2007 Kia Sportage SUV

What’s New?
The current version of the Sportage was introduced in 2005 and saw minor changes for 2006. Changes included a new Sport package for the LX V-6 model, including fog lights, a sport gauge instrument cluster, a black mesh grille, dark metallic gray body side cladding, leather steering wheel and shift knob, rear spoiler, cargo cover, and the AM/FM/CD audio system with 6 speakers. The Sportage also received an improved radio mast, standard air filtration, and, on EX models, a tire-pressure-monitoring system. The Sportage is unchanged for 2007.


Overview
Many Americans had their first introduction to South Korean automaker Kia when the 1995 Sportage made its debut. The Sportage was one of the first mini sport utility vehicles (SUVs) with a small and (relatively) fuel-efficient 4-cylinder engine. Though it didn't offer the front- or all-wheel-drive formula that would kick off the mini-SUV craze in the United States, the Sportage was one of the first vehicles to offer SUV looks in a low-priced package, a full year before Toyota's RAV4 nd two years ahead of Honda's CR-V. Consumers in the United States quickly developed a taste for these fuel-efficient car-based designs. With few owners taking advantage of the off-road capabilities of truck-based SUVs like the Sportage, they soon saw their sales decline. The Sportage was discontinued in 2002 when the bigger, truck-based Kia Sorento arrived.

The Sportage re-appeared in its present 5-passenger form in 2005. It shares its car-based platform—as well as many of its styling cues—with Hyundai's Tucson (Hyundai is the parent company of Kia Motors). Available in LX and EX trims, the Sportage comes with 4-cylinder or V-6 power (the EX is only available with the latter) and front- or all-wheel drive. Standard safety equipment includes front, side, and side curtain air bags; anti-lock brakes; traction control; and electronic stability control. Features such as power windows and locks, alloy wheels, a CD player, and a roof rack are also standard. As with other Kia models, the Sportage is covered by a competitive warranty: 5 years or 60,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage and including roadside assistance, with 10 years or 100,000 miles of powertrain coverage.


The Competition
The Kia Sportage competes in the Compact Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV) segment, which consists of 20 models. Buyers in this segment look for fuel economy, reliability, and comfort, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Avoider Study^SM and the Escaped Shopper Study.^SM

The top sellers in the segment during calendar year 2006, according to the J.D. Power and Associates Sales Report,^SM were the Honda CR-V (170,028 units sold), Ford Escape (157,395), and Toyota RAV4 (152,047). The Kia Sportage sold 37,071 units in 2006, an increase of 27.8 percent compared to the previous year. Other models offered in the Compact CUV segment include the Chrysler PT Cruiser, Chevrolet Equinox and HHR, Saturn Vue, and Scion xB. Joining the segment in 2007 are two Jeep models—the Compass and Patriot.