kia sportage 2011 offers an excellent driving position

kia sportage 2011 offers an excellent driving position

The average Canadian tends to be southerly-minded when it comes to planning a trip away, but Kia went the opposite direction in previewing their latest kia sportage 2011 offers an excellent driving position for selected automotive journalists. Kia's building an identity, too - and they called upon Peter Schreyer, formerly of VW/Audi, to head up the design work that would help pull it off. In all, thanks to Kia's 'value through styling' ideology, the new Sportage's looks hit harder than its pricing might suggest.

kia sportage 2011 offers an excellent driving position cabin gets a depthy and upscale-look, adult-friendly rear seats, and a healthy, easily-accessible cargo hold at the rear.

If you like free goodies, the Bluetooth interface, wheel-mounted audio controls, iPod connector and driver computer fitted to all models should adequately compensate.

Aside from the segment-standard airbags and ABS, kia sportage 2011 offers an excellent driving position offers advanced rollover protection systems and an advanced, intelligent Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system across the lineup.

All said, given the Sportage's competitive pricing, it hits hard where style, utility and, perhaps surprisingly, sportiness are concerned. The 2011 kia Sportage is landing on dealer lots now.

2011 Kia Sportage EX AWD
BASE PRICE: $18,295 for base model; $20,295 for LX 2WD; $21,795 for LX AWD; $23,295 for EX 2WD; $24,795 for EX AWD.
MILEAGE: 21 mpg (city), 28 mpg (highway).
LENGTH: 174.8 inches.

Kia owes its success both to the improved quality of its products and to the fact that they are offering highly competitive vehicles in the most popular categories in Canada: compact cars and compact SUVs, segments that represent 40% of the market. With the arrival of the new generation Sportage, Kia’s making another big splash and this new vehicle may very well do nothing less than solidify the manufacturer’s new aspirations.

Style that gets noticed
The compact SUV segment is definitely one of the most competitive segments right now, with many manufacturers offering excellent vehicles. The new Sportage represents a radical departure from the previous generation. Under the hood, the 2011 kia Sportage has a four-cylinder engine featuring 176 hp for a torque of 168 lbs-ft and can be paired with a six-speed manual transmission in the two-wheel drive version, while the all-wheel drive version adopts a six-speed automatic.

With only a slightly higher price, it’s hard not to recommend the all-wheel drive, which is the main reason for buying such a vehicle. Forget the previous generation’s six year old passenger compartment. On board, the kia sportage 2011 offers an excellent driving position. The large hatch also facilitates loading larger items and there’s a very generous cargo space, a feature maximized with the larger dimensions of the new Sportage.

The engine offers good output and more than sufficient power. Its excellent torque in low gear favours pick-up and passing manoeuvres.