colorway gives it a touch of class, the grippy
leatherette seats (with moquette inserts) are comfy,
there are child-seat tether hooks behind the rear
backrest, and lots of cup holders (eight of them!) and
storage for small spaces. Probably the only knocks
against the insides are the lack of a second row
electric outlet and the incomprehensible head unit.
Due to
its portly mass (1,696-kg curb weight), the common-rail
diesel of the new Sportage is merely adequate enough to
go from point A to point B. The result is a steep power
curve, making powerband entry (3,000 rpm) and partial
boost from the turbo (3,500 rpm) high and choking top
speed (160 kph) and consumption (8.7 km/l, five days
mixed driving). The need for an extra 500 cc of
displacement or a variable geometry turbo is obvious for
this SUV.
The
transmission is also just enough to get by, as second
gear is short and third gear is WAY tall. The four-speed
A/T’s manual mode doesn’t help much, either, as the ECU
stubbornly refuses to let the rev counter get even
remotely close to 5,000 rpm. However, the
shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive is great, most
especially effective on hard earth and pebbly roads.
Based on
a modified Kia Spectra/Hyundai Elantra unibody passenger
car platform, the Sportage is tighter and more
responsive than the old body-on-frame version. Hard
cornering certainly isn’t the Sportage’s forte (traction
from the OE tires breaks loudly at 60 kph), but it’s
composed on both turn-in and exit. The steering isn’t
very precise, but there’s enough resistance to prevent
that twitchy oversensitive sensation common in many
SUVs. Nevertheless, the ride is comfortable, whether on
tarmac or dirt.
It is in
the safety features that the Sportage discerns itself.
Braking is exemplary thanks to standard four-wheel disc
brakes, and the ABS comes alive when you need it. Ditto
for the exterior lighting; the fog lights’ beams can
replace the headlights due to their brightness. About
the only negatives when it comes to Sportage safety are
the weak parking brake grip and the small dashboard
gauges.
Kia has
come a long way from its roots as a bargain-basement
alternative to the Japanese brands. Its cars and SUVs
just keep getting better, but prices have remained
relatively low. With its diesel version, the Sportage
would be a great pick for any small SUV shopper who
holds value in higher regard than nameplate
recognition. |
