Photo Gallery:
2011 Kia Sportage
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Kia certainly has come a long way from the swamp. (“Aieeeeeeeeee!”) This week, I’m in the all-new for 2011 Kia Sportage, Kia’s smallest SUV, which does not resemble in any way, shape or form the original 1998 Kia from the swamp, that’s for darn sure. The third-generation Sportage — as was the second generation — is a shared platform with Hyundai’s Tucson, a small crossover vehicle based on the Elantra sedan.
With a starting price of $21,995 in LX trim, the 2011 Kia Sportage it is one of the most affordable crossovers on the market, although my tester is more than $10,000 more with a price of $33,345 in EX Luxury trim — minus the only option for the trim level, navigation.
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Although $33,000 seems like a lot of cash for a Kia Sportage, you do get a lot of luxury and desirable features built into that price that will make for a compelling purchase decision. It starts off with the only engine choice, a 2.4-litre four-cylinder that produces 176hp and 168lb-ft of torque.
This is mated to a six-speed steptronic automatic transmission and is put to the ground through an intelligent all-wheel drive system. That’s the meat of it, but what you’ll see and notice everyday are the luxury items inside, and it is a hefty list.
Interior appointements in my tester include heated front seats, power adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar, leather seating, rear-view camera, keyless entry and keyless start, AUX and USB input, iPod cable, bluetooth hands-free and a massive panoramic sunroof.
Of course other convenience features such as cruise control and dual-zone climate control are also included. The list rivals and even exceeds that of much pricier competition.
2011 Kia Sportage EX
MSRP as tested (excluding destination): $33,345
For more information on Kia and the Sportage visit Kia Canada
