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 Sportage's 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 isn't 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.

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    Sunroof
    (1) SLIDE OPEN (TILT DOWN) button (2) Tilt UP (slide close) BUTTON If your vehicle is equipped with this feature, you can slide or tilt your sunroof with the sunroof control buttons located on ...

    Audio system
    Antenna (if equipped) Your vehicle uses a roof antenna to receive AM or/and FM broadcast signals. This antenna is removable. To remove the roof antenna, turn it counterclockwise. To install the ...

    FULLY LOADED YET DISAPPOINTING INTERIOR
    The same cannot be said for the interior. While the swooping design of the dash is nice, it’s really only visible on the passenger side. As for the temperature controls, they appear out of place ...