Kia crossover sports new look for 2011

Kia Motors unveiled the redesigned 2011 Sportage compact crossover at the recent New York auto show, the third generation of the utility vehicle that helped launch the South Korean brand in the United States 15 years ago.

The new Sportage is based on the architecture of the redesigned 2010 Hyundai Tucson compact crossover, thanks to Hyundai's controlling interest in Kia. The two automakers share several vehicle platforms, engines and other technology.

Kia was able to put its own unique stamp on the exterior of the 2011 Sportage, which comes with the new face of Kia — a front end created by former Audi designer Peter Schreyer, a native of Germany.

The car's design is a product of Kia's California studio and has what the automaker calls the “Schreyer line, with dramatic swept-back headlamps, signature tabbed grille and a distinctive lower fascia treatment.”

It's lower, longer and sleeker than the Sportage model it replaces, which was introduced for 2005 after a two-year hiatus for the nameplate. Kia originally debuted the Sportage for 2005 as a true sport utility vehicle in the U.S. market, based on a Mazda design and using a Mazda engine and either a Mazda manual or Ford automatic transmission.

That model was discontinued after the 2003 model year, when Kia introduced the Sorento as its replacement. But the name was revived for 2005 on a near-clone of the then-new Hyundai Tucson. This time, the vehicle had no Mazda roots and was a unibody crossover.

The original Sportage was offered with a driver-selectable, true off-road four-wheel-drive system, which included low-range gearing for hills and mud. But the second generation introduced a full-time all-wheel-drive system that operates automatically. It sends all power to the front wheels until slippage is detected, then shifts up to half of the power to the rear wheels as necessary.

For 2011, this all-wheel-drive system continues in the Sportage; but as with the previous model, it's not designed for serious trail driving. But the driver can lock it into a mode that forces it into a 50-50 front/rear power split, available only at speeds up to 25 mph, however.

The new Sportage shares its base engine with that of the newest Tucson. Under the hood is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder rated at 176 horsepower and 168 foot-pounds of torque.

That's more power than that of the 2010 Sportage's optional 2.7-liter V-6, rated at 273 horsepower, and quite a jump from the base 2.0-liter four-cylinder of the current model, which has 140 horsepower.

Transmissions offered in the new Sportage are a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, both also taken from the Tucson.

Later in the model year, Kia will offer an optional turbocharged, gasoline-direct-injection 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. That's the same engine used in the Hyundai Genesis Coupe, where it's rated at 210 horsepower and 223 foot-pounds of torque.

EPA mileage ratings are much higher for the new Sportage — 23 mpg city/31 highway with front-wheel drive and the automatic transmission and 22/30 with the manual. For 2010, the four-cylinder's mileage was 20/25, and the V-6's was 18/23 with two-wheel drive and a four-speed automatic transmission.

As with past models, there will be room for five people, with bucket seats up front and a 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat. The seats are cloth.

No prices have been announced yet, but 2010 Sportage prices range from $16,995 to $23,495 (plus $695 freight). The 2010 Tucson ranges from $18,995 to $25,845 (plus $795 freight), with its starting price up nearly $2,000 from that of the 2009 model.

Two trim levels will be available, the base LX and uplevel EX.

Kia says the LX will come with 16-inch alloy wheels and 215/70R16 low-rolling-resistance silica tires; body-color door handles and outside mirrors, which include integrated turn signals; air conditioning; power windows; 12-volt power outlets in the front and cargo areas; sun visors with vanity mirrors; tilt steering wheel; height-adjustable front seats; and tinted glass.

EX models come with 18-inch alloy wheels and 235/55R18 silica tires, heated body-color outside mirrors, roof rails, a rear spoiler, chrome body trim and door handles, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, illuminated vanity mirrors, automatic folding rear seat, keyless entry with alarm, dual temperature control air-conditioner with ionized filtration, illuminated and cooled glove box, power driver's seat with lumbar support and a chrome-accented grille.

Both models will have the Kia EcoMinder dash indicator that helps the driver operate the vehicle to achieve optimal fuel efficiency. Also standard on both will be Sirius satellite radio, USB and auxiliary inputs for portable audio devices, Bluetooth phone connection and an AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system.

Also featured will be the Microsoft UVO hands-free communication and entertainment system (standard on the EX model), which allows occupants to make calls and respond to text messages, as well as access music from a variety of media. HD radio will be optional.

Available on the LX model will be 17-inch alloy wheels with 225/60R17 tires, a navigation system with Sirius traffic data, rear sonar parking assist, privacy glass, power windows with automatic driver up/down feature, heated outside mirrors, the lighted and cooled glove box, the tilt/telescopic steering wheel, and the roof rails and rear spoiler.

EX models will be offered with leather seats (heated and ventilated in the front), push-button start, rear sonar detector and a panoramic sunroof.

No cargo capacities have been announced yet, but in the Tucson, there is 25.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 55.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. The rear hatch flips up in one piece for easy access to the cargo area, but there is no optional power hatch offered.

Among standard safety features will be roof-mounted side-curtain air bags for both rows of seats, complete with rollover sensors; front seat-mounted side air bags; antilock disc brakes with electronic brake-force distribution; electronic stability control with traction control; tire-pressure monitoring; and active front headrests.

Kia offers one of the best warranties in the industry — a five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper basic plan and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage. The basic warranty also includes roadside assistance.