Kia Sportage: Not the Wicked Stepsister Anymore

The Kia Sportage once the ugly duckling of the SUV pack has turned into the graceful swan of the crossovers for 2011. Smaller than its competitors it is better suited for singles or a small family.

The exterior of the Sportage is European-inspired in design and the color of the model I drove (techno-orange) rocked. All that burnt orange with black detailing made quite a striking sight.

On the interior side of things the Sportage has quite a bit of hard plastic, but it is well-cushioned in the areas where a passenger might make contact. The EX trim added leather trim seats that heated and a drivers seat that cooled. Also added is a keyless entry (always a plus in my book), telescoping wheel, dual-zone climate control, a rearview camera and navi system.

With a four cylinder engine you would expect the Sportage to be a bit shy getting onto the freeway but it’s a trooper and won’t leave you hanging. The suspension is where the Sportage shines, it feels more sporty than the other crossovers, however that does mean that you will feel the bumps more on the straight-away.

The 6-speed automatic transmission geared gently and easily. It didn’t hold the Sportage back when power was needed. My model Sportage was also equipped with all-wheel-drive which is suitable for light off-road duties, don’t expect to take this baby on the sand dunes.

Safety features include front side airbags, side curtain airbags, active front headrests, antilock disc brakes, and traction and stability control which garnered it a “Good” rating for frontal offset and side impact protection by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The EPA estimates fuel economy at 21 mpg city and 28 mpg highway; respectable numbers for a car of its size. The 2011 Kia Sportage is a hot number with a low base price, fun to drive and cute to boot.