The Kia Sportage turbo boost in power is just what this vehicle needs to make it a fun machine to drive. Now, when you press the accelerator, you get a rush of low end torque right where you want it, and passing maneuvers are now handled with ease. No turbo lag, just some strong giddyup to get you going. Zero to 60 comes in just over 8 seconds. A 6-speed automatic with a manual shifting feature is the only transmission available. Despite the boost in power, the Kia SX AWD still delivers excellent fuel economy with numbers of 21 city and 26 highway.
Riding on an independent front and rear suspension system with MacPherson struts in front a multi-link set-up in the rear, SX models also ride on larger 18-inch wheels with a stiffer suspension setup.
Kia’s Dynamax all-wheel drive system uses vehicle speed and traction control sensors, along with driver input, to continuously monitor driving conditions, to better anticipate the AWD requirements, as opposed to other systems that only react to situations after they occur. The driver feels improved lateral stability during cornering, with less wheel slippage from each axel. During normal driving, 100 percent of the engine torque goes through the front wheels for fuel economy, and then transfers the right amount of torque rearward when front wheel slip is detected. The driver can also push the “Lock Mode” button for enhanced traction on snow, mud, gravel and other slippery conditions to distribute the torque evenly between the front and rear, at speeds below 25 miles per hour. There is even a hill descent control button on this Sportage, although I doubt too many owners will be taking severe off-road slopes in this crossover.
The cabin of Kia Sportage 2012 is a comfortable place for four adults, and a young child for the middle of the rear seat. Kia Sportage SX Premium Package offer comfortable perforated leather heated seats, push button and remote start, heated outside mirrors, auto-dim rearview mirror, a panoramic moon roof, with an tilt and sliding section over the front seats, and a large glass section over the rear section of the car. A cargo cover and special interior lighting are also part of the $2,000 package. A large Navigation screen with back-up camera and park assist was also fitted as a $1,000 package.
The cabin is mostly quiet and calm, with lots of headroom and good legroom front and rear. Cargo space is somewhat smaller than the competition, including a Rav4 or Honda CR-V, with just 26 cu-ft behind the rear seats. When dropped flat there is a total of 54.6 cu-ft, but it’s still well behind rivals. Thankfully there is a 12-volt outlet in back for tailgating duties. Also, the liftgate opens high enough to keep one from knocking their noggin on it.
All the controls for the driver are nicely laid out and simple to use. The dual climate controls of Kia Sportage are easy to use dials with push buttons for the HVAC vent outlet direction. Dash gauges are well lit with a large info screen in the center of the speedometer dial. There are two 12-volt outlets at the base of the center stack and a handy storage cubby for a phone, MP3 player or any other device you want to charge. There are also inputs for MP3, USB and auxiliary input jacks. Cell phone is Bluetooth controlled. There is good storage in the center console, door pockets and the cooling glove box.
The MSRP starts at $28,400. With the destination charge the bottom line is $32,700 – a lot of coin for a compact Korean crossover.
Still, apart from the lackluster interior, you won’t find this combination of style and horsepower at such a compelling price anywhere else.
