Kia Sportage
The second-generation 'soft-roader' from Kia promises better on-road dynamics and value

What's New?
The first Kia Sportage was a handsome SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) for its time (1990s) that could also handle proper off-road duties thanks mainly to the ladder-frame chassis and four-wheel-drive system.

On asphalt, however, the previous Sportage lacked refinement. It handled poorly, the engine and suspension were harsh, and there were various reliability and quality issues. This time around, the second-generation Sportage is a totally different car from its predecessor. Based on the Hyundai Tucson platform, it has been designed for jungles of the urban variety and provides its occupants with a car-like ride quality. According to Kia, much effort has been put into improving the car's build quality, particularly in the cabin.

Two variants are available. The entry-level model is a 2.0-litre front-wheel- drive variant, while the range-topper has a 2.7-litre V6 with four-wheel- drive. The former is what we get here in Singapore and the latter will only be available on an indent basis.

How It Performs
Like a typical SUV, the Sportage provides a commanding seating position with the plush bucket seats offering plenty of support. Five adults should fit in the interior nicely. Headroom is generous, while rear seat passengers should enjoy generous leg and shoulder room.

Further back, the boot is commodious enough for at least a couple of golf bags and in case you need more luggage space, the rear bench can also be folded away completely. The removable luggage blind is useful in case you want to keep the curious eyes away from your expensive gear.

While the fake-wood inserts around the cabin are a little tacky, the perforated leather upholstery gives the Sportage's interior a classy and modern look. Cabin ergonomics are flawless, with buttons and switches strategically located for ease of use while the plastics are of a better quality than the old car.

On the road, the Sportage is generally quiet with no hint of squeak or rattle to be found. Wind intrusion is kept to a minimal even at three-figure speeds and you can hardly hear the tyres coming into contact with road blemishes such as potholes and speed-strips.

The softly-sprung suspension absorbs bad road surfaces efficiently, but the downside of that is a noticeable body-roll whenever you enter a corner. Then again, the Sportage is a decent handler, providing excellent straight-line stability at high speeds and adequate grip around the bends. The steering is accurate, but it could stand to be more communicative.

The all-new 140bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder is acceptably smooth, but more importantly, it has plenty of low-end power, which is useful in stop-and-go traffic situations. Mated to it is a smooth shifting four-speed automatic gearbox with a "Sports" mode that allows the driver swap gears manually.

How It Stacks Up
At under $80,000 with COE, the Sportage is one of the most affordable SUVs in the market today. Its closest competitor would be its distant cousin, the Hyundai Tucson, but if you have about $10,000 extra to spare then the Mitsubishi Airtrek 20V is worth considering, too.

If you compare the Sportage with its predecessor, the old car feels like it was built by monkeys. The current model is significantly better built, more refined and more pleasant to drive. We're glad that the one and only thing that is carried over from the past is its affordable pricing.

Technical Specifications

MODEL Kia Sportage ENGINE Engine: 1,975cc 16V in-line four Max Power: 140bhp at 6000 rpm Max Torque: 185Nm at 4500 rpm TRANSMISSION 4-speed automatic TOP SPEED 165 kmh 0-100km/h 12.0s