Published: March 02, 2008 11:09 pm            

Kia SUV built for bargain hunters

Newest Sportage nothing like its mid-'90s namesake

CULLMAN, Ala. —



If there were a contest for the worst car in history, I'm pretty sure the original Kia Sportage would be somewhere on the list.

Sure, the Renault LeCar, Cadillac Cimmaron, Yugo, Chevy Vega, Ford Pinto and anything from AMC would give it some serious competition. But the first Sportage, introduced in 1993, was a car that was built like a pickup with a body seemingly made from Reynolds aluminum. It sounded like a dump truck, drove like a golf cart and had the exact same horsepower as an electric can opener.

In a wonderfully merciful move by Kia, the Sportage disappeared after 2002 and only came back as a completely different, totally unrelated vehicle in 2005. Why Kia decided to revive the Sportage name on this new car is one of the world's great mysteries because -- let's be honest -- does anyone pine for the emotions they felt when they first drove a 94-horsepower Kia truck?

In any case, today Kia builds a fairly nice SUV that they oddly still choose to call the Sportage. Now it's based on a car and actually competes well with other car-based SUVs when you consider its low price, impressive safety ratings and high level of standard equipment.

It starts at just $16,000 for a stripped-down model, but you probably don't want that one. It has a manual transmission and no air conditioning. Unless you live in the Arctic you'll probably want the one with A/C and an automatic for around $19,500, or one with a V6 and four-wheel drive for $21,345.

It's that top level where the Sportage really looks like a bargain. Where else can you get a loaded V6 SUV with leather and four-wheel drive for the low $20s? This is pretty much your only choice.

Even the LX models aren't too shabby. They come with power everything and cruise control. They also have enough safety features to earn a five-star front- and side-impact safety rating from the government, including things like six air bags, electronic traction control and stability control to help avoid accidents.

Upgrading to the EX models, which aren't much more expensive, will get you a sunroof, keyless entry and better fabric on the seats. If that's not enough, you can add the $1,300 luxury package that comes with leather seats that are heated in front, automatic headlights, an upgraded stereo and built-in garage door opener.

Sadly, the upgraded stereo still can't play MP3 discs, a feature even the cheapest economy cars are starting to add as standard equipment.

And, worst of all, even with the V6 engine it feels slightly sluggish. The V6 only makes 173 horsepower, which would be plenty in a small car but isn't impressive in a heavy SUV. That wouldn't be so bad if it got awesome gas mileage, but it doesn't. It gets 17 mpg in the city.

Oh well. I suppose Kia had to find some little way to link the latest generation Sportage to the old one.

In case you're nervous about the quality of a Kia -- as you should be if you know the company's reputation from the '90s -- it backs up its products with a 100,000-mile, 10-year powertrain warranty and a five-year, 60,000-mile basic warranty. Surveys show the quality of Korean car makers, including Kia, has risen dramatically in the past few years.

Overall, the Sportage offers a lot for the money, especially when you look at the top-end models. If you want a compact SUV with a V6 and leather, it's hard to justify paying thousands more for a Toyota, Ford, Honda or Chevy.





Derek Price writes for The Cullman (Ala.) Times.



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INFO BOX:

RATINGS

Style: 6

Performance: 4

Price: 10

Handling: 6

Ride: 6

Comfort: 7

Quality: 6

Overall: 7



What was tested? 2008 Kia Sportage EX 4x4 ($22,895). Options: Luxury package ($1,300). Price as tested (including $625 destination charge): $24,820



Why buy it? It's a bargain. It has five-star crash ratings, decent standard equipment and a low price.



Why avoid it? Even with a V6 it doesn't feel very powerful.

        

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