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Kia Sportage 4wd 2.0CRDi XS ME road test report

4wd 2.0CRDi XS ME

Despite the credit crunch and the fuel prices off-roaders are still very much in demand – so how do you fancy a budget SUV? Well the Kia Sportage may not be to everyone’s liking but it comes in at under £18,000 and it can go off-road. Now we have your attention – lets see how the compact 4x4 gets on.

Road Test Reports Says 3.5 star rating
A front-facing image of the Kia Sportage 4wd 2.0CRDi XS ME
Thanks to Kia Motors UK who provided the Kia Sportage for the Road Test Report.
Contact Customer Services at Kia Motors UK on 0845 601 7521

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Image number 2 of the Kia Sportage 4wd 2.0CRDi XS ME Image number 3 of the Kia Sportage 4wd 2.0CRDi XS ME
SIMON SAYS

Performance Performance - 3 stars

The Sportage we had on test was powered by a 2.0-litre turbodiesel unit which has an output of about 138bhp while it has plenty of power to overtake as it has 305Nm of torque. It has plenty of pick up through most of the gears and the maker claims that the 4x4 will get from zero to 62mph in 12 seconds – however the car is weighty and has only got a top speed of 110mph. The common-rail unit was quite quiet and produces very few vibrations. One downside was the gearbox as we felt that first gear was too short which meant town driving was a chore.

Ride & Handling Ride & Handling - 3 stars

The 2008 Sportage has moved on drastically from the car that was originally launched in 2004. You instantly feel that the steering has been weighted but it is still vague which is really frustrating. The suspension has also been revised and although we could tell that there have been improvements there is still pronounced body roll when driving enthusiastically. However – if you are travelling at a more relaxed speed, the suspension will soak up all sorts of bumps. A highlight was the traction on and off-road as the torque transfer system automatically shifts from front- to four-wheel-drive when necessary, and there’s also a lock button for permanent 4WD when on the rough stuff.

Build Quality & Reliability Build Quality & Reliability - 4 stars

The Korean firm has given the Sportage its stamp of approval with a seven-year/ 100,000-mile warranty. Step into the cabin and you’ll find that the 4x4 offering from Kia has been packed with equipment. The seats are more comfortable but still do not hug you enough when cornering. The dash is a bit bland compared to other rivals in the same class. We didn’t really know what to think of the grab handle on the passenger side of the dash – a bit left-field was our conclusion.

Safety & Security Safety & Security - 4 stars

Safety and security are very important so how does the Sportage fare? It comes equipped with with six airbags which should help to keep you safe in the event of an accident. Our XS trim level included a few creature comforts for the occupants – you get leather trim, climate control aircon and cruise control which is a boon for long motorway journeys. It has a remote central locking with an alarm as standard as is an engine immobiliser and locking wheel nuts. There’s also child proof rear door locks to keep the little ones safe.

Space & Practicality Space & Practicality - 4 stars

For a compact 4x4 there’s a reasonable amount of stowage, while the plastics throughout the cabin are hard-wearing but a bit bland on the design side of things. The instruments are all within easy reach and the indicator stalks are now on the ‘correct’ side for the UK. The rear of the car is easy to access as there is no load lip. If you don’t have a large shop then you’ll find the separate opening tailgate glass a boon in crowded supermarket car parks. Need more space? That’s simple fold the seats by using one handle. There’s a 60:40 split and the rear bench and the base lowers as you pull the backrest forward opening up a large load space.

Ownership & Value Ownership & Value - 4 stars

The price tag at £17,695 is the first noticeable point – it makes the Sportage a lot cheaper than its rivals. It looks better and drives much better than the 2004 car and according to the guide-books you’ll retain around 50% of its value after three years and 60,000 miles. It should return around 40mpg and it emits 187g/km of CO2. Add that to the seven-year/100,000 mile warranty and you’ve got a ‘proper’ compact SUV on your hands.

Submitted: 19/05/2008 08:59:32

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