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DRIVEN: Kia Sportage Proves Worth On Road Trip
All-new 2011 crossover gets a refined look, more interior space and improved drivability.
Bob Golfen  |  Posted August 24, 2010   Phoenix, AZ
New for 2011, the third-generation Sportage grows bigger and more stylish, and with a roomier interior. (Photo: Kia)
At first, the Kia Sportage seemed like a lame ride for a long highway trip.

A compact crossover powered by a four-cylinder engine didn’t seem like it would have the space, power or pizzazz to haul three too-tall men, a regulation-size woman and all their luggage on a six-hour voyage from Phoenix to Los Angeles. And back.

A full stylistic makeover gives Sportage a high beltline and sharp features. Eighteen-inch wheels come standard on the EX. (Photo: Kia)
But the 2011 Sportage handled the trip with no real complaints. Certainly not a luxury ride, and there was some road noise and wind buffeting, but the roominess and comfort level were decent, and the little SUV gobbled up the miles without slurping too much fuel.

This was a short family vacation, and two of the lofty men are my sons, who like most 20-somethings are hard-wired to be critical of everything. But they were pretty cool with the Sportage, even when folded into the back seat. And each of them took turns driving, also without complaint.

Part of the appeal was the third-generation Sportage’s sophisticated new look for 2011. The updated styling with its sharply creased angles, high beltline and athletic stance was an immediate hit, making the drive much more acceptable than if we were stuck in something that looked dorky.

We had the all-wheel-drive EX model, enhanced by a standard set of 18-inch alloys and low-profile performance tires that set off the refined shape nicely. The new look is a vast improvement over the former Sportage and seems like a good candidate for best styling in its compact-crossover class.

The optional navigation system proved very useful in cutting through LA traffic. (Photo: Kia)
The slightly longer and wider form included a noticeably roomier interior than the former Sportage. Front seat legroom is excellent for us lanky types, although I had to move the seat up slightly to accommodate the large lad sitting behind me. Still, not bad at all.

The Sportage felt relaxed and stable on the highway, although there is some numbness to the electric-power steering and a susceptibility to cross winds.

Power is provided by a new 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 176 horsepower, which is more than the former V6 and provides decent if not stellar acceleration and composed highway cruising. There’s a bit of four-cylinder thrashing under full throttle, but not too bad.

A 2-liter turbocharged four is slated for later in the model year, and will spin out 200 horsepower.

Kia borrows a styling tweak from Audi with Sportage's "string of pearls" LED lights under the headlights. (Photo: Kia)
Fuel mileage for the 2.4-liter is rated by the EPA at 22 city and 30 highway for the front-wheel-drive versions and 21 city and 28 highway for the heavier all-wheel-drive EX that we drove. We got something in that 28 mpg range in mostly high-speed freeway driving.

The EX came with a nicely dialed-in six-speed automatic with Sportmatic manual shifting. A full-manual six-speed is also available.

While the engine is fairly quiet and wind noise is subdued, road noise and tire thump can get intrusive over rough surfaces. Concrete-freeway roar and expansion-joint slaps were sometimes annoying.

The road racket was mitigated, however, by a decent, upgraded audio system that spent most of its time cranked up with various forms of alternative rock (those sons again). The Sportage we drove came with a $1,500 premium audio/navigation upgrade that included a thumping subwoofer and real-traffic monitoring.

The navigation system proved its worth on our final day in LA, when we drove to some tourist sites in the north part of the city and then had to find our way back to the interstate. The best part was that we were able to avoid the worst of LA traffic as the system guided us around the perennial jams. Bravo!
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