The completely redesigned 2011 Kia Sportage compact utility vehicle (CUV) went on sale last summer with a 176-horsepower 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine in the LX and EX trim levels, ostensibly replacing the previous model’s 140-hp 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine.
Then, in the spring of 2011, a second, more powerful engine was introduced in the Sportage SX. Rather than replacing the previous 173-horsepower V6 engine with an upgraded six-pot, Kia chose to replace it with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder powerplant with more power, better fuel economy, and lower emissions.
It seems unbelievable, but the turbocharged 2.0-litre engine not only offers a 50 per cent increase in horsepower and torque, it also has approximately 20 per cent better fuel economy than the previous 2.7-litre V6. Pumping out 260 hp at 6,000 rpm and 269 pound-feet of torque between 1,850 and 3,000 rpm, the 2.0-litre Turbo is rated at just (L/100 km) 9.7/7.2 (29/39 mpg) city/hwy (AWD) vs 11.7/8.8 (25/33 mpg) city/hwy for the previous V6 AWD model. In fact, the new 2.0-litre turbo gets even better fuel economy than the standard non-turbo 2.4-litre four, which offers 10.0/7.1city/hwy (AWD). And unlike many turbos, this mill uses Regular grade 87-octane gasoline.
Kia also uses this engine in the Optima SX sedan and Hyundai uses it in the Sonata 2.0T sedan, but the Sportage’s sibling at Hyundai, the Tucson, doesn’t offer the turbo engine. This would appear to reinforce Kia’s marketing position as the sportier of the two brands.
The wizardry behind Kia and Hyundai’s fuel economy advances is a result of a direct fuel injection system that injects gasoline directly into each cylinder instead of the intake tract for more efficient combustion. In addition, a twin-scroll turbocharger reduces spool-up time for more responsiveness and a flatter torque curve, keeping revs lower. And an intercooler keeps incoming air cooler for improved combustion, resulting in more power and fewer emissions.
What it means for SX drivers is a more exciting driving experience with 0 to 100 km/h times in the seven second range compare to over 10 seconds in the LX and EX, and much better highway passing power. The downside is the Turbo four’s rougher sound and turbo whine which aren’t as pleasing to the ear. Despite the new engine’s obvious advantages, there will be some traditional V6 buyers who won’t want to substitute a turbo four for a six.
Still, turbo fours are popping up everywhere these days because of their fuel economy advantages, and they’re likely to continue to improve as the technology advances and gasoline gets more expensive.
Standard equipment
While the base Sportage LX with the 2.4-litre engine starts at just $21,995, the 2011 Sportage SX is a fully loaded model at the top of the standard equipment chain, starting at $36,995. It looks similar to the $33,695 EX Luxury model but has a different grille, front and rear bumpers, sport wheels and dual rear exhausts. The SX comes standard with a six-speed automatic transmission with a manual mode, 18-inch all-season tires and machine-faced alloy wheels, intelligent all-wheel drive system, fully independent suspension, four disc brakes with ABS and Brake Assist, traction and stability control, and Roll-over Prevention, and Hill-assist control.
A new Kia feature is Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), an automatic system that monitors wheel traction, steering angle and g-forces to ensure the vehicle is going in the direction the driver wants. If not, it will automatically adjust the steering in the correct direction. This is made possible by the Sportage’s new electric power steering motor. This feature only activates in emergency avoidance manoeuvres, such as when a dog runs in front of a vehicle and the driver swerves to avoid it. If you’re worried about the car “steering for you”, you’ll be glad to know the automatic steering feature is virtually undetectable by the driver.
Unlike many CUVs, the Sportage has a locking centre differential and Downhill Brake Control for winter and off-road use.
Inside, the Sportage SX has a handsome leather interior and leather-wrapped steering wheel with integral cruise and audio controls and tilt/telescopic adjustment, heated and cooled driver’s seat with power height, rake and lumbar adjustments, a heated front passenger seat with manual adjustments, split folding rear seatbacks, dual zone automatic climate control, navigation system and centre touch-screen, rear-view camera, Bluetooth hands-free phone, trip computer, remote entry and pushbutton start, premium seven-speaker stereo system with subwoofer and satellite radio (three-months free), auxiliary, USB and iPod connectors, and twin sunroofs for the front and rear, the front one being a power tilt/sliding glass moonroof and sunshade, and the rear a fixed pane with sliding sunshade.
Safety features are comprehensive, including front, side and curtain airbags, five adjustable head restraints, anti-whiplash front head restraints, anchors and tethers for child seats, and rear child lock doors. Though it has a rear-view camera for backing up, I still missed the rear parking sensors that are available on the Sportage EX model.
Driving impressions
On the road, the Sportage SX leaps off the line with virtually no torque-steer and minimal tire spin, thanks to the all-wheel drive system which distributes power front to rear and side to side as needed. According to Kia’s media information, its new Dynamax all-wheel drive system, built by Magna Powertrain, continuously monitors road conditions and anticipates all-wheel drive requirements rather than reacting to conditions after they occur. From the driver’s seat, this process is mostly invisible, as it should be. Still, I hope we can test the Sportage this winter in more demanding conditions. For added traction in deep snow or mud, the Sportage’s centre multi-plate clutch can be locked to provide an even 50/50 front/rear torque distribution. This is a very useful feature when you get stuck!
At idle, the turbocharged 2.0-litre engine is quiet, and under light acceleration, there is a slight turbo whine. But under hard acceleration, the engine sounds rather coarse. It settles down to a murmer when cruising on the freeway, but there is some tire/road noise in the cabin. The engine revs at just 2,000 r.p.m. in sixth gear at 100 km/h. My onboard fuel economy display was showing 8.2 L/100 km in mixed driving, exceptionally good fuel economy for a 260-hp, 1583 kg CUV.
Driving the powerful Sportage SX can be an eye-opener if you put the pedal to the metal, but if you’re not in a hurry, it’s also a docile and easy-to-drive vehicle, much like the standard Sportage with the 2.4-litre engine.
The standard six-speed automatic transmission is responsive to kick down and shifts smoothly and quickly. Manual mode, activated in a separate gate to the left of Drive, puts more control in the driver’s hands, but I left it in automatic mode most of the time. A manual transmission is not offered in the SX, but it is available in the LX and EX. That seems a bit strange given the SX’s performance credentials.
I found the handling flat and stable for a CUV with a tall body and high ground clearance (172 mm/6.8 in.). While the ride is firm, it’s not uncomfortable.
The driver’s visibility to the rear is hindered slightly by a thick c-pillar and a high rear window ledge, but there is a rear-view camera in the centre touch-screen which is very useful when backing into a parking space. The intermittent rear wiper is also very handy for keeping the rear window clear.
While there are other turbocharged and V6 CUVs on the market, few have as much power as the Sportage SX. The 268-hp Toyota RAV4 V6 and the 264-hp Chevrolet Equinox V6/GMC Terrain V6 models are exceptions, but the RAV4 is getting on in years and the Equinox and Terrain are larger and less sporty. There’s also the turbocharged 244-hp Mazda CX-7, turbocharged 224-hp Subaru Forester, and possibly the 200-hp turbocharged VW Tiguan.
Interior impressions
The Sportage SX has four large doors with wide openings for easy entry, and there is enough headroom and legroom for four or five adults even though the roof is 60 mm lower than last year’s Sportage. The driver’s seat is a nice place to be, with large, comfortable leather surfaces, heating and cooling functions, and power height and lumbar adjustments. As well, a standard tilt and telescoping steering wheel assists the driver in finding a comfortable position. I found it somewhat amusing that the Sportage SX’s driver’s seat is heated and cooled but the front passenger seat is only heated. As well, the front passenger seat doesn’t have height or lumbar adjustments while the driver’s seat does.
I liked the large round central speedo with brightly illuminated numbers and the integral inset red-on-black information display. The latter includes a trip computer with information on average fuel consumption, instant fuel consumption, range, average speed, elapsed time, and outside temperature.
The centre touch-screen, which can be used for audio and navigation functions, is large and easy to reach, however, the centre screen is hard to read in the daytime with sunglasses on. In Reverse gear, the screen shows the area behind the Sportage to assist when backing into a parking space.
The standard driver/front passenger dual zone automatic climate control is a set-it-and-forget-it system that worked well in hot weather.
Some interesting features are a premium stereo with seven speakers including a subwoofer and external amp, satellite radio with a free three-month subscription, and a glovebox cooler for drinks.
At the rear, there is a folding centre armrest with two cupholders and a rear glass sunroof that lets in sunlight and gives the rear compartment a more open feel.
The rear hatch lifts up easily to reveal a roomy cargo area with a privacy cover, carpeted floor, carpeted seatbacks and plastic side walls. Cargo volume behind the rear seats is 740 litres, and with both rear seats, it expands to 1547 litres. That compares to the previous Sportage with 667 litres and 1886 litres respectively. Underneath the floor is a compartmentalized shallow storage bin useful for hiding small items. My only criticism of the Sportage’s cargo area is that the loading height is rather high.
Verdict
A powerful turbocharged engine vastly improves the performance of the Sportage SX model which, surprisingly, gets better fuel economy than the base models. The SX offers a unique combination of looks, performance and utility.
Pricing: 2011 Kia Sportage SX
# Base price: $36,995
# Options: $150 (colour charge)
# A/C tax: $100
# Freight: $1,650
# Price as tested: $38,895
