Interior Design and Special Features

The Sportage features a functional, roomy and attractive interior. Both the materials and build quality are very good, especially for this price point. The rear-seat design makes hauling a large amount of cargo a breeze -- it folds and lowers into the footwell, making for a flat load floor, and removing the head restraints isn't required. Thusly configured, the Sportage offers 67 cubic feet of cargo capacity, a respectable figure for this class.

Driving Impressions

On the road, the 2008 Kia Sportage provides a carlike ride and relatively sporty handling that makes it a little more fun to drive than many other compact SUVs. It's capable of being both a good city runabout and a long-distance highway cruiser. Power from the standard four-cylinder is barely adequate, so we recommend you opt for the V6. The four-speed automatic isn't quite as smooth as the five-speed units offered by competitors, but it's alert enough to usually keep the V6 right in its power band.

    See also:

    Cruise control system
    1. Cruise indicator 2. Cruise set indicator The cruise control system allows you to program the vehicle to maintain a constant speed without pressing the accelerator pedal. This system is desi ...

    Door locks
    Operating door locks from outside the vehicle • Turn the key toward rear of vehicle to unlock and toward front of vehicle to lock. • If you lock the driver’s door with a key, all vehicle ...

    Industry-Leading Warranty
    Like all Kia models, Soul is covered by a comprehensive warranty program, which offers unprecedented consumer protection. Included in this program are a 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain war ...