First Drive: 2011 Kia Sportage

Style, Refinement, Performance, and Value

by Chris Allen


		» Introduction » Interior » Engine and Transmission » Ride and Conclusion


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What if an SUV married the high seating position and usability of a traditional SUV with the driving characteristics of a small sport sedan? This is what I asked myself as I blasted around a twisty corner just south of San Francisco in a new 2011 Kia Sportage. Living up to its name, and punctuating the “sport” in SUV, the Sportage is a vehicle that surely challenges the norm.

Outside, the Sportage exemplifies Kia’s new design direction. Finally, a design that’s all its own that helps Kia define itself as much more than a budget alternative. The new Sportage is longer, wider, and lower than its predecessor, and with exaggerated wheel arches, high belt-line and short greenhouse, it’s a compact crossover like you’ve never seen before. It’s aggressive, youthful, and the new face of Kia.

Photos by Chris Allen