Monday, March 7, 2011

Driving Report Kia Sportage 2.0 CRDI 2WD Spirit: Urban Cowboy

In the past, our life easier as a car writer. Since the Koreans were still ahead of us in a meaningful and not bloated with simple interior design, dominated by hard plastic and small seats. Since one could not really let off steam, and finally as a consolation to the low price point. Passing the time.

The Koreans are now bringing the European design, nice interior, good technique. And as cheap as they used to be no more. For example, the Kia Sportage. The Sportage in 1994 and once started as an attempt to civilize driving in SUVs. But today, shows the current version that is since the fall of 2010 on the market, a completely different picture.

It was a key strategic move by the Korean Hyundai subsidiary Kia Sportage cars such as the Europeanize. It is built in the Czech Republic, drawn by a team under former Audi designer Peter Schreyer. Who knows about good-looking cars. This also proves the Sportage, the line apparently also with other manufacturers in Korea has found favor.

Ssangyong Korando see. Shoulder high, small windows, flared fenders and a fast-looking Schauz determine the design outside. Interior pleasantly surprised modern design complete with round central instrument, flanked by two semi-circular display, large screen in the middle of which is arranged with ventilation and air conditioning setting.

The grippy, thick leather steering wheel with function keys and the short gear lever for the six-speed shifter can arise even sports feelings. The low seats and the flat side skirts help you get started on the SUV-typical high seating position. The visibility is good despite the small windows and the model is already in the Spirit standard equipment complemented by a rear-view camera.

The high lift conveys a sense of security, as is typical for SUVs. The interior offers enough for a 4.44 meter long car space on all five seats. The trunk measures at least 465 liters and can be expanded to 1353 liters. The payload was - depending on the equipment - at 500 kilograms. We drove the Sportage front wheel drive and with the two-liter diesel engine of 100 kW / 136 hp.

Which can not be just a bundle of energy from the nearly 1,500-pound empty Sportage. But thanks to its 319 Nm of torque 1800-2500 revolutions per minute, it can be especially in the city to move fast. The 100-km / h limit exceeds it after 10.8 seconds and its top speed is just above 180 km / h.

For fun in the city also takes in with 10.60 meters in this class and small turning circle. As the average consumption (EU standard) is Kia to 5.5 liters per 100 km, which corresponds to a carbon dioxide emission of 153 grams. We moved the Sportage in practice with an average of seven liters.

The current Sportage has a new rear axle. Comes the desire for comfort against more than the old one, creating an overall driving impression, which is different from that of a passenger car, barely. Kia also speaks to the front-wheel drive Sportage road capability. We believed that and not verified, because we assume that the 2WD Sportage is not built for off-road, but for the asphalt cowboys on the urban pastures that also want to roam with friends, family and sports equipment in the distance.

Us more interested in the equipment level of the Spirit variant of the best equipped for the base version Attract and better known as Vision. The rolls on 18-inch alloy wheels, has front and rear with heated seats, xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights, cornering lights, fog lamps and a navigation with seven-inch screen, Smart Key, dual-zone air conditioning and much more for price of 29 100 euros.

The options list is short, part-leather seats 750 euro, panoramic roof with electric glass sunroof and metallic paint 900 € for 410 €. The prices of the Sportage holds so still some distance to the Toyota RAV4 class neighbors or the Volkswagen Tiguan. (Ampnet / Sm) data Kia Sportage Sportage 2.0 CRDI 2WD Spirit length x width x height (m): 4.44 x 1.86 x 1.64 (without roof rails) Engine: Turbo Diesel, direct injection, 1995 cc Power: 100 kW / 136 hp at 4,000 rpm Max torque: 319 Nm 1800-2500 rpm Average fuel consumption (EU standard): 5.9 l diesel emissions: 153 g CO2 per kilometer (€ 5) Maximum speed: 182 km / h Acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h: 10.8 seconds Wheels / Tires: 7.0 x 18 ET40, 5 / 235/55 R18 100H Turning circle: 10.6m Kerb weight / payload: 1533 to 1685 kg / 557-405 kg Luggage capacity: 465-1353 liters Maximum towing capacity: 2000 kg Price: 29 100 Euro

No comments:

Post a Comment