Good value for the price. Nice interior touches such as snazzy center console, folding seats, good stereo, comfortable adjustable seats. Good performance, fun to drive, passes acceptably. Off road, its been really good, in up to 6 inches of snow. Great Warranty. 6 airbags a big plus. Superior cruise control performance.Perfect Controlling on Snow Styling Accelaration after #3.
The Sportage is a rebadged Hyundai Tucson. A four-cylinder front-wheel drive and a five-speed manual are standard. It is relatively roomy and comfortable, but lacks agility. ABS, stability control, and head-protection air bags are all standard.
New For 2006 Kia Sportage
Kias compact SUV carries into 2006 with only minor changes. Sportage shares its car-type platform with the Hyundai Tucson produced by Kias corporate parent. Sportage offers 4- or 6-cyl engines and a choice of front- or all-wheel drive. LX and EX models are available. Base LXs come with a 140-hp 4-cyl and a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. LX V6s and EXs come with a 173-hp V6 and automatic only. All are available with all-wheel drive that lacks low-range gearing but has a dashboard switch that locks in a 50/50 front/rear torque split. Antilock 4-wheel disc brakes and traction/antiskid control are standard. So are front side airbags and curtain side airbags. An EX Luxury Package adds leather upholstery and heated front seats.
Interior Design and Special Features
Kia designed a functional, roomy and attractive interior for the Sportage. Most of the materials are of good quality and the build quality is solid. The rear-seat design allows for a flat load floor by the process of lowering its cushion into the rear footwell; removing the head restraints is not necessary. With the rear seat folded, the Sportage offers 67 cubic feet of cargo capacity, a good figure for this class.
Safety
The Kia Sportage boasts six standard airbags -- front and side-impact airbags for both driver and passenger, and side curtain airbags for both front- and rear-seat occupants. Four-wheel antilock disc brakes, traction control and stability control are all standard equipment. Neither NHTSA nor the IIHS has crash tested the Sportage.
Powertrains and Performance
The standard engine on the LX is a 2.0-liter, inline four-cylinder engine. It generates 140 horsepower and 136 pound-feet of torque and is mated to either a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic with automanual-shift capability (2WD only). Optional on the LX and standard on the EX is a 2.7-liter V6 that produces 173 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque. The V6 is available with the four-speed automatic only. Buyers can get front-wheel drive (2WD) or all-wheel drive (4WD) with either engine.
Body Styles, Trim Levels and Options
The Kia Sportage is a compact four-door SUV offered in two trim levels, LX and EX. Both two-wheel drive and all-wheel drive (which Kia calls 4WD) are available. Standard features on the LX include 16-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, power windows and locks, tinted glass, a rear wiper and a CD stereo system. The EX adds a sunroof, foglamps and keyless entry. Options include a premium audio system and leather seating.
Driving Impressions
The 2006 Kia Sportage provides a carlike ride while returning relatively sporty handling on par with that of most peers. Should you push too hard through a corner, the standard stability and traction control system will intervene to keep you headed in the right direction. Additionally, the Sportages four-wheel independent suspension system helps smooth bumps without the jittery feel typical of many SUVs. Power from the standard four-cylinder is barely adequate, so we recommend you stick with the larger 2.7-liter V6. The four-speed automatic isnt quite as smooth as the five-speed unit in the CR-V or RAV-4, but it always manages to keep the V6 right in its power band.
Cost
The destination charge is a standard charge for transporting the vehicle from its point of origin to the dealer. It costs roughly the same to get the Sportage to the dealership as the average mini suv. The typical mini suv will save you money at the pump compared to the Kia Sportage. When it comes to fuel economy, the average mini suv is somewhat better than the Sportage, but not by much. The Kia Sportage isnt much less expensive than the average mini suv as far as MSRP. In terms of purchase price, the typical mini suv costs about as much as the Kia Sportage (though the Kia Sportage is somewhat cheaper).
MSRP Price Range $15,900 - $22,545
Invoice Price Range $15,150 - $20,540
Favorite Features
Anti-Lock brakes, traction control (TCS), electronic stability control (ESC), tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), 4 wheel power disc brakes all standard.
Overall Review
Great car recomand to every one before you decide about purchasing Toyota or Honda just take a look at it and drive it.