Kia Sportage 2 1.7 CRDi 2WD 5dr Car Review - February 2012

Driving the Sportage is comfortable enough, and there is ample grip when going around the corners and body roll isn't too much of a problem. The steering is quick to respond to the driver, but the response is a little vague. This means that the Sportage is not as much fun to drive as it could be, and the firm ride means that things can get a little bumpy on the poor British roads. The elevated driving position does mean it is easier to see the road, and the driving position can be adjusted to suit most people.

For a big vehicle, the acceleration available from the 1.7 litre CRDi engine is reasonable, and the Sportage can go from 0-62mph in 11.9 seconds. The top speed is only 107mph, but this is to be expected from a large vehicle with a relatively small diesel engine.

The Kia Sportage is actually quite an attractive vehicle, and having alloy wheels as standard certainly helps to improve the overall image projected by the vehicle. A large grille and a small air intake below is unusual for this kind of vehicle, but is not unpleasant. The lines of the Sportage are very similar to many other crossovers such as the Nissan Qashqai, and the narrow row of lights below the boot door are quite a nice touch.

The '2' level of trim does add a few luxuries to the overall package, and features such as air conditioning and cruise control do improve the overall driving experience. Bluetooth connectivity is a feature that is becoming commonplace in modern cars, and the Sportage is also delivered with power folding mirrors and an electric panoramic sunroof.

One of the benefits of having a larger crossover such as the Sportage is that it has a much greater flexibility than the average car. The legroom and headroom to the front seats and the back seats is comfortable, allowing five people to ride in comfort. The boot space is also very good, and the seats can be folded to give a larger loading area for carrying large items. The well designed boot door means that access to the boot is particularly easy.

In terms of the safety of the Sportage, it was awarded five stars in the Euro NCAP safety test, and comes with the typical range of six airbags, and the driving aids that will help to keep the car on the road in the worst of conditions.

This version of the Sportage has been supplied with the 1.7CRDi engine and the '2' level of trim, and is still priced at a competitive £20,595. This is quite reasonable for cars in this class, although many people will prefer to go for one of the bigger brands when they are thinking about buying a car. One of the best things about buying a crossover vehicle is that it does hold its value well, and depreciation is less of a problem than in more traditional cars.

This diesel engine is able to deliver impressive fuel performance, and the average 54.3mpg is particularly good for the class. The low insurance cost will also be attractive to many buyers, meaning that the cost of ownership isn't bad at all. This package is also supplied with the famous seven year warranty that is supplied with all Kia vehicles, and also has a one year roadside breakdown assistance policy.