Skip to main content

Months in service: One Miles to date: 4033


One month into our twelve-month test, we've all have had a chance to get behind the wheel of our techno orange Kia Sportage EX. First impressions have been added to the logbook, and the comments are mixed. The Sportage has come in for a lot of praise, but there are also some reservations. Still, everyone agrees that the 2011 Kia Sportage is a huge improvement over the outgoing model, part of an impressive recent pattern from the Korean automaker.
Senior web editor Phil Floraday questions whether we got the best version. "Overall I think the Kia Sportage is a very pleasant crossover," he writes. "However, if I were going to spend $30,000 on one, I'd happily forego the $3000 premium package in our test car and instead spend $2500 for the turbo engine upgrade in the Sportage SX." He later has another thought: "The better idea might be to get spend only $25,000 and get a base Sportage, since it comes well equipped and looks so good."
We do admit we regret not opting for turbocharged SX, but as copy editor Rusty Blackwell put it, "Most non-leadfoots should be perfectly happy with the normally aspirated engine."
As improved as the new Sportage is, we're not enthused with the clumsy suspension, which has fallen short of our expectations. Logbook commenters have posited that a better suspension would help the Sportage really stand out in its class. "Overall it's a very comfortable vehicle, but Kia hasn't dialed in the damping on the Sportage quite as well as some of the competition has," says Floraday. Kia's history of less-than-excellent chassis tuning is shared with Hyundai.
This is just the beginning; and early impressions have a way of evolving over time. We're looking forward to eleven more months with our funky Sportage. Check back next month to see what our Sportage has been up to as summer vacation season gets under way.

Popular posts from this blog

Cricket Future Tours Program Till 2020

Month Tournament Details Apr - May 2015 IPL 2015   Matches: 76 T20  Venue:   India June 2015 India tour of Bangladesh 2015   Matches: 2 Test and 3 ODI  Venue:   Bangladesh August 2015 Pakistan tour of India 2015   Matches: Unknown  Venue:   India September 2015 Champions League T20 2015   Matches: 23 T20  Venue:   N/A Oct - Dec 2015 South Africa tour of India 2015   Matches: 3 Test, 7 ODI and 2 T20  Venue:   India Dec 2015 - Jan 2016 Sri Lanka tour of India 2015-16   Matches: 3 Test  Venue:   India Jan - Feb 2016 Australia tour of India 2016   Matches: 7 ODI and 2 T20  Venue:   India Feb - Mar 2016 India tour of West Indies 2016   Matches: 3 Test, 5 ODI and 1 T20  Venue:   West Indies Mar - Apr 2016 T20 World Cup 2016   Matches: 27 T20  Venue:   India Apr - Jun 2016 IPL 2016   Matches: 76 T20  Venue:   India May 2016 West Indi...

Can seaweed help solve the world's plastic crisis?

  After you finish your fries, eat the ketchup packet. When you add your pasta to boiling water, toss the bag into the pot, too. If these instructions sound confusing to you, it's only because you haven't yet heard of Notpla, a London-based startup company that is designing a seaweed-based replacement for single-use plastic packaging. Founded in 2014, the company closed a £10 million ($13.5 million) Series A financing round last month, led by the VC firm Horizons Ventures, to scale and further develop its product line. Notpla's products are meant to be composted or dissolved after use -- though some are edible, too. Current offerings include sachets for condiments, water and even alcohol; a film wrap for products in your pantry or bathroom, like coffee or toilet paper; and takeaway boxes that replace plastic-based coating with seaweed lining to make them fully biodegradable. The Ooho can replace condiment packets and other single-serve liquids, while the seaweed-lined takea...

Padmavati Creations Supplier, Distributor

 Padmavati Creations Supplier, Distributor, Trader & Importer of a wide range of Jewellery, Precious Stones & Semi Precious Stones. Owing to the attractive patterns and impeccable finish www.padmavaticreation.blogspot.in www.padmavaticreations.net Contact Details Padmavati Creations Mr. Manish Nahar (Manager) No. 108, Silver Square, C - 18, Bhagwan Das Road, Near Rajmandir, C- Scheme Jaipur - 302016, Rajasthan, India Call Us: 08377804323 Mobile:   +(91)-8003703237   +(91)-9782830190 Telephone:   +(91)-(141)-4021237