2021 Kia Sportage Reviews

June 30 is D-Day. The end of the financial year is the best time to buy a new car because there are always special deals in showrooms. As carmakers and dealers aim to clear their outdated stock, Toyota uses a June push to cement its showroom leadership. Some of the special deals are on cars that have done demonstrator duty, or were built in 2012, or are just not selling as well as expected. So they're not the tastiest fruit in the bowl.But there is great buying across the board as demand for new cars fuels one of the longest growth periods in motoring. The bottom line is that you can save money -- and lots of it. So here's a look at the June sales, with Carsguide's assessment of the best deals on wheels.CITROENThe new importer is pushing hard so the Aircross SUV starts at $31,990 drive-away front-wheel drive or $33,990 with AWD, a saving of $3800. There's $5000 off the C4 Seduction turbo diesel auto hatch at $25,990. Carsguide says: The Aircross isn't great, but the C4 discount is tasty.FORDThe death notice for the Falcon and Territory has not helped buyer confidence but a 2.9 per cent finance push on Fiesta and Focus still looks good. The superseded Kuga SUV from $31,990 drive-away is a $10,000 saving. You can save about $3000 on a 2012 Escape SUV from $27,990 drive-away.The Territory gets a $6500 tickle, the TX seven-seater at $38,490 drive-away (third-row seat usually costs $2500). The impressive Mondeo liftback starts at $29,990. Good buying on Falcons, thanks to the arrival of the VF Commodore, from $33,990 and better if you haggle.HOLDENAs the VF Commodore creates queues, the outgoing Z-Series starts at $34,990 with five years' warranty and roadside assist. That also applies to the SV6 at $35,990 and the Cruze SRi and SRi-V at $23,490 and $26,990. Last year's Barina CD hatches are $15,990 drive-away with a sunroof. The Colorado is $39,990. Hard to see past the excellent Cruze SRi.HONDAClipped prices and free on-roads. The City VTi sedan is $17,990 and the (slightly) more lavish VTi-L automatic version starts at $21,990. The bigger Civic sedan is being cleared from $21,990. Free auto on the Jazz VTi at $19,990. The Civic is worth a look at $2500 off.KIAFree on-roads, discounts and $1000 gift vouchers on many models. A five-door Rio S is about $3K off at $15,990 drive-away with a $500 gift card; the three-door Rio is $14,990 and the five-door Si is $18,990. Runout Cerato TD sedans start at $17,990 for the S, saving about $5000, the Si sedan is $23,990 and hatch at $17,990. All get a $1000 gift card. Cerato SLi and SLS have drive-away pricing but miss the gift card. All Optimas have free on-roads. A 2012-build Optima Platinum is $37,990, saving about $4000 with a $1000 gift card. Most Sportage SUVs include on-roads and a $1000 gift card. Carnival and superseded Rondo pricing is drive-away. The Sportage diesel and Optima are top-notch.MITSUBISHIThe manual Lancer gets an old-school value pack on the Special Action Model for $19,990 drive-away. The Mirage is $12,990 drive-away for the ES manual, with a $500 cash-back that also applies to the auto.Driveaway prices also for the compact ASX at $24,990 for the 2WD manual, the Outlander LS 2WD auto at $29,990, Pajero GLX-R auto at $54,990 or $59,990 for VRX. Both come plus $3000 cash-back, saving about $6000.The Triton ute is now tackling Great Wall from China at $19,990 drive-away for a GL single-cab 2WD with alloy tray, or add luxury for a GLX dual-cab 4WD diesel at $31,990 drive-away with $2000 cash-back, saving about $14,000. The utes look good at those prices.NISSANA 2.9 per cent finance package, with agreed value after three years, makes the Pulsar ST sedan look good at $49 a week or $19,990 drive-away. The X-Trail ST 2WD petrol manual cops a $4000 reduction to $25,990 drive-away, while the Navara RX 4WD dual-cab manual is cheaper than ever with a $9500 cut to $30,990 drive-away. The Pulsar sedan deal is attractive.OPELThere are drive-away deals across the range. The basic Corsa is down by about $2500 to $16,990 drive-away, the Astra is from $22,990 drive-away for the 1.4-litre turbo petrol hatch with three years of free servicing, saving about $5500. The top-line Insignia sedan is from $39,990 drive-away with heated leather seats. The Astra is easily best of this breed.PEUGEOTFree on-roads at Peugeot on most models but not the cool new 208. The 4008 SUV cops a $1500 saving from $29,990 drive-away and there are deals on the outgoing 4007. Nothing to see here.RENAULTA Koleos from $26,990 drive-away looks even better with interest-free finance. The Megane hatch is from $22,990 drive-away with finance pegged at 1.9 per cent. The slow-selling Fluence and Latitude sedans are available with 2.9 per cent finance. The Megane CC convertible goes from $43,990 including on-roads. The sporty Clio RS is from $34,990 drive-away and the hotrod Megane RS has 2.9 per cent finance.Commercial deals start with the short-wheelbase Kangoo petrol manual with dual sliding doors from $20,990 drive-away, moving up to the Trafic short-wheelbase manual for $29,990 and the long-wheelbase manual for $32,990, while the Master large van starts from $46,990 drive-away. There's a five-year/200,000km warranty on all light commercials ordered in June. Hard to argue against a $3000 bonus on the Koleos but stocks are tight.SUBARUDrive-away pricing -- for savings of $3000 to $4000 -- is the bait, with Impreza pricing from $23,990 (excluding the WRX, of course). The Tribeca from $54,990 now includes on-roads but you need to visit a dealer to get the full story. Nothing outstanding.SUZUKIThe front-drive SX4 gets a Navigator pack with voice-controlled 6.6-inch satnav with Bluetooth for $19,990 drive-away for the manual and $21,990 auto. That also applies to the 2WD auto Grand Vitara at $29,990 drive-away, including reversing camera and satnav with Bluetooth. The Alto GL manual also gets satnav for $11,990 drive-away for the manual, with the Swift GL manual at $17,490 drive-away including cruise control and Bluetooth. The Grand Vitara is a polished piece.TOYOTAThere's 2.9 per cent finance on Aurion and Camry with the Camry Altise looking best at $29,990 drive-away. Other drive-away deals include $15,990 for the Yaris YR five-door, $21,490 for the Corolla Ascent automatic, $39,990 for the Kluger KX-R 2WD five-seater, $60,990 for the Prado GXL turbo diesel auto and $39,990 for the HiLux SR 4WD dual-cab ute. The right time for the cabbies' new favourite, the frugal hybrid Camry.VOLKSWAGENDrive-away pricing on passenger cars and zero finance on commercials. The Polo is $16,990 on-road, the Jetta is down to $25,990 and the Passat $36,690. The Polo is Carsguide's 2010 COTY.VOLVOFuel and servicing for three years or 60,000km plus roadside assistance. There are conditions -- with a pre-paid BP card based on 15,000km a year and $1.50 a-litre pricing -- and the latest V40 hatch is excluded. Clever twist on bargaining but a pity it doesn't apply to the V40.Paul Gover's 10 COMMANDMENTSYou must still do your homework. You must still check the fine print. You must still be prepared to haggle and compromise.But do it right, crunching the numbers and running right to the dealer's deadline, and you can drive away in something special at a special price.The starting point is all the deals, from sticker specials to cheap finance and steak knife-style free extras, being offered by most of the 60-plus brands in showrooms today.If something you want is on special, go for it. But check that the car was built in 2013, and is not a geriatric old-timer from 2012, and ensure your target is exactly what you want - not a stripped-out stocker, perhaps missing an automatic gearbox - that will cost thousands to get the way you want it.Once you lock down a target, don't think the advertised special is the end of the deal. You also need to negotiate for a better price on delivery and on-road costs, and avoid the trap of buying over-priced extras such as paint and upholstery protection, window tinting and extra-long warranties.No-one can expect to go into the ring with a showroom professional and expect to win, because buyers only get a new car occasionally and sales staff are dealing every day. But, by concentrating on the real bottom line - the changeover price - and being prepared to compromise, you can come out ahead.The best tips are the simplest. Run as close as you can to June 30 to sign the deal and get the car, because dealers are all aiming for targets that can mean tens of thousands in bonus money from headquarters. Also be prepared to take a car they have in stock, even if it's not your favourite colour, because dealers are aiming to clear everything they have on the lot.And have your finance in place before you arrive, especially if you're taking up a special deal, because that makes things quicker and you'll also be spared any hassle and potential extra costs.Watch out for 2012 cars because the warranty clock has already been running, don't forget that a big discount today will also mean less at changeover time, and remember that a demonstrator car could have had a hard life already. 

We'd forgotten just how good this car is, a real standout in one of the fastest growing segments of the market. What's more, the Sportage is now available with satellite navigation and it includes speed camera warnings. Really the biggest decision you have to make is not whether to buy the car (that's a given) but whether to get the petrol or the turbodiesel model  -- they're both very good.THE PETROLThe 2.4-litre four cylinder petrol engine delivers 130kW of power and 227Nm of torque and uses fuel at the rate of 9.2 litres/100km. There's also a smaller 2.0-litre petrol engine in the entry Si model but for the purposes of this test we're looking at only the two top of the line Platinum models.THE DIESELThe 2.0-litre four cylinder turbo diesel is cracker, good for 135kW of power and 392Nm of torque, with fuel consumption of the 7.5 litres/100km. It gives nothing away to the petrol engine in terms of power and walks all over it in the torque department. It's the torque figure that's important because this is the stuff that makes V8s so effortless to drive.TRANSMISSIONSBoth the 2.4-litre petrol and 2.0-litre turbodiesel engines come with a six-speed automatic. The driver can change gears manually or simply leave the thing in D (but there's no change paddles) We found the petrol model at bit busy for our liking.THE DRIVEThe petrol model is really toey. At times it feels like a dog straining at the leash and this can be annoying. In contrast the diesel is smoother and more relaxed, with more linear power delivery. The only time you hear it rattle is at idle with the windows wound down.The new 7 inch touch screen satnav unit is a breeze to use, with bright easy to read graphics and a host of other features. For those interested both the petrol and diesel models can tow a 1.6 tonne, braked van or trailer.GOODIESBoth cars are identically equipped, with leather and climate air conditioning, a full array of airbags and safety systems, plus rear parking sensors and revesing camera as part of the satnav unit. Both front seats are heated and the driver's seat can also be cooled as well as being power adjustable.Bluetooth with audio streaming is standard along with a 7-speaker audio system that includes a separate amp and subwoofer. Full iPod connectivity is offered along with two power outlets in the front console. The car feature LED running lights and rides on 18-inch alloys and 235/55 rubber with a full sized alloy spare.  The killer techno orange paint job by the way is $520 extra.DECISIONSIf money is no object, we'd suggest the diesel model. It offers a great combination of power and economy. And diesels are noted for their longetivity so it's the gift that's going to keep on giving  year after year.But it is $3000 more and for some people this could be a deal breaker. Do the sums and you'll discover it takes many thousands of kilometres before they break even. Like we said however they're both very good and we're sure you won't find the petrol engine disappointing.

We have our doubts that the Sportage is the “gangsta” vehicle, Kia makes out in the “grow up, not old” ad.You know the one... househusband rappin’ in da Sportage with da homies -- Grandmaster Melle Mel and Scorpio from the Furious Five -- only to be brought back to reality by his wife reminding him to pick up nappies.So it might not be the coolmobile he dreams of but it definitely ticks all the boxes for those looking for a compact SUV at an affordable price.The base model starts at $26,720 and jumps up by $10k to $36,720 for the petrol Platinum tested here or $39,720 for the Platinum turbo diesel.The Platinum’s luxury features include a six function trip computer, six CD changer,  seven speaker audio system with ipod connectivity, external amp and sub-woofer, ventilated eight way adjustable driver’s seat, front seat warmers, leather trim seats, leather steering wheel and shift knob, a cooling glovebox, rain sensors, sunvisor extensions and a powered sunroof.The Platinum gets a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 130kW of power and 227Nm of torque mated to a six speed sports automatic transmission. And the combined fuel economy is 9.2-litre per 100Km with 221g/km CO2 emissions.The base model only drives through the front two wheels but AWD is standard with the Platinum. There’s also hill start assist that holds the 1588kg weight well.Our test Sportage received plenty of attention - with one person even mistaking it for the BMW X1, perhaps because both come in an eye catching orange despite the vehicles being poles apart.The exterior of the Platinum gets 18-in alloy wheels, a LED daytime running light, rear spoiler, chrome coloured outer door handles and of course the head designer Peter Shreyer’s signature tiger grille flanked by two slanting headlights.The interior is top notch when it comes to styling with an attractive dashboard, large leather trimmed seats and a powered sunroof that adds to the luxury feel. Kia has really gone the extra mile to make the cabin as comfortable as possible, with plenty of legroom for both the driver and passengers, adjustable headrests and an easy to use eight-way adjustable driver’s seat.The push start button works when the smart key is anywhere inside the cabin and there’s also conveniently placed steering wheel controls, an MP3 compatible stereo and 12V auxiliary sockets below the trip computer. The Platinum has lots of storage compartments and cubbies for your bits and pieces and there’s even a sunglasses holder with soft cushioning above the rear vision mirror. The only slightly annoying feature was the steering wheel adjustment which is stiff and requires a bit of muscle to move. But that’s a small niggle among a well-fitted interior and it’s really hard to find a major criticism - it has everything a family car should have and then some.The safety kit includes six airbags, an anti-lock brake system, electronic stability control, three point seatbelts in all positions and child-proof rear door locks. And the panoramic sunroof comes with a safety system to prevent any accidents with fingers. The Sportage is not for enthusiastic drivers; instead it’s for those who prioritise space and comfort and need a runabout SUV with style. It’s perfect for car pools, picking up the kids from school and heading off on holiday with a car full of bags and boogie boards. Kia technology has come a long way in the past few years and this is shown through the Sportage’s easy drive and good road handling. The 2.4-litre engine is well matched to the Sportage and once the car gets going barely any road noise enters the cabin. The six speed auto changes gears seamlessly; it’s smooth on hills and handles bumpy roads well.The Sportage has high vision which makes you feel in control and the vehicle feels solid and well built. Overall visibility is helped by the big rear vision mirror, wide side mirrors and rear view camera with clear parking guidelines. So the only problem you’ll have with parking of any kind is the size of the space, as this SUV measures in at 1855mm by 4440mm. But this is standard for any compact SUV.Kia is making an effort to become a real contender in the SUV market. And at this price and with these features it’ll be a stretch to do better than the Sportage.

You have to wonder if the Kia brand is seen as a bit of an upstart by its Hyundai overlords, thumbing its nose at the parent company by building a better SUV.The Sportage hit the ground running in Australia, with styling and a value package that appealed to many.Get behind the wheel and the Australian engineering team's work on the suspension and steering was a clear and present danger to its Hyundai sibling - the Sportage chassis worked a treat and nothing has been done to damage that in the 2012 update.The SLi is priced from $35,720 and there's no shortage of gear to go with it - reach and rake adjustable steering, cloth trim, height-adjustable driver's seat, 17in alloy wheels, trip computer, power windows, three 12v outlets, reversing camera and auto headlights (but no rain-sensing wipers).There's also cruise control, Bluetooth phone and audio link, USB/auxiliary equipped six-speaker sound system, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with cruise, phone and audio controls, dual-zone climate control - but the newly-added option of satnav is $1500 extra.The Sportage has petrol variants but the pick of the litter is the two-litre common-rail direct-injection turbodiesel four cylinder.Equipped double overhead cams, 16 valves (equipped with variable valve timing) and a variable-geometry turbocharger, the little powerplant punches above what the numbers suggest, is reasonably quiet and quite flexible.The other highlight on the Sportage - which it got before Hyundai's SUV brigade was endowed with it - is the fully-variable all-wheel drive system that sends drive fore and aft depending on driving conditions.Kia has done the most of any brand on the peninsula south of the DMZ to advance the styling side of the value end of the market. This is a head-turner, don't be mistaken - the sharp lighting package, high waistline and muscular stance all make for a handsome package.The cabin is fairly sombre with dark coloured trims and red lighting - it's comfortable and with enough room to carry a family and associated paraphernalia - bootspace is good and it has a full-size spare wheel. The price paid for the attractive exterior lines is a narrow rear window, which makes the rear camera compulsory as the view aft isn't ideal.The Kia ranks five stars from the NCAP crash testing program and the presence of six airbags (front, side and curtain), stability and traction control, anti-lock brakes with emergency brake assist, pre-tensioners and load-limiters for front seat belts and active front head restraints.Other key features include an auto-dimming centre mirror, hill start and descent control, although with just under 180mm of ground clearance this is one of many compact SUVs that's more suited to the school run than the Gunbarrel Highway, but getting it dirty is not beyond the realms, given the ability to lock the all-wheel drive system into an even front/rear split.This car is a pleasant surprise on the road for so many reasons. While much of the product that ventured from South Korea to export markets didn't ride, handle or steer well, the Sportage had attention from Kia Australia personnel prior to its arrival on showroom floors here.It worked - the ride is good, almost supple and is at its best when sitting on the 17in wheel-tyre package of this mid-spec SLi. This model sits on 60-profile tyres, whereas the Platinum goes up to 18in wheels and down to 55-profile rubber, which previous experience has shown transmits more small ruts and bumps through to the cabin occupants.But it's not come at the expense of handling - the Sportage SLi is one of the better SUVs around a corner at pace, only pushing its nose a little wide when the Kuhmo rubber runs out of grip. The stability control system hasn't been advised of the Australian-ised chassis, as it is somewhat pessimistic if you are engaging in press-on driving, but in snooze mode it sits more comfortably in the background.The little diesel is flexible and quiet enough when cruising - it still has the thrum of a four-cylinder oil-burner but it’s not hugely intrusive. The Getrag six-speed auto slurs through gearshifts smoothly and seems well matched to the diesel's outputs - rolling along through traffic is an un-fussed manner of progress thanks to the low stress power delivery characteristics.The mid-spec model does have an auxiliary and USB input if you don't want to discharge too much from your devices, although charging an iPhone via USB cable isn't supported - something the company says will be rectified as sound system head units are changed over to new-generation units. This car finished on the podium when it appeared in Carsguide's 2010 Car of The Year and time has tarnished its performance. 

Kia Sportage Platinum and Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport go head-to-head in this comparative review.

There anyone left in Australia who is not in love with some sort of SUV?Macho looking wagons are the family cars of the 21st century and nothing proves it more than the continuing boom in compact SUV sales. Every month the numbers go up, not just deliveries from dealerships but also the selection of showroom starters. When we decided to rate the runners, as we did last month with small cars, there were far more hopefuls than heroes.The Hyundai ix35 is under-done on styling and suspension, the Mitsubishi ASX is too much like a truck, the Suzuki Grand Vitara is best for the bush, and theToyota RAV4 is flat-out too old. They might be nice, but nice is not enough.So we came down to a four finalists as usual and they tick all the boxes. The Mazda CX-5 and Subaru XV are new and funky, the Kia Sportage still rules for value and local tweaking, and the Volkswagen Tiguan has the right badge for brand snobs.I have driven them all before so the comparison run is more like revision than starting from scratch, although there are still some surprises and lots to consider before final judgement.VALUEThis time we left the final four to you. We want to consider what customers are choosing,, not a set of dream machines, even if that means a disparate group that is something of a mis-match on price and equipment.Surprisingly, the Mazda is the cheapest in our field at $33,540 for the front-drive Maxx Sport, then comes the Subaru at $34,490 for the  2.0i-L, followed by the Tiguan 132 TSI Pacific at $35,990 and then Sportage Titanium at $39,720.But it's not just about price, as the Kia ticks all the equipment boxes and also gets a diesel engine, while the Volkswagen runs up short on some stuff - including a rear-view camera - that should be standard in 2012. As always - at least until the BRZ sports car - the Subaru only comes with all-wheel drive and the CX-5 choices reflect its place as Mazda's new SUV hero and the replacement for the larger CX-7.To put things into sharper focus, the CX-5 range runs from $27,800 right up to $48,190, you can buy an XV priced from $28,490 to $34,490, Tiguan stickers span from $24,490 to $42,990 and the cheapest Sportage is the front-drive petrol car at $26,730.Of course, the Kia scores with its five-year warranty , but running costs also favour the CX-5 with Skyactiv technology that gives it fuel economy of 6.4 litres/100km.TECHNOLOGYThe latest Sportage Platinum finally picks up the satnav promised from day one in Australia, complete with traffic warnings. But there are now two clocks and no temperature display, while the Bluetooth audio streaming as not as good as it was. Hmmm.It's diesel engine means top torque, but surprisingly - perhaps it's down to size and weight - it trails the leaders on fuel efficiency. Dig deeper than the trinkets and it's all about the Skyactiv stuff in the CX-5, which brings a very efficient 2-litre petrol engine and six-speed auto complete with stop-start. That's good because the Mazda is a little drab compared with the Hyundai, and some of the costlier cars in the range.The Subaru looks newest and is well equipped, but its engine - despite stop-start - is lacklustre. It is missing any real verve and the manual gearbox can be a little difficult. It's a good thing it has cushy, lovely suspension.The Volkswagen has a great reputation but there is no reversing camera and no satnav, not even a big display screen in the dash. People who expect to be impressed when they first slide into a Tiguan will be disappointed. They will also be disappointed by the worst economy in the group, although this is partly offset by maximum power.DESIGNThe Tiguan looks old and boxy. There is not getting away from it. And, inside, it's black and drab and proof that the substance-over-style approach of the original Beetle still lurks in Germany. The Volkswagen might do the job, and the boot is easy to load, but efficiency comes well ahead of kerb appeal. The CX-5 is a modern update of the Tiguan look, still built around a basic box but with some nice tweaking and trimming. It's the car the women in the Carsguide crew rated tops, although they could have been influenced by the badge and a classy cabin that is nicely styled and well finished.The Kia has a different shape and that's both good and bad. It steps it away from its Hyundai clone and helps it make an impact in traffic. The cabin reflects some smart thinking but the finishing is not as good as the Mazda, despite all the nice bells and baubles.Which brings us to the Subaru. It's a genuinely youthful shape, looks great in the XV's Subaru orange, and turns more heads than the other three combines. But the XV is a bit plain inside and the design work leaves it short of back-seat room and luggage space, especially compared with the Kia and Mazda. The boot is more like a Mini and nowhere good enough for pram people.SAFETYFive-star safety is what you expect and what you get here. Ok, we're still waiting for the official ANCAP rating on the CX-5 but the Mazda has been chosen as a top safety pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the USA. There are three child seat anchors in all four, they each have ABS brakes and stability control, with six airbags on three and the Subaru going to seven with knee protection in the XV.Mazda adds a tyre-pressure warning for the CX-5, and has lane departure warning available on some models, while Kia shows an off-road bias with downhill brake control in addition to hill-start assist. The VW has a rollover protection system but the lack of a rear camera is a glaring shortcoming in this field. The Subaru and Kia also score with full-sized spares, not space savers, although this decision really hurts boot space in the XV.DRIVINGIt's hard to make direct comparisons, but here I go. The Kia has the biggest cabin and the most equipment, which makes driving nice. It also rides well, is relatively quiet, and has a really punchy engine.The Volkswagen is nothing special, and that's a surprise with some many impressive models in the family. It just feels old, from the drab cabin to the response from the DSG gearbox, although it does everything I ask without complaining.The Subaru wins me with its looks and supportive seats, but the cabin is too small against these rivals and the engine and gearbox are less than impressive. Fair but not good. Then again, I love the suspension, with the plush ride and quietness it brings.The Mazda? Very nice, but. It gets along pretty well, the driving position is good, and I just know that it's making the most of every litre in the tank. But I remember the arrival of the CX-7, and how it felt as more like a sports car than an SUV. And this time the CX-5 has not moved forward enough when everything new is expected to bounce out ahead of the pack.When we head out for some gravel road and dirt-track kilometres, just to check if the SUVs will survive out of the city, we quickly discover a lack of front-end clearance in the Mazda. The torque of the Sportage is great for hills and the Subaru has wonderful suspension that reflects quality engineering.But then we get to loading, and the boot is the XV is a fail. The Tiguan is good, the Mazda is really good, and the Sportage does all we ask despite a full-sized spare beneath the floor. When it comes to parking, the Tiguan suffers without a camera and the rear corners of the Sportage create nasty blind spots.The Mazda is noisier than I expect on coarse bitumen roads, I worry about the economy in the Kia, and the Volkswagen leaves me cold.But driving is not everything, and I also have to consider the badge appeal of the Tiguan, the rock-solid quality and dealer support of the CX-5, the all-wheel drive security and long-term Subaru reputation of the XV, and the equipment and warranty of the Sportage.VERDICTThe winner? It has to be the Kia. The Sportage is still as impressive as when it finished runner-up in our 2010 Car of the Year contest and comes fully loaded, just the way Aussies like it. It has a huge cabin, drives nicely, gets lots of kilometres between stops with that diesel engine, and has that five-year warranty to provide security for shoppers.The cabin quality trails the newer Japanese SUVs, and the steering still feels a bit wonky for the first 10 minutes, but it is truly the one you would be happiest driving home to the family. The CX-5 is a very close second and would probably have been first with more equipment and an engine swap. I drove an all-wheel drive CX-5 diesel auto straight after the comparison closed and it got me thinking.But you cannot judge what you do not have and, just as a CX-5 with the lot would have been punchier and more appealing, the Sportage would still finish on top if we slapped the badge on a Porsche Cayenne for the same money.I like the quietness and comfort of the CX-5, as well as the cabin quality, but it's not the great leap forward I expected from Mazda. It's doing a lot with Skyactiv but, just like BMW with its overdone emphasis on EfficientDynamics, the mechanical stuff only counts at the pumps and for dinner party bragging.The XV is a coulda, woulda, shoulda sort of car. And third. It's more youthful and has a lovely ride, but it falls short on space and performance. Some people also find the cabin is too drab and underdone, particularly compared with the Sportage.And the Tiguan? I expected more, but wasn't really surprised.Fourth place is a reflection of its ageing design, and the focus on SUVs that has made Japanese and Korean cars so popular, and on reflection perhaps we would have done better with a RAV4 in the field. But you cannot judge what you don't have. So the Sportage gets across the line by a short-half-head in what is really only a three-SUV contest, proving that the Korean carmaker is more than just a dollar dealer in 2012.

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

Despite the protests we hear some punters are waiting up to nine months to take delivery of Kia's new diesel Sportage.Launched in August last year, it says something about the regard this vehicle and the brand are now held. We were fortunate to get our hands on a diesel before the big 'dry' which we have been driving for the past three months. Unfortunately, it's almost time for our Sportage to go back. In this time, we've covered just over 7,000km and I've got to say, if I retired tommorrow, I could quite happily live with one of these cars on a full time basis.The compact all roader ticks all the boxes, with its dramatic styling, all-wheel drive, a powerful but economical diesel engine and a slick six-speed automatic, together with a five-star safety rating and long list of standard equipment.Priced from $39,490 plus on-roads, it's a lot of car for the money.It's easy to understand why the demand for the diesel Sportage is so great.In combination with the six-speed auto, the diesel engine offers an almost perfect combination of economy and performance, in a package that is super smooth to drive. It will change the way you think about diesels forever.Over the course of the last three months, the Sportage hasn't missed a beat.The fit and finish is first rate and the ride quality is superb thanks to the time and effort that Kia has put into local tuning for Australian conditions. Close your eyes and you'd be forgiven for thinking you were driving a BMW ... it's that good.With fuel economy rated at 7.5 litres/100km, we have been regularly seeing between 7.1 and 9.8 litres/100km, although the latter figure seems to have been a one-off. Our overall the average consumption has been 8.2 litres/100km.With a smallish 55-litre tank, the Sportage has a theretical range of 743km. The most we got was 646km, which is not that different to many petrol vehicles these days. In this regard, a slightly large tank would be handy.The 2.0-litre turbo diesel is smaller version of the 2.2-litre unit in the larger Sorento. It packs a wallop with 135kW of power and, more importantly, 392Nm of torque from a low 1800 revs. Weighing in at 1705kg the all-wheel drive diesel model can tow a 1600kg load. The diesel is hooked up to a six-speed automatic that's tailor-made for the job and that allows you to change gears manually if desired.With seating for five people, it's quiet and comfortable inside, with a height and reach adjustbale steering wheel and a driver's seat that has eight way power adjustment, that can be either heated or cooled. Leather upholstery and dual zone climate control are standard in this model, along with a LCD reversing camera and six-stack CD changer and high end sound system with separate subwoofer, as well as two power outlets in the centre console with AUX and USB inputs.Standard equipment includes six airbags, rollover sensor, hill start assist, electronic traction and stability control, anti-lock brakes, active front headrests and 18-inch alloys, with a full size spare.What's not to like?

It wasn't so long ago that we used to draw straws to see who'd have to drive the next Kia.These days, however, it's a completely different story. It's difficult to pinpoint just when it happened, but sometime in the past fews years the Korean company has discovered how to make not just good, but highly desirable motor vehicles. The Sportage, a compact five-seat SUV is a case in point.It's the fourth vehicle to bear the name here but a far cry from any of the models that preceded it, both in conception and execution. The ladder chassis has gone, so too has low range four-wheel drive, to be replaced by an edgy, soft roader that's designed mainly for urban duties.I confess to owning one of the first Sportages, a rugged little wheat-silver coloured off roader with a big heart and a 2.0-litre Mazda engine. It was excellent value for its time and, just like the first one, I wouldn't mind owning the latest models either - but for different reasons.The Sportage can hold its head high in any company. Not only does it look the goods, it's well built and rides and handles just like a BMW. There's a big call for you. Much of the cars success can be attributed to Kia's chief designer Peter Schreyer, who used to knock out new models for Audi.Schreyer has headed up the design team since 2006, putting his stamp on a range that has improved in leaps and bounds in the past couple of years. But mention the name Kia and there is still some prejudice to overcome. Guys, you really need to get over it, because this is just not the case anymore.For $38,990 you get a compact, five-seat soft road wagon with a 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine, six-speed automatic, all-wheel-drive and Australian-tuned suspension along with all the trimmings including a heated and cooled driver's seat.The turbo diesel packs a wallop with 135kW of power and 392Nm of torque, and uses just 7.5 litres/100km. With a smallish 55-litre tank, that gives the diesel Sportage a theoretical range of about 730km. We've been getting about 7.7 litres/100km.Kia spent some time tuning the suspension for Australian roads and it shows, with a smooth planted feel that's not unlike a BMW. The Dynamax all-wheel-drive system is the latest of its kind and more advanced than that in the ix35.Inside you'll find leather upholstery and an eight-way adjustable driver's seat. There's also a six-stack CD changer and high end sound system with separate subwoofer, as well as two power outlets in the centre console with AUX and USB inputs.The Platinum also gets fancy daytime LED running lights like the expensive Euros, larger 18-inch alloys with 235/55 rubber, tinted windows and a power operated sunroof. As long as you've got the key in your pocket the door will unlock automatically and its got keyless push button start too.Gets my vote.

 VERDICTThe Sportage cleverly suits a wider range of buyers than the Skoda, primarily because of its value-for-money price and its desirable looks. But their culture is as wide apart as their language. Translate this and they suit different buyers.