2011 Kia Sportage
The most basic front-drive version of the 2011 Kia Sportage stickers for $250 more than the old 2010 model ($21,995 versus $21,745), but it's a completely different story as you move up the model range. Think even more when it comes to pricing, not less.
There at the top of the range is the 2011 Sportage Luxury model at $33,195 with its four-cylinder engine. Compare that to the 2010 Sportage LX-V-6 Luxury at $30,985.
So here's the question: Is this full remake of Kia's small crossover SUV worthy of a price increase - an increase at a time when most manufacturers candidly state there is no room to charge more in this fiercely competitive marketplace.
Kia obviously thinks so. The 2011 Sportage is a solid, even commendable effort, though if you're familiar with what Kia corporate cousin Hyundai did with the Tucson, you'll know most of the story here with the new Sportage.
The hardware below the Sportage's stylish sheet metal is virtually identical to what Hyundai uses in the Tucson. And like the Tucson, the Sportage is well equipped and has a fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine.
Also like the Tucson, the Sportage has a pretty stiff ride, jumpy throttle tip-in and electric-assist power steering still in need of fine-tuning.
The stiff ride is not something a reasonable person would consider utterly out of character for a tall wagon designed to project a kind of rugged sportiness - one available with all-wheel drive starting at $26,795. Kind of irritating, though.
But that throttle issue is something else entirely. Engineers who tune powertrains sometimes load up the very top of the gas pedal with too much initial response to driver inputs. The idea is to create a feeling of power in the driver's mind.
Kia has done that here, loaded up the initial tip-in. The result is a jumpy takeoff. Over time, any reasonable driver will be able to smooth things out. But at first it's an irritant.
Then there's the steering. Kia and Hyundai have moved to electric steering to improve fuel economy. Electric steering eliminates hydraulic drag off the engine caused by old-style power steering pumps and can be worth a 2 to 5 per cent bump in fuel economy. Good idea, but weak execution here.
Sportage steering lacks on-centre, straight-line feel. Numb-ish, in other words. Too much power-assist boost, too. I found myself making too many small inputs, which in turn upset ride quality with little steering jiggles.
Harsh criticism? Well, if you're going to charge more, if you want to play at the top tier of the auto game, get used to it.
Kia's retort, no doubt, is to argue the case for a bigger, nicer, prettier, more functional, better executed Sportage overall. The "value" story, no doubt, is real enough, but that doesn't mean things are perfect.
Kia (and Hyundai) types will also tell you that the single four-cylinder engine on offer in both is more powerful than previous V-6s and also more fuel efficient. There is more to the story than just that, too.
Look for both Kia and Hyundai to add a direct-injection version of the four-banger. That will boost performance and driveability, while also holding the line on fuel economy. (Yes, Kia and Hyundai have thought out the product plan and as a global auto-making conglomerate this pair represents a force in the industry.)
The young family types whom Kia sees buying the Sportage - families looking for the functionality of a station wagon but the panache of an SUV - will also applaud the additional cargo space versus the old Sportage. This rig really is longer and wider and the wheelbase has been stretched a smidgen, too.
As for features, Kia is offering the Sportage with a backup camera and navigation system and an efficient dual-zone climate control system. Hill-start assist holds you in place when you move from the brake to the accelerator, too. Drivers in San Francisco will love this. A downhill creeping feature keeps you to about 8 km/h on steep grades.
On top of that, the AWD system has a locking centre differential that the driver can engage at about 40 km/h or slower. Instead of waiting for the front wheels to slip before transferring power, you can lock in a 50:50 torque split.
Sophisticated, then? Oh, yes. And more of that is on the way. Down the road Kia is planning to offer something called UVO for "your voice." We're talking about voice controls in an affordable family vehicle, not unlike Ford's Sync, which started out in the Focus compact and is now proliferating through the lineup.
Kia has also thought about some of the more mundane but no less important matters. A pocket in the console is perfect for stowing the "smart" key. You guessed it: my tester had push-button start/stop and a button on both front door handles for one-touch unlocking. Kia also offers a cooled glove box and modern looking gauges that are easy to read, not to mention simple controls.
And then there is the drivetrain. The 176-horsepower four-banger is up to the task of motivating this 1,522-kg crossover (LX version with AWD). Sure, ride quality could be better, less unsettled, but on the other hand, the handling is quite good.
One last thing: Kia has made great strides at improving quality, not unlike Hyundai. But if you believe the research, there is room for improvement on the quality front. Certainly the materials, the engineering overall, the design and the features suggest Kia is pushing hard to take on the best mainstream auto makers.
But customer research suggests Kia is not quite there, yet. That suggests little or no room for price increases. What's that old saying in the car business? Deliver more for less or the same money and you've got a winner.
Something for Kia to consider.
jcato@globeandmail.com
2011 Kia Sportage
Type: Compact SUV
Price range: $21,995-$33,195 ($1,650 freight)
Engine: 2.4-litre, four-cylinder
Horsepower/torque: 176 hp/168 lb-ft
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Drive: Front- and all-wheel-drive
Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 10.0 city/7.1 highway (LX model with AWD); regular gas
Alternatives: Hyundai Tucson, Honda CR-V, GMC Terrain, Toyota RAV4, Chevrolet Equinox.