Kia Sportage SX 2011 Review

Kia Sportage SX

Like the Optima, Kia's Sportage is now available with a newly developed 2.0-litre engine employing direct injection and turbocharging. The Optima Turbo and Sportage SX are currently sold in the North American market but Kia Australia would like to add them to the local lineup... Hence our sample drive from LA to Las Vegas in the lead up to the New York International Auto Show.

As it happens Kia had a lot to say. The brand revealed its attractive new Rio in sedan form at New York; announced the 'Hamster ad' for the upgraded Soul won a Nielsen award and that the brand will add production of the Optima -- and an extra 3000 jobs -- to its plant in Georgia.

The good news also included record sales growth in the US; mainly off the well-earning Georgia plant-built Sorento but also the highly regarded Sportage. Kia added the turbocharged Sportage a few weeks before the NYIAS and it was listed among the brand's recent accomplishments during the show presentation.

As tested in the Optima Turbo, the compact softroader uses the maker's new 2.0-litre T-GDI engine. The Sportage SX is tuned for 193kW/364Nm versus the Optima's 204kW and 369Nm.

If Kia changes current production policy on the turbo offerings to include right-hand drive, the Sportage SX would line up here next to 2.0-litre diesel, 2.0-litre petrol and 2.4-litre petrol models; perhaps replacing the latter version.

The current range is finding no complaints for want of powertrain options. Nonetheless, it's good Kia's not resting on its laurels and is instead adding to the compact SUV's favours with this performance slant.

The Sportage is already a decent drive in terms of on-road dynamics with good handling and steering -- making it one of the standouts in the crowded compact SUV class. The new engine offering complements the experience.

While we're hesitant to call it sporty (the long, F-truck and trailer riddled stretch from LA to Las Vegas didn't allow for much investigation), the engine is responsive and smooth, and has a good meter of torque for overtaking at speed. First-time impressions are sometimes deceptive but in terms of overtaking and open road performance the Sportage SX compares favourably to the likes of BMW's four-cylinder turbodiesel X1.

The six-speed auto is also responsive and for US highway legal speeds at least, is well geared to reach top early and downshift when needed.

SX Sportage comes with, by US standards, a sports-oriented suspension tune and 18-inch alloys. In comparison to the locally fettled Sportage the US car is still a little at sea. Noise from the concrete roads was well absorbed but ride was compromised over the notorious expansion joints by the set-up's harder state. It was better on the limited bitumen roads we drove. Fortunately, the Sportage's seating is comfortable, with firm support and well-placed armrests.

Read our local drive impressions for more, however, the writer found the cabin spacious front to rear with good leg and head room. Rear cargo space (with all seats in use) can easily manage two large [Ed: outlet-store-stuffed Aussie-dollar-at-$1:07] suitcases. We didn't want to pile up any others, mainly because rearward vision would be further obscured due to Sportage's letterbox-slot tailgate design.

The Sportage is already at the top of the C-SUV styling heap. To this end the SX only needs modest accessorising (including blue or orange exterior colours and matching upbeat interior plus aluminium sill plates) to make a statement -- among its own and others.

In our opinion, unlike the Optima Turbo, the Sportage SX is not a must-have for Kia Australia... It would, however, be a welcome addition...

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