Road test: 2010 Kia Sportage
Kia clearly has great confidence in its build quality and the strength of the components used throughout the Sportage, otherwise its seven-year warranty would be foolhardy. There are certainly no concerns when it comes to the car’s running gear and engine as they have been used elsewhere to good effect. Kia also has a long history of building able off-roaders, such as the previous Sportage and the Sorento. The only small disappointment for us was the finish to some of the minor plastics in the car’s interior. Areas such as the edges of the air vents could have been better moulded, which is why the Sportage drops a single star in this section. Picky, but then the Sportage is up against some very strong competition.
Crossover vehicles are aimed at those who like the practicality of an MPV but don’t want their inherently boxy shape, and the Sportage fits the bill very well. It may not have the outright space of a Vauxhall Zafira or Renault Scenic, but there’s plenty of room for passengers front and rear. There’s also a generous boot that is easily extended by folding the 60/40 split and topple rear seat, though the seat backs don’t fold to leave a flat load floor, which is a mild irritation when you have larger items to carry. The driving position is raised to give a fine view in all directions, while there’s masses of adjustment in the seat and steering wheel for drivers of all sizes to get comfortable.
Read the full 2010 Kia Sportage road test
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