2010 Kia Sportage reviews

Kia Sportage 1.7CRDi 3 Eco Sat Nav 2WD 2010

In the current climate of utility it’s nice to leaven pure practicality with a punch of pleasure. So, as sports utility vehicles tend more towards utility and away from the ’sport’ it’s gratifying to discover a manufacturer that doesn’t baulk at giving sport its rightful place at the head of the queue. Have Kia sprung into the sporting utility arena with the new Sportage? Is it as the name suggests - both ’sporting’ and ’of its time’? Putting it through its paces is the only sure fire way of finding out. In appearance it has a pugnacious presence, has the height advantage buyers of this sort of vehicle crave and combines with this with the surefooted poise, which certainly conveys a sense of a vehicle that’s ready to pounce. Strikingly modern looking, the new Sportage certainly has a visual impact to equal the offerings from so-called ’premium marques’. With a bit of badge swapping you’d be hard pressed to rationalise why they cost twice as much as this Kia. It’s about time that the public were made aware that there is still value to be had in motoring if only they could see past the marketing ’blather’ and the facile criticisms levelled by some pseudo motoring programmes. A sensible marketing strategy is to pitch at both two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive markets and Kia have wisely done this. The Å�22,570 2WD 114bhp 1.7 CRDi 3 Sat Nav tested, which will run to a top speed of nearly 110mph and which offers an economy of about 52/53 mpg (Helped, no doubt, by the intelligent ’stop-start’ system) is ideally suited for most urban and suburban buyers, whereas the 2.0litre petrol or 2.0litre diesel variants with 4WD do everything that everyone expects from a multi-purpose, all traction vehicle. Attractively priced throughout the whole range (£16,645 to £25,195) the Sportage certainly seems to tick all the marketing boxes. Having driven the 2WD variant, if not up and down the entire length of our fair land, then long enough and far enough to form a firm opinion that everything is ’tickety boo’. It’s quiet at all speeds and cruises effortlessly with minimal road, wind and mechanical noise - and the lively, torquey and responsive diesel engine is a gem, making the Sportage a reasonably nippy point to point vehicle. It rides well too and handles responsively, with quick and positive steering, feeling like a much more expensive vehicle than it really is. For the driver there’s ample room, ample comfort, good visibility and plenty of those nice little touches which are like a mental pat on the back when driving. Air con is on tap at the touch of a button and lovely seats adjust to conform to every possible vagary of the anatomy. There’s plenty of foot room and plenty of elbow-room even for the generously proportioned. For the passengers there is comfort and space aplenty, bolstered by the confidence inspiring sense of being transported in a sturdy machine backed up by a seven-year warranty. Safer, one might say, than many of the hastily built houses that encroach upon our green space. And regarding green issues, there is no need to concern the conscience with emission figures, as the ones produced by this vehicle are just 143/g/km. Indeed, the only danger to the environment posed by this Kia is the heat given off by neighbours turning green with envy - because at the wheel of the Sportage you don’t feel aspirational: you feel as if you have arrived, which you have in more than one sense. I’m itching to try the 4x4 variant, but in all honesty, there was very little the 2WD couldn’t do with grace and confidence: everything seemed so comfortably within its compass. Would I like to own one myself? I have to say ’I certainly wouldn’t say no.’