Kia has come on gangbusters in recent
years, the quality and refinement of its current cars has lifted it out of the
value-for-money rut in which it was once stuck. No longer are cars like the Sportage the ones you punt on when
you can't afford something better; they're now cars you can buy with confidence
and pride.
NEW
The
transformation of the Sportage,
Kia's compact SUV, was
complete with the launch of the third generation model in 2010.
As an
SUV that's going to be used around town the Sportage ticks all the boxes. It
rides high for a good view of the road, has sufficient cabin space to cart an
average family, and it has the rugged good looks that so appeals to today's
townies.
Being a
compact SUV the cabin is adequate rather than spacious, but it will carry five
adults, even if the centre rear passenger will find it a little squeezy. The
cabin is a pleasant place to be, the presentation is modern, the switches and
controls are well placed and easy to use.
Each of
the three models, from the base Si to the range-topping Platinum is well
equipped with just about everything you could want. Bluetooth was one omission,
but that was introduced in 2011.
The Si
entry model was two-wheel drive only and it came with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder
petrol engine and a choice of five-speed manual or six-speed sports-shifting
auto.
The SLi
and Platinum had on-demand all-wheel drive, there was a choice of 2.4-litre
four-cylinder petrol engine or 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, but the
only transmission you could have was the six-speed sports-shifting automatic.
On the
road the 2.0-litre engine was adequate rather than thrilling, and the economy
was average for the class. Being slightly more powerful the larger 2.4-litre
engine performed a little better, but it was the turbo-diesel that was the best
of the bunch with the strongest pull and the lowest consumption.
The
ride and handling was best suited to town roads where most Sportages will see
duty, but the on-demand all-wheel drive set-up is capable of handling bush
roads. It's not designed for heavy off-road use, and it is ultimately limited
by ground clearance and suspension travel.
NOW
Kia's quality has come on leaps
and bounds in recent years, which is reflected by the very low number of
complaints. Most owners we speak to say they are happy with their cars,
including the Sportage,
and would happily recommend them to prospective buyers.
While
there are few issues to report on the third generation Sportage it must be
emphasised that it is still very early in the overall lifespan of the model,
and it's always possible that issues could develop as the kays climb.
When
buying think of the road ahead and check for a service record that shows your
prospective purchase has been properly maintained. Servicing is the key to a
long and reliable life for any car, but it's even more important with today's
high-tech cars that are being built to ever tightening tolerances.
Kia specifies service intervals
of 15,000 km or 12 months, which is pretty much industry standard, but grizzled
old-timers would insist that's much too long. They would recommend intervals of
10,000 km.
The
good news is that all Kia
engines since 2010 have cam timing chains rather than pesky belts, so there's
no call for regular belt changes.
VERDICT
SMITHY SAYS
Hard to
fault, should be high on SUV shopper's lists.
Kia Sportage 2010-2013
Price new: $25,990 to $38,990
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 104 kW/184 Nm; 2.4-litre
4-cyl, 130 kW/227 Nm; 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo-diesel, 103 kW/304 Nm
Transmission: 5-speed man,
6-speed sports auto, FWD, On-demand 4WD
Economy: 8 L/100 km (2.0), 9.2 L/100 km
(2.4), 7.1 L/100 km (TD)
Body: 5-door wagon
Variants: Si, SLi, Platinum
Safety: 5-star ANCAP
Expect to pay:
$13,500
to $21,000 for the Si
$19,000
to $26,500 for the SLi
$19,500
to $30,000 for the Platinum
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