2011 Kia Sportage

Compact crossover vehicle comes full circle

By Nina Russin

2011 Kia Sportage

The Sportage is the most enduring nameplate in the Kia line-up. The 1996 model followed on the heels of the Sephia: Kia’s first car for the North American market.

While Sephia came first, the Sportage was in many ways more significant. It was one of the earliest compact utility vehicles, preceding both the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CRV. As with the Sephia, the Sportage was also a value story. Buyers formerly limited to used cars could buy a brand new Kia for about the same money.

Though the original Sportage fell short on build quality when compared to more expensive competitors, the company prevailed. A generation of drivers came to love the Korean automaker for its value pricing strategy, as well as its commitment to continuous improvement.

The second-generation Sportage that rolled out in 2004 was a solid, attractive car with excellent build quality and much-enhanced performance. While the new car was unibody as compared to the body-on-frame original model, it maintained a similar mission: offering moderate off-road capability in a compact and versatile package.

An all-new Kia Sportage rolls out this summer for the 2011 model year. Kia has changed the model designation from sport-utility vehicle to crossover, reflecting a stronger focus on passenger car performance, with less concern for off-road capability.

The new model is slightly longer, wider and lower than the former car, giving it better aerodynamics and improved handling at speed. The cargo area is slightly larger according to EPA estimates.

An available all-wheel drive system gives the new Sportage all-season capability. The all-wheel drive system can deliver up to fifty percent of engine power to the rear wheels, as road conditions demand. Read the rest of this entry »