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:
Starting the engine
CAUTION
Always wear appropriate shoes
when operating your vehicle.
Unsuitable shoes (high heels,
ski boots,etc.) may interfere
with your ability to use the
brake and accelerator pedal,
and the ...
Tire specification and pressure label
Tire specification and pressure label
The tires supplied on your new vehicle
are chosen to provide the best performance
for normal driving.
The tire label located on the driver's side
center pi ...
Power steering fluid
Checking the power steering fluid level
With the vehicle on level ground, check
the fluid level in the power steering reservoir
periodically. The fluid should be
between MAX and MIN marks on the ...