Topic: 2011 Kia Sportage

[blizzard35]

I really like the brown colour, I saw it in person at a Kia dealership...very nice in person!

[conwelpic]

the Sportage has made it to the 2011 Best of the Best Finalists list:

TORONTO, Oct. 13 /CNW/ - Reflecting the wide variety Canadian new car buyers are faced with, the second annual Canadian Automotive Jury's 2011 Best of the Best Finalists range from entry-level subcompacts to a convertible super sports car.

The Canadian Automotive Jury's annual Best of the Best Awards are unique in Canada. The not-for-profit organization is funded by its jurors, 10 senior journalists who account for the vast majority of automotive industry coverage in Canada. And the Jury's selections don't exclusively focus on a specific model within a family of vehicles or only "all-new" models.

The Best of the Best Finalists must have been on sale in Canadian showrooms by October 1, 2010. From this group, Jury members chose 11 finalists. The reigning champion, the 2010 Best of the Best Winner, the Volkswagen Golf, is automatically included as a finalist.

Five European models, four domestic, two Korean, and one Japanese model make up the dozen 2011 Best of the Best Finalists, from which the 2011 Best of the Best Winner will be announced in November.

The 2011 Best of the Best Finalists:

Audi R8
BMW 5 SeriesBuick Regal
Cadillac CTS
Ford Fiesta
Hyundai Sonata
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Kia Sportage
Mazda2
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Volkswagen Jetta
Volkswagen Golf (2010 Winner)

[conwelpic]

its a contender for the 2011 Motor Trend Sport/Utility vehicle of the year

http://wot.motortrend.com/6695017/auto-news/2011-motor-trend-sport-utility-of-the-year-contender-kia-sportage/index.html

winner to be announced on October 19th

[conwelpic]

from CTV Auto news - the Sportage has been voted one of the best new vehicles in Canada (on a list of 12)

http://www.ctv.ca/gallery/html/autos-best-cars-in-Canada-101103/photo_0.html

Let me be frank, I didn't like the old Sportage at all but the new one is so improved it made the 'Best' list. It starts with the styling -- very Euro, and moves to the interior -- very upscale. The driving is firm and responsive although it won't win any drag races with its economical four cylinder engine. Kia is delivering quality and economy in a small SUV that is now fully competitive in its segment.

[conwelpic]

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Feb. 7 /CNW/ - Kia Motors all-new 2011 Sportage Compact Utility Vehicle (CUV) has been awarded the 2011 Car of the Year from Motoring TV, finishing ahead of eleven other category winners that qualified for the overall accolade. The 2011 Sportage also finished ahead of the Hyundai Tucson and Mitsubishi RVR to win the 'Best SUV / CUV under $40,000'. Kia had another category winner as well, with the Forte5-Door winning the 'Best Small Car over $20,000' category. 

"The 2011 Sportage is a world-class vehicle that includes exceptional design, technology and safety elements that have made it a Car of the Year winner," said Robert Staffieri, Director of Marketing Kia Canada Inc. "Both the Car of the Year win along with the category further supports our brand value which is resonating with Canadians. It has also been validated by some of the top automotive journalists in Canada from Motoring TV".

Since its launch in July 2010, the 2011 Kia Sportage has also been awarded "Best SUV" by Le Guide de l' Auto, "Compact Utility of the Year" by Auto123.com, "Compact CUV / Crossover under $40,000" by the 2011 World of Wheels Editors' Choice Award. Additionally, the Canadian Automotive Jury awarded the 2011 Sportage as a "Best of the Best" Finalist for 2011

[EV Dan]

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Feb. 7 /CNW/ - Kia Motors all-new 2011 Sportage Compact Utility Vehicle (CUV) has been awarded the 2011 Car of the Year from Motoring TV, finishing ahead of eleven other category winners that qualified for the overall accolade. The 2011 Sportage also finished ahead of the Hyundai Tucson and Mitsubishi RVR to win the 'Best SUV / CUV under $40,000'. Kia had another category winner as well, with the Forte5-Door winning the 'Best Small Car over $20,000' category. 

"The 2011 Sportage is a world-class vehicle that includes exceptional design, technology and safety elements that have made it a Car of the Year winner," said Robert Staffieri, Director of Marketing Kia Canada Inc. "Both the Car of the Year win along with the category further supports our brand value which is resonating with Canadians. It has also been validated by some of the top automotive journalists in Canada from Motoring TV".

Since its launch in July 2010, the 2011 Kia Sportage has also been awarded "Best SUV" by Le Guide de l' Auto, "Compact Utility of the Year" by Auto123.com, "Compact CUV / Crossover under $40,000" by the 2011 World of Wheels Editors' Choice Award. Additionally, the Canadian Automotive Jury awarded the 2011 Sportage as a "Best of the Best" Finalist for 2011

Who won the over 40k?

[my2cents]

Jeep Cherokee won over 40k.

[ironwood]

Sounds like KIA will have a real winner here.  I prefer the Sportage lines to it's competitors, but if you consider leasing it as I have, it doesn't hold up well vs it's competition.  Similarily priced, reasonable lease rates....but the residual is poor....which means on a lease you are financing more of the vehicle than other small crossovers or SUV's.  And if you are looking at buying instead, you need to keep residual in mind as well.

[conwelpic]

right here on Canadian Driver

http://www.canadiandriver.com/2011/02/09/kia-sportage-tops-with-consumer-reports.htm