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Car Reviews
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Kia Sportage
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Review Summary
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The Kia Sportage offers buyers all the amenities of other compact SUV’s at a fraction of the price. The Sportage boasts an attractive exterior design and a really comfortable and practical cabin design. This is an excellent vehicle for the money.
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Kia Sportage
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Overall BuyYourCar Rating
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Kia Sportage Car Review
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Kia Sportage
Kia is on a mission to increase sales and appeal to a wider range of potential buyers. The logical step for Kia to achieve this is to reach buyers in the lucrative compact SUV market. The Sportage was designed to do just that.The Sportage will have a significant impact on the competition by stealing buyers.
The Kia Sportage has the same mechanical components as the Hyundai Tucson (including engines). However, the Sportage is not a carbon copy, the Sportage has a more precise build quality and an overall better feel.
The Sportage’s exterior design is a cross between a Toyota's RAV4 and Volvo's XC90. The Sportage is larger than many rivals and boasts a smooth modern design. Inside the cabin provides enough room for five passengers.
This Kia has abandoned the cheap interiors of its predecessors and provides a very good quality interior with excellent upholstery. Entry-level XE models have attractively simple black seats with grey piping. Leather is on the options list and is a good quality that gives the cabin a high-class feel.
The Sportage provides a smooth ride with minimal road and wind noise. The car’s off-road abilities are as impressive as its on-road abilities. The Kia Sportage is definitely worthy of a test drive.
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Practicality
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Life Style
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Security and Safety
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The Finishing Touches
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Overall Rating
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 Practicality
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Kia Sportage
Kia has priced the Sportage inexpensively enough undercut the competition’s prices, yet high enough to send the message that this is a quality vehicle not meant to strictly be a bargain buy. The Sportage offers a high level of standard specification in a larger and refined vehicle. Fuel economy will be high in the Sportage, and the 2.0 diesel will be the more economical choice.
The Kia Sportage provides ample passenger space to accommodate five adult passengers comfortably. Rear seats fold 60/40 and have the ability to fold completely flat to increase load carrying capabilities. The front passenger seat can also be flattened to make it possible to carry longer cargo.
The Kia Sportage controls and dials are very basic. They are clear, simple, easy to understand, and practical instruments. The simplicity will be very welcome for less techno-savvy buyers.
The Kia Sportage provides well for passenger comfort. Seats are comfortable and cabin space is plentiful. The steering wheel adjusts for rake but not reach, and the driver's seat may not adjust to accommodate all body types comfortably. Rear leg and headroom is excellent and rear passengers should be quite comfortable even on longer journeys.
Accessing the Kia Sportage cabin requires a step up into the cabin. This may pose a problem for passengers with limited flexibility and mobility. Other than that most passengers shouldn’t have any problem accessing the cabin. All models have five doors and a wide highly accessible boot.
Parking the Sportage is made easier thanks to the elevated drive position that provides the driver with excellent all around visibility. The difficult part will be finding a parking space large enough to maneuver into.
 Life Style
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Kia Sportage
The new Kia Sportage has abondaned many of its rugged characteristics in order to provide a smoother and more pleasant on-road driving experience. Four wheel drive can be selected permanently but shouldn’t be necessary.
The Kia Sportage would make a good family vehicle for a smaller family. The car offers adequate and comfortable seating for five. The car’s boot is very reasonable as well. The car’s off-roading abilities can’t hurt on family trips either.
If a new driver could afford the Sportage it is an easy car to drive and has a stylish exterior. However, it is unlikely to be the car of choice for most novice drivers.
Kia’s image has steadily been increasing with each quality and credible vehicle they produce. The cheap, budget buys of yesterday may be long gone for this company. Badge snobs will still turn their noses up, but more practical buyers will recognize the vehicle’s true merit and capabilities.
 Security and Safety
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The Kia Sportage comes standard with a lockable glove box, remote central locking, an electronic engine immobiliser and a perimeter alarm. A visual deterrant may be desired but probably wouldn’t be necessary with such a comprehensive security package.
Kia has included standard safety options such as twin front airbags, front side airbags, and curtain airbags. The car also comes equipped with anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, traction control system and three-point rear seatbelts for all passengers.
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 The Finishing Touches
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The Kia Sportage standard stereo unit features a CD audio system with an MP3 player. The system produces very good sound quality but some of the controls are on the small side and can be a little difficult to operate while driving.
Entry-level Kia Sportage XE model equipment includes air conditioning, electric front and rear windows, roof rails, 16-inch alloy wheels, two power outlets, front fog lamps, and three-point seatbelts. Upgrade options include a comprehensive kit list, significantly upgraded interior and the option of a V6 engine.
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