2011 Kia Sportage EX AWD - Four Seasons Introduction
By Mike Ofiara
Photography by Matt Tierney
The current list of crossover offerings in the U.S. market is dizzying. It's the fastest growing segment, with and competitive offerings from nearly every automaker. For this reason, it takes a lot to turn our heads with a new crossover, but the 2011 Kia Sportage did just that. Its edgy styling and sporty driving dynamics -- for the category -- impressed us when we first drove it last fall. And with the recent launch of the turbocharged SX model, it's clear that Kia is taking the sporty theme seriously. But it's the mainstream EX that we feel will be the top seller for Kia, so that's what we wanted to put through our Four Seasons test.
Fresh off the boat, our Korean-built Sportage arrived at 120 East Liberty Street wearing loud, techno orange paint, black leather interior, and silver 18-inch wheels. The EX starts at $23,990 (with destination), but we added all-wheel drive for $1500, the premium package with leather for $3000, and the navigation system for another $1500. Accessories include a cargo mat, cargo net, cargo tray, and wheel locks totaling $250, for a bottom-line as-tested price of $30,240. That's a bit pricy for a Kia, considering an Audi Q5 2.0T starts at roughly $5000 more.
But this Sportage is well equipped. The premium package gives us leather-trimmed seating, heated front seats, a ventilated driver's seat, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, push-button start, a panoramic sunroof, and a back-up camera. The navigation system includes premium audio, an external amplifier, and a subwoofer. Some standard items include a six-speaker sound system with Sirius satellite radio, MP3/USB/auxiliary audio jacks, Bluetooth, dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and LED daytime running lights, which is clearly the new fad for carmakers.
We're at peace with the option list, but how will the powertrain suit our needs? The Sportage EX comes the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. The normally aspirated powerplant puts out a modest 176 hp and 168 lb-ft of torque. Combined with the six-speed automatic transmission, it achieves 21 mpg city and 28 mpg highway. Surprisingly, the Sportage is rated to tow up to 2000 pounds, but we don't have the $350 tow package on our test car.
We're looking forward to seeing if Kia has made the same strides that Hyundai has with regards to quality and reliability. As senior Web editor, Phil Floraday said, "If 2010's automaker to watch was Hyundai, Kia is the one for 2011."
2011 Kia Sportage EX AWD
Base price: (with dest.) $25,490
As tested: $30,240
Overview
Body style: 4-door SUV
Accommodation: 5 passenger
Construction: Unibody construction
Powertrain
Engine: 16-valve DOHC I-4
Displacement: 2.4 liters
Power: 176 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 168 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
Transmission type: 6-speed automatic
Drive: Four-wheel
EPA Fuel Economy: 21/28/23 (city/hwy/combined)
Chassis
Steering: electronically-assisted
Lock-to-lock: x.x
Turning circle: 34.7 ft.
Suspension, front: Strut-type, coil springs
Suspension, rear: Multilink, coil springs
Brakes f/r: Power-assisted disc brakes; ABS
Wheels: 18-inch aluminum alloy
Tires: Hankook Optimo H426 all-season
Tire size: 235/55R18 100H
Measurements
Headroom f/r: 39.1/38.5 in
Legroom f/r: 41.4/37.9 in
Shoulder room f/r: 56.7/55.1 in
Wheelbase: 103.9 in
Track f/r: xx.x/xx.x in
L x W x H: 174.8 x 73.0 x 64.4 in
Cargo capacity: 26.1/54.6 cu ft (rear seat up/rear seat down)
Weight: 3355 lb
Weight dist. f/r: xx/xx%
Fuel capacity: 14.5 gal
Est. fuel range: 406 miles
Fuel grade: 87 octane (regular unleaded)
Standard Equipment:
2.4-liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine
6-speed automatic transmission
All-wheel drive
18-inch alloy wheels
4-wheel disc brakes with ABS
Traction control system
Electronic stability control
Downhill brake/hill-start assist control
Tire pressure monitoring system
Rollover protection system
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Power windows/locks/mirrors
AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio with 6 speakers
Sirius satellite radio
USB & Auxiliary input jacks
60/40-split rear seat
Cooling glove box
Cruise control
Bluetooth connectivity
Tilt/telescoping steering column
Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
Steering wheel-mounted controls (Bluetooth, audio, cruise)
Options on this vehicle:
Premium package with leather -- $3000
Leather seat trim
Heated front seats
Ventilated driver seat
Push-button start with smart key
Auto-dimming rearview mirror
Cargo cover
Panoramic sunroof
Back-up warning system
Heated outside mirrors
Navigation with premium audio -- $1500
Navigation with Sirius traffic
Back-up camera
Premium audio with amp and subwoofer
Cargo net -- $75
Cargo tray -- $75
Cargo net -- $50
Wheel locks -- $50
Credit: Automobile Magazine (www.automobilemag.com)
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