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Kia Sportage

Entry-level petrol model is a top-value buy

Kia Sportage front

By Sam Hardy

December 2010

Is this the best Kia on sale right now? The Sportage wowed us when we drove the flagship Sport Edition back in Issue 1,129 and the entry-level diesel in Issue 1,137.

Now we’ve got our hands on the base front-wheel-drive 1.6-litre petrol variant. At only £16,645, it looks like a bargain – especially when you consider the equipment you get as standard.

Video: watch CarBuyer's video review of the Kia Sportage

 

Entry-level ‘1’ trim boasts Bluetooth connectivity, iPod compatibility, cruise control and 16-inch alloy wheels. Kia’s ‘EcoDynamics’ badge means stop-start, too, trimming CO2 emissions to 149g/km, for an annual road tax bill of £125 and claimed economy of 44mpg.

Better looking than its sister car, the Hyundai ix35, the Sportage is sleek and smart, a theme that continues inside, with a high-quality, stylish cabin.

On the move, the gearbox is a little notchy and the ride on the firm side, but the Sportage is fun to drive, feeling agile and sporty. Apart from some stickiness around the straight ahead, the steering is well weighted.

The engine, despite its relatively low power, is smooth and sprightly, posting 0-60mph in 10.7 seconds. With just 165Nm of torque, the lack of pace tells when overtaking and on motorways, though. However, it still adds up to a tempting package.

For an alternative review of the latest Kia Sportage visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

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2 Comments

1.6 is "sprightly"? Amazing!

Down Under, we do not get the 1.6 petrol engine Sportage. Petrol engines here are 2.0 and 2.4 litre. I have driven both, admittedly with auto. in both cases. The 2.4 was smooth - and I might have said "sprightly". The 2.0 I would never have described with that adjective. It felt lumbering and rather slow off the mark. I also drove a Hyundai ix35 with the same 2.0 petrol engine and found it a little wanting off the mark and up hills. Hence, the idea that a 1.6 engine in the same body with 165Nm of torque might be "sprightly is an entertaining one for me. Are drivers' expectations really that much lower in the UK?

By PMinAU149 on 30 December, 2010, 12:20pm

UK Driver expectations?

In my experience UK car reviewers seem to be aiming their comments at -
- people who are interested in the ways cars look, whether they are trendy (??sexy??)
- people who, despite fuel price hikes and climate change are mostly interested in racing as furiously as possible wherever they go;
- people who spend a lot of time driving in cities / towns / traffic;
- people who drive up and down motorways.
I guess that covers most of the population in the UK, especially SE England where most of the reviewers probably live / work.
Personally, I live in a small village outside a very small town (we've just got our first set of traffic lights with the opening of a Tesco store - cheaper petrol too!) and most of my driving is on twisty, hilly roads where you need good acceleration and torque, high manoeuverability, excellent visibility and first class braking.
Unfortuanately, manufacturers seem to be going the same directions as the reviewers. My excellent 1.5 diesel automatic Mitsubishi Colt is no longer offered, and the 1.3 petrol which replaced it just can't cut the mustard - an acquaintance who bought one, being so impressed with my diesel, is really disappointed. To get similar power in a diesel auto I would now have to buy a much bigger car, which has great disadvantages on local roads.

By ken006 on 17 January, 2011, 3:54pm

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FIRST OPINION

    The Sportage is a superb car. It’s well made, good looking and fun to drive. Despite having ‘only’ a 133bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine, this entry-level model doesn’t feel too underpowered, although if you spend much of your time on the motorway, the more torquey 1.7-litre diesel might prove to be a more enticing proposition. However, with a price tag of only £16,645, a whole host of equipment and plenty of space, this is a fine option for families.

 

AT A GLANCE

    Price: £16,645
    Engine: 1.6-litre petrol, 133bhp
    Transmission: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
    Top speed: 111mph
    0-60mph: 10.7 seconds
    Econ: 44.1mpg
    CO2: 149g/km
    Equipment: Electric windows, front and rear, cruise control, air-con, alloy wheels, MP3 player connectivity, Bluetooth
    On sale: Now
     
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