Welsh Motoring Writers
  • Home
  • About us
  • News
  • Car Reviews
  • Blogs
  • Contact
  • Members
  • Blog

Kia Sportage

8/16/2010

 
Picture
The 2010 Sportage is Kia’s latest model and, although increasingly ‘rationalised’ there are some distinguishing features between Kia and major partner Hyundai’s range.

The latter’s headline-grabbing five-year warranty was a sharp move some time ago but Kia’s ante-upping seven-year package heralded its take on a whole new generation of cars from the giant Korean combine.  

The latest Sportage also displays the full impact of Kia’s new Head of Design, Peter (ex-Audi) Schreyer.  It is a strikingly attractive vehicle.

Sister-car to this Kia is Hyundai’s ix35 – and both arrived hard on the heels of Hyundai’s Santa Fe and Kia’s Sorento.

The compact/mid-range SUV class is a broad church now and the ix35/Sportage take care of the entry point while the Sante Fe/Sorento offer a larger, up-market proposition – overall a real grip on the sector.

Earlier than expected, Kia launched a ‘First Edition’ Sportage this month while cheaper, front wheel drive (4x2), petrol and supplementary diesel versions will arrive in November.

Best foot forward 2.0 CRDi First Edition AWD comes with an asking price of £20,777 (auto: £22,077) and the six-speed manual’s official combined average is 47.1mpg – 7mpg better than before; CO2 at 156g/km is 31g/km less bringing the car down to Road Tax ‘G’ and £155 – a saving of £80.

Claimed top speed is 112mph and 0-62 in 10 seconds (auto: 11.6 and it’s heavier on fuel and CO2 as well).  Like many manufacturers the talk is now of “All Wheel Drive” rather than “4x4” – i.e. front wheel drive with a wake-up call to the back axle as and when required. Kia’s system can divert up to 40% of torque to the rear axle when necessary and a simple button on the dashboard will lock the drive into 50-50 mode (up to 25mph) should things get a bit serious.

There is Hill Descent control and the Magna Steyr AWD unit in the Kia is more sophisticated, apparently, than the system used by Hyundai. It should react more quickly and has a proactive capacity (cornering, steering input, etc.) which senses when drive to the rear might be better sooner rather than later.  Towing capacity is 2000kg for a trailer with brakes.

It might not be as big as the Sorento but the Sportage is not a small car – it feels much more substantial than a “jacked-up” lower medium hatch, for example.  A spacious cabin is matched by a generous level of kit and the expected SUV elevated driving position (good adjustment range) and commanding view is there.

Competent dynamically, ride-comfort is good and, if no ball of fire, the new Sportage has a relaxed and effortless way of covering the ground.  Front seats which are short for the taller and leggier are the only apparent faults on first acquaintance.

The usual audio-visual park-assist device is there but images from the camera at the back are displayed on to a section of the rear-view mirror – very clever.  In ‘one bound’ Kia has produced a highly credible light SUV replacement – others could easily take two or three “iterations” to do this.


By Huw Thomas

Comments are closed.

    View by date

    November 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    June 2021
    December 2020
    August 2020
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    August 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    September 2017
    May 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    July 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    October 2014
    September 2014
    March 2014
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    July 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    October 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    May 2010
    December 2009
    October 2009
    August 2009
    November 2001


    View by tags

    All
    Alfa Romeo Giulietta
    Alfa Romeo Mito
    Aston Martin Rapide
    Audi A3
    Audi A6
    Audi A7 Sportback
    Audi Q3
    Bmw 520d
    Bmw 5 Series Touring
    Bugatti Veyron Super Sports
    Fiat 500 Twinair
    Ford Focus
    Honda Civic Type R
    Honda CR-Z
    Hyundai Ix35
    Infiniti Ex37
    Infiniti Fx
    Infiniti G37 Cabrio
    Jaguar Xf
    Jeep Grand Cherokee
    Kia Soul
    Kia Sportage
    Land Rover Discovery 4
    Lexus Ct200h
    Mazda3
    Mazda CX-5
    Mercedes-Benz C-Class
    Mini Countyman
    Mitsubishi Shogun
    Nissan X-Trail
    Peugeot 3008
    Peugeot 508 Rxh
    Peugeot 508 Saloon
    Peugeot Rcz
    Range Rover Evoque
    Renault Mégane
    Renault Mégane Coupe Cabriolet
    Renaultsport Clio Gordini
    Renault Wind
    Seat Leon Cupra R
    Seat Leon Ecomotive
    Skoda Octavia Scout
    Skoda Superb Estate
    Skoda Yeti
    Ssangyong Korando
    Suzuki Alto
    Suzuki Swift
    Toyota Avensis Saloon
    Volkswagen California
    Volkswagen Tiguan
    Volkswagen Touareg
    Volvo S60
    Volvo V60

    RSS Feed

© WELSH MOTORING WRITERS 2023