Car Statistics:
Kia - Sportage
Series
05
(3 stars)
Styling
(3 stars)
Inoffensive and tough enough, but looks a bit bland compared to upmarket rivals.
Handling
(2 stars)
Cornering is marred by over-light steering and poor grip levels.
Comfort
(2 stars)
Over-firm suspension gives choppy ride quality over anything other than smooth surfaces.
Quality
(2 stars)
The cabin is trimmed with some very cheap-feeling materials. Far off the standard set by classier rivals.
Performance
(3 stars)
Basic 2.0 litre petrol engine gives respectable urge, although it sounds strained when worked hard. Thirsty V6 is barely faster - worth avoiding.
Roominess
(4 stars)
Roomy for four adults and reasonably spacious for five. Luggage space is reasonable, too.
Costs
(3 stars)
The smaller engine has reasonable fuel economy but servicing isn't much cheaper than upmarket alternatives, and residual values are poor.
Value
(5 stars)
Lots of car for your money, although the base model doesn't offer much in the way of equipment.
Stereo
(2 stars)
The audio system tries hard but is overwhelmed by other noise at cruising speeds. Satnav unavailable.
Other
Replacement:
2012
JD power stars:
3
Best models:
2.0 diesel
Worst models:
2.0 petrol
Overall Rating
(3 stars)