Driving Impressions

Much of the appeal of compact crossovers is in their ability to deliver some of the practicality of larger SUVs along with easier maneuverability and parking on city streets and in tight parking lots. The 2010 Kia Sportage is no exception.

Because the performance of the base model's four-cylinder is weak, we'd recommend stepping up to one of the V6-powered models. Even with the V6, the Sportage feels rather sluggish compared to many competitors, though it's probably just fine for most people's needs. On the open road, the Sportage feels nimble. The ride quality is a little firmer than the norm and handling is not exactly sporty, but neither is really objectionable.

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

    Tonneau cover
    Use the tonneau cover to hide items stored in the cargo area. • To use the front shade of the tonneau cover, pull the hook forward and hang the hook on the headrest pole. NOTICE When fold ...

    Multiple choices for wheels - all with Michelin tyres
    Maintaining a policy adopted early in the original car's evolution, Kia continued to develop the new Kia cee'd chassis and running gear using Michelin tyres exclusively, so that its engineers coul ...