Kia Sportage 2.0 XE

Jan 30 2010 Enda Mullen

THE recent cold snap left me wondering whether prospective car buyers would be beating a path (assuming the snow had been cleared of course) to their nearest 4x4 dealer.

The added grip offered by four-wheel-drive vehicles can make a huge difference in the snow so I was glad to be behind the wheel of a Kia Sportage when the weather was at its worst.

Anyone who braved the roads on the most hazardous days would have spotted more than the usual number of cars sporting war wounds.

All manner of bumps, scuffs and scratches were evident and quite often I expect they were inflicted through no fault of the driver.

No car, even a 4x4, can offer guaranteed protection in the snow and ice and perhaps one of the worst things is the complacency that sets in with 4x4 drivers who think they're invincible whatever the road conditions.

Once or twice I discovered just how treacherous the roads could be, overshooting a couple of junctions and struggling to get up and down hills.

To a certain extent I was one of the lucky ones - I acquired no 'war wounds' - but there's no denying travelling in a 4x4 did give me added reassurance. Despite this I did also discover the importance of listening to the advice being offered about how to drive safely in the snow and took it on board.

Kia's Sportage is one of those more basic looking SUVs favoured by those looking for a bargain rather than the style brigade.

It doesn't have those sexy curves seen in some of its more stylish competitors.

For those thinking of buying one the price and the prospect of a seven-year warranty are far more tempting.

Its market positioning and pricing are clever too, as it's just as likely to appeal to buyers of conventional hatchbacks as so-called soft-roaders.

The latest version is well beyond its mid-life makeover (expect an all-new version soon) and you can now even opt for a two-wheel drive version.

There's no knocking its value and for the money the quality overall is impressive, even if the styling is a little lacklustre.

It is roomy, practical and comfortable and additionally rides well and handles about as well as one would expect a compact SUV to - ie it might not be designed for going round corners at speed but takes them in its stride nonetheless.

While the pick of the bunch is the 2.0-litre diesel, the 2.0-litre petrol model is surprisingly good too with an engine that is smooth and sweet. Performance and economy might be modest but are certainly acceptable.

Space is one of the Sportage's strengths. The cabin is open and airy with rear seat passengers especially well catered for.

I like the opening tailgate glass, which came in really handy for dropping off smaller items of shopping in a multi-storey car park.

A 60:40 split rear bench has the added bonus of a 'Drop & Fold' seat which creates a flat cargo area offering up to 1,887 litres of storage space.

FAST FACTS

Kia Sportage 2.0 XE

Price: £16,235

Mechanical: 136bhp 1,975cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving four wheels via 5-speed manual gearbox

Max speed: 108mph

0-62mph: 11.3 seconds

Combined mpg: 34.4

Insurance group: 10

CO2 emissions: 194g/km

BIK rating: 26%

Warranty: 7yrs/ 100,000 miles