1st - 2012 Kia Sportage
The Kia Sportage has been on the road for much longer than most recall. It actually landed on our shores in the late '90s, but its limited numbers and equally limited appeal relegated its existence to a commercial spot as few were ever sold.
The second generation was good, but the current third generation vehicle is, in a word, awesome. The Sportage has so many things going for it that for the purposes of this comparo, we’re going to start with the negative aspects.
Rear visibility is atrocious. This explains why a backup warning system is optional on the base LX, and standard for all the others with sensors or a camera. The boot is constrictive. There are no ways out of this one. A standard stroller does not fit without folding part of the seatback down. In fact, this aspect alone means young families may feel limited with the Sportage. The suspension could use some re-tweaking -- but more on that a little later.And that’s about it.
Despite the smallish trunk and reduced outer dimensions, the 2012 Kia Sportage can still accommodate four adults without fuss with plenty of room in both rows. The front perches were especially good: sculpted and comfortable.
What really got to us is the 2012 Kia Sportage’s styling. Regardless of the angle or what aspect we stared at, it all fit. From the Audi-inspired LED marker lights to the funky-cool tail, the Sportage is all about feeding our need for original and dynamic design. This would normally separate the youth from the mature, but Mr. Schreyer’s masterful work brought us all together.
The cabin is equally as attractive with a fun level of ergonomics that are as functional as they are agreeable to look at. The steering wheel even has a sporty feel to it that adds to the entire experience.
We all agreed that the ride was harsh, especially on some of the cottage trails we traversed. The 2012 Kia Sportage’s suspension is somewhat unforgiving on uneven surfaces, and on the worst roads both driver and passengers got shook up. When loaded, the Sportage’s drive suffered the same fate as did the Mazda CX-5. However, unlike the Mazda, steering remained alert and was unaffected, as were the strong brakes.
The Sportage’s 176 hp 2.4L 4-cylinder mill was average on most counts, which is good. The loaded test did little to derange forward momentum, and the 6-speed automatic transmission was a very willing partner to the driver’s every input. Of all the members in this lot, the Kia’s tranny was the best performer.
The level of kit one gets for the dollar is another aspect which we liked. Unlike the Toyota or the Honda, Kia ponies up far more for the same dollar. In fact, four out of the six testers would have kept the Sportage at the end of the day.
The Kia Sportage has been on the road for much longer than most recall. It actually landed on our shores in the late '90s, but its limited numbers and equally limited appeal relegated its existence to a commercial spot as few were ever sold.
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| Photo: Philippe Champoux |
The second generation was good, but the current third generation vehicle is, in a word, awesome. The Sportage has so many things going for it that for the purposes of this comparo, we’re going to start with the negative aspects.
Rear visibility is atrocious. This explains why a backup warning system is optional on the base LX, and standard for all the others with sensors or a camera. The boot is constrictive. There are no ways out of this one. A standard stroller does not fit without folding part of the seatback down. In fact, this aspect alone means young families may feel limited with the Sportage. The suspension could use some re-tweaking -- but more on that a little later.And that’s about it.
Despite the smallish trunk and reduced outer dimensions, the 2012 Kia Sportage can still accommodate four adults without fuss with plenty of room in both rows. The front perches were especially good: sculpted and comfortable.
What really got to us is the 2012 Kia Sportage’s styling. Regardless of the angle or what aspect we stared at, it all fit. From the Audi-inspired LED marker lights to the funky-cool tail, the Sportage is all about feeding our need for original and dynamic design. This would normally separate the youth from the mature, but Mr. Schreyer’s masterful work brought us all together.
The cabin is equally as attractive with a fun level of ergonomics that are as functional as they are agreeable to look at. The steering wheel even has a sporty feel to it that adds to the entire experience.
We all agreed that the ride was harsh, especially on some of the cottage trails we traversed. The 2012 Kia Sportage’s suspension is somewhat unforgiving on uneven surfaces, and on the worst roads both driver and passengers got shook up. When loaded, the Sportage’s drive suffered the same fate as did the Mazda CX-5. However, unlike the Mazda, steering remained alert and was unaffected, as were the strong brakes.
The Sportage’s 176 hp 2.4L 4-cylinder mill was average on most counts, which is good. The loaded test did little to derange forward momentum, and the 6-speed automatic transmission was a very willing partner to the driver’s every input. Of all the members in this lot, the Kia’s tranny was the best performer.
The level of kit one gets for the dollar is another aspect which we liked. Unlike the Toyota or the Honda, Kia ponies up far more for the same dollar. In fact, four out of the six testers would have kept the Sportage at the end of the day.
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| Photo: Philippe Champoux |
| 2012 Chevrolet Equinox 1LT | 2013 Ford Escape SE 4WD | 2012 Honda CR-V Touring | 2012 Kia Sportage EX Luxury | 2013 Mazda CX-5 GT AWD | 2012 Toyota RAV4 Sport 4WD | |
| Total score | 77,9% | 79,4% | 80,9% | 81,1% | 80,1% | 77,7% |