2012 Kia Sportage SUV Crossover Review & Ratings

The 2012 Kia Sportage SUV Crossover is an attractive, stylish, and sporty edition of the Kia automobile line. It is relatively cheaper than most of the competitors and is one of the cheapest models in its class. It is ideal for singles and small families due to its compact size of 5 passengers. The Sportage SUV Crossover is smaller than many of the rival Crossovers. However, this comes at the cost of having a smaller space for cargo. Competitor Crossovers often have much larger cargo space than the Kia Sportage. The base model contains a 176- horsepower 2.4 four-cylinder engine and consumers often prefer to add on the six-speed automatic transmission.

Potential drivers often find that the base engine lacks power, but there are options like turbo charging that can offset this aspect. The suspension is superior, making drives engaging and smooth. Additionally, the automatic transmission enables smooth shifts with no noticeable jerks. Buyers will have a choice between front and all wheel drive. The interior of the Sportage is well designed for the most part with good texturing and comfortable padding, although there is too much plastic in the cabin. The seating contains enough comfortable space for headroom and legroom of the passengers. One big drawback though is that seats do not have the ability to recline or slide forwards/backwards. The estimated fuel economy is 22-mpg city and 32 mpg for the highway, which is reasonable for the sporty appeal that the Crossover is aiming for. Another advantage of purchasing this car is that Kia offers a seven-year warranty, which is one of the longest warranties offered in the market.