Kia Sportage 2012 review: road test

Heaven help a family seeking a compact SUV. There are about 150 distinct SUV models in the small and medium class -- and every one of them will fight tooth and nail for your business.

Each has specific advantages but even narrowing it down will leave a long list. Stay with the most popular SUVs and you'll play safe - though may spend hours finding your car in a carpark - or go less mainstream and find unexpected costs and delays at service time.

Australia's top-selling compact SUV this year is the Nissan X-Trail, followed by the Toyota RAV-4, Subaru Forester and Subaru XV.

The Kia Sportage is 13th on the list but given its distinct style and easy temperament, probably deserves a lot more attention. 

Value

Kia has sent its compact SUV into one of the most competitive market segments. Though it's beaten in sales numbers by more established players, the Sportage more than holds its head up in terms of value for money.

The SLi tested gets standard gear including a reverse camera, electric seat lumbar, trip computer, six-speaker audio with iPod and USB connectivity, Bluetooth and two-zone climate airconditioning. 

The price is $35,720 for the all-wheel drive automatic diesel, though you can save $3000 by getting the petrol engine or trimming back the features and opting for the front-wheel drive petrol auto at $28,720.

Design

It's been on the market for more than a year yet still looks fresh. That's good for seekers of a used Sportage but also helps resale for current owners. The key is a distinctive design that works as well outside as it does inside.

The cabin is spacious enough for five adults yet has commendable cargo room of 740 litres (seats up) and 1547 litres (seats down). Mazda's CX-5 is 403 litres and 1560 litres respectively.

Kia's dash overdoes the colour black but is actually attractive, has good storage spaces and clear instruments.

Technology

Part of the appeal of the Sportage is its simplicity. The 135kW/392Nm 2-litre turbo-diesel packs enough punch to be lively and is helped by the six-speed auto. Kia claims a 7.5 L/100km average which typifies its class and engine - until the CX-5 came along with its outstanding 5.7 L/100km. 

Australian input into the suspension and steering tuning results in an SUV that feels more like a sedan, so drives with confidence and sure-footedness even through quick corners.

Safety

Sportage gets a five-star crash rating and six airbags. There's also standard stability, traction control, brake assist and a hill holder. The stability control is switchable and the AWD version adds hill descent. Good news for travellers is the full-size spare wheel.

Driving

The Sportage immediate relays a sense of stability and that despite the light feel of its electric-assist steering, has a comfortable blend of positive response to a corner and ease of use when parking.

Despite its SUV proportions, it doesn't suffer critically from body roll and even borders on being a fun machine to drive.

The diesel is a bit clattery at idle but pulls with surprising strength on acceleration. There is some hesitation on acceleration as the engine and gearbox engage. But the package repays with good fuel economy, especially on country trips.

I appreciated the seat comfort and the electric lumbar support, the visibility which was good to all but the rear three-quarter section, and the location of switchgear. Kia has obviously done a lot of work in the cabin and the result is a car that is intuitive.

Verdict

It ticks all the boxes for accommodation, fuel economy and ease of driving and, to top it off, has a style that is distinctive.