Test Drive: 2009 Kia Sportage LX V6 AWD

2009 Kia Sportage LX V6 AWD. Click image to enlarge

Air conditioning, cruise control and remote keyless entry are standard equipment on all but the base Sportage model and Bluetooth is now available as an option.

All Sportages come with a full complement of safety features: six airbags (front, side, curtain), five three-point seatbelts, five height adjustable head restraints, rear child safety door locks, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH), a front wiper de-icer, four wheel disc brakes with ABS, and electronic stability and traction control. AWD models include a centre diff lock for low-speed traction.

Cabin storage areas include a lockable glovebox, a pull-out ash tray/coin tray below the heater, an open bin below it with a rubber liner and a 12-volt outlet, another open bin behind the shift lever with auxiliary, USB and iPod jacks, and a covered storage box/armrest between the front seats. There are two cupholders in front of the shift lever, two cupholders in the rear, and bottle holders in the doors.

Levers on top of the rear seatbacks can be used to fold down the 60/40 split folding seatbacks completely flat without removing the rear head restraints. A roomy cargo area – 667 litres (23.6 cu. ft.) with the rear seats up and 1886 litres (66.6 cu. ft.) with the seats down – features floor tie-down hooks, luggage net hooks on the side wall, and in the V6 Luxury model, a cargo net. Underneath the lined cargo floor is a hidden, shallow storage tray. But inexplicably, a cargo privacy cover is not offered.

The rear hatch includes a glass window that opens separately via individual handles above the license plate. A rear defroster and wiper with a variable intermittent wipe setting are also standard.

Compared to other well-equipped compact SUVs with four-cylinder engines, the Sportage V6 is well priced at $27,235 for the front-wheel drive model and $29,235 for the AWD model. And it comes with a comprehensive, standard five-year/100,000 km warranty.

A nimble, roomy compact SUV with a lovely V6 engine, the Sportage V6 is well equipped and surprisingly sporty. Niggling complaints include below-average fuel economy, lack of cargo cover, and a pricey $1,650 Freight charge.

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