Sportage is a smooth operator
I RECENTLY drove the Kia Sportage 1.6 turbo petrol, with all-wheel drive (AWD) and no less than 174bhp under the right foot.
As with all other small and medium crossovers, many models in the range are front-wheel drive and offer nothing much more than a car when it comes to ice and snow or the rough stuff.
The Sportage drives very smoothly and the engine is refined and quiet all the way through its rev range, pulling well from low speeds in higher gears.
Performance is decently quick, with plenty of urge for lane changing or overtaking, and the slick six-speed gearbox is a joy to use.
Sadly I did not get the chance to put it through any off-road work, but the four-wheel-drive system comes with a lockable centre differential for maximum traction when the going gets sticky and hill descent control for steep downhill safety.
With an official economy average of 37mpg, I was pleased to get 33mpg over varied driving, which is not too bad.
Major chassis revisions for this model and a new steering system have helped towards an excellent combination of ride comfort and cornering ability.
As is usual with Kia, the level of equipment is excellent across the range offering good value for money.
And of course, all models come with that best-you-canget seven-year, or 100,000-mile transferable warranty.
Equipment in this GT-Line includes satnav and stereo controlled from a six-inch touchscreen, climate control, USB and aux, keyless entry and starting, remote stereo, cruise control and phone controls on the steering wheel, auto-folding heated mirrors, lane departure warning, stability control, and parking sensors.
It has very good rear legroom, reasonably easy-fold back seats, and a great driving position for all sizes of driver.
The Kia Sportage GT-Line 1.6 GDi I drove costs £25,050.