2011 Kia Sportage Review
Price
RM135,194
Installment
RM1,289/mth
2011 Kia Sportage at a glance
The 2011 Kia Sportage represents excellent value and not just because of its class-leading equipment list and five-year warranty. What immediately stands out is the stylish looks, further accompanied by a cabin not short on style, quality or practicality. With a ride-and-handling package that sets a new benchmark for a Kia, the 2011 Kia Sportage is undoubtedly one of the most complete mid-size SUVs in Malaysia.
2011 Kia Sportage quick specs
| Body Style | SUV |
| Class | Mid-size Utility |
| Assembled | - |
| Engine Range | - |
| Fuel Options | - |
| Seating Capacity | 5 |
2011 Kia Sportage ratings (overall rating : 4/5.0)
| Styling | |
| Handling | |
| Comfort | |
| Quality + Reliability | |
| Performance |
| Roominess | |
| Running Costs | |
| Value for Money | |
| Equipment | |
| Environment |
Styling
Penned by Peter Schreyer, who left Audi to take on the Chief Design Officer position at Kia, the 2011 Kia Sportage is the first model designed from scratch by Schreyer and his team. Endlessly better-looking than its predecessor, the all-new Kia Sportage looks stylishly modern and handsomely bold, with a huge grille flanked by angular headlamps dominating the front end. The increased width, flared wheel arches, coupled with the high belt-line, small window area and thick C-pillars, give the 2011 Kia Sportage a coupe-like profile with a squat stance.
Handling
The 2011 Kia Sportage, which is based on the same all-new global platform as the Hyundai Tucson, handles competently by class standards. There is little to none of the driving thrills and involvement, but the Kia Sportage finds the sweet spot between ride and handling, certainly better than any other Kia has thus far. The driving experience is confidence-inspiring, thanks to no lack of grip, good road-holding, stability at all speeds and predictability when approaching the limit. The light, responsive steering is perfect for urban driving, but remains vague and light even as speed increases. Body roll is pronounced though always progressive and never excessive. Compared with rivals that offer a more engaging drive, the 2011 Kia Sportage focuses more on comfort, in a manner closer to traditional SUVs.
Comfort
The suspension setup is soft, meaning that the 2011 Kia Sportage soaks up minor surface imperfections with ease and composure. Only the most awkward and severe road cavities when tackled at higher speeds would unsettle the ride, a situation not helped by large 18" wheels. The engine is rarely heard at cruising speeds, though the amount of wind and road noise is more noticeable than in, say, the Honda CR-V. The eight-way electronically-adjustable driver's seat makes finding an ideal driving position that much easier, even though the steering column is only tilt-adjustable. The logical layout of controls allows for easy navigation, but the small rear window and chunky A-pillars obstruct visibility.
Quality + Reliability
The 2011 Kia Sportage's cabin looks attractive and feels well-built, with good fit-and-finish, decent material quality for this price range, and controls that work with a sense of solidity. Kia has apparently paid attention to details, like it does consistently nowadays. We would appreciate more soft-to-the-touch plastics, though it must be pointed out that even the harder plastics have a nice texture. The 2011 Kia Sportage undercuts rivals' pricing, and so some cost-cutting is not unexpected. The Kia Sportage's underlying mechanicals are borrowed from the Hyundai Tucson, and if that does not give you a peace of mind, the five-year warranty covering unlimited mileage should.
Performance
Powering the 2011 Kia Sportage is a 2.0-litre Theta II petrol engine with dual CVVT (continuous variable valve timing) that generates 166 hp at 6200 rpm and 197 Nm at 4600 rpm. The generated power goes through a Hyundai-developed six-speed automatic gearbox with Tiptronic to all four wheels. The all-wheel-drive system directs 100 percent of the torque to the front wheels under normal conditions, and diverts a percentage of the torque to the rear wheels when road conditions get slippery. The driving experience is similar to that in the Hyundai Tucson, which uses the exact powertrain: the performance at the low-to-mid rev range is poor, and working the engine hard to access the meat of the performance brings out a boomy engine note. The six-speed automatic gearbox shifts smoothly but tends to kick down one or two gears at the slightest hint of an incline.
Roominess
The 2011 Kia Sportage boasts excellent headroom both front and rear. Legroom will never be a source of complaint for front occupants, and while the same can be said for those sitting at the back, legroom is just acceptable for taller occupants. There is no shortage of useful storage compartments around the cabin. The 564-litre boot is well-shaped, and expands to 1353 litres when the 60/40 split-fold rear seats are folded down; the rear seats do not fold completely flat, however.
Running Costs
The official fuel economy is rated at 11.5 km/litre, though real-world driving is likely to shave 20 percent off that figure. The five-year warranty covering unlimited mileage should quell most worries, and it should help the 2011 Kia Sportage's case that servicing and spare parts prices are class-competitive. The Kia brand does it no favours, but new-found desirability commanded by the 2011 Kia Sportage should translate into reasonably strong resale values that are on-par with the mechanically-identical Hyundai Tucson's. Even so, don't start expecting depreciation as mild as those for the Honda CR-V, which has a cult following in Malaysia.
Value for Money
Just for its comprehensive equipment list and five-year warranty, the 2011 Kia Sportage represents good value. But it is more, much more, than that. The Kia Sportage is obviously the most stylish in the mid-size SUV segment, with a cabin that is neither short on style nor practicality. There are sportier rivals, but the ride-and-handling package on offer is one of the best around. Granted, the muted steering, inflexible engine and potentially high depreciation are hard to ignore, but the 2011 Kia Sportage is nevertheless close to leading the class by virtue of being so complete.
Equipment
Standard equipment for the 2011 Kia Sportage includes 18" alloy wheels, panoramic sunroof, automatic headlamps, leather on the seats, steering wheel (with audio, cruise control, Bluetooth buttons) and gear shift knob, dual-zone automatic climate control, eight-way electronically-adjustable driver's seat, cruise control, rear view camera display on the rear view electro-chromic mirror, push-start ignition button, and six-disc in-dash CD-changer with seven speakers, MP3 support and AUX/USB/iPod/Bluetooth connectivity. The safety kit comprises six airbags, front seat-belt pretensioners, front active headsets, ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, Downhill Brake Control, Hill-Start Assist Control, Cornering Brake Control, Traction Control and Electronic Stability Control—the same list that got the 2011 Kia Sportage a five-star Euro NCAP rating.
Environment
The 2.0-litre Theta II engine spews 207 grams/km of carbon dioxide and consumes 11.5 km/litre of petrol, ranking the 2011 Kia Sportage as one of the least thirsty and least polluting SUVs on Malaysian roads. Again, real-world driving, which is likely to involve more start-stops and an unnecessarily heavy right foot, will dent those official figures. The overdrive ratios on the six-speed automatic gearbox should assist in lowering fuel consumption at cruising speeds. That said, none of the latest engine technology and extra gear ratios can totally negate the effects of extra weight and the petrol burned to carry it; those green at heart should just stick to small sedans and hatchbacks, and stay away from bulky SUVs.
Live Life Drive Verdict
Style, outside and inside
Ride-and-handling package
Excellent value-for-money
Muted steering
Inflexible engine performance
Limited visibility
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