Powertrains and Performance
Two engines are offered on the Sportage LX: a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder (140 hp and 136 pound-feet of torque) and a 2.7-liter V6 (173 hp and 178 lb-ft). The Sportage EX comes standard with the V6. The inline-4 can be had with either a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic, while the V6 is automatic only. One may also choose front- or all-wheel drive in either trim.
We timed a Sportage V6 at 10.7 seconds from zero to 60 mph, about a second or so off the quicker four-cylinders in the segment and more than three ticks off the class hot rod, the RAV4 V6. Fuel mileage estimates for a 2008 Sportage V6 with AWD are 17 mpg city and 21 mpg highway, a few mpg under the class average. The four-cylinder gets only a few city mpg better.
See also:
Tailgate
Opening the tailgate
• The tailgate is locked or unlocked
when all doors are locked or unlocked
with the key, transmitter (or smart key)
or central door lock switch.
• If unlocked, the tail ...
Brake/clutch fluid
Checking the brake/clutch* fluid
level
Check the fluid level in the reservoir periodically.
The fluid level should be
between MAX and MIN marks on the
side of the reservoir.
Before removing th ...
Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher should be
used whenever you find it necessary to
stop the vehicle in a hazardous location.
When you must make such an emergency
stop, always pull off the road as far
...


