Kia has always been about value. Not necessarily good value, either. A cheap alternative to other vehicles, Kia focused on the bottom line and plastic interiors. But the South Korean-based carmaker is undergoing a renaissance of sorts, offering up an overhauled lineup that has some real lookers in it. The 2011 Kia Sportage is the brand's new look and one of the best surprises of 2010.
It's a dubious honor for a midsize crossover for sure, but nonetheless, for the week I tested it, every time I walked out to my driveway, I was a little surprised to realize this is a Kia. From sweptback front end — the headlights slash back over the front tires and below the clamshell-styled hood — to the big wheel flares to the chop flat back end, the Sportage looks extremely sporty.
This is the new face of Kia, and that promises more good looking machines in the future. The steep windshield and curved roofline add to the Sportage's look, and the high belt light gives it a dramatic greenhouse that was previously the territory of big sedans. Now, there are some exterior differences between the base model and the higher trim packages, such as the LX and EX, which make a big difference in the vehicle's appearance. The midlevel LX adds LED turn indicators on the exterior mirrors and offers tinted rear glass. The EX adds 18-inch wheels, a rear spoiler, chrome body trim and chrome door handles. By far, the EX is the sharpest vehicle in the bunch — no doubt by design.
That's the dilemma I have with the Sportage.
The base model feels like a value at $18,295 — undercutting the competition, such as the Ford Escape, Chevrolet Equinox and Honda CR-V. But the much more stylish EX model starts at $23,295, and when you start to add up all of the comfort and convenience packages, the price jumps higher and higher. My test model costs more than $28,000, and I can't see paying that much money for even this well-equipped crossover.
Written by Scott Burgess/The Detroit News
