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The Kia Sportage is
a compact Sports Utility Vehicle which stole the hearts of many auto
lovers when it was first released in 2005. Still waxing stronger, its
latest model, the 2010 Kia Sportage, has been re-defined with lots of
improvement features like fuel economy, better styling, and enhanced
driving. With the 2010 Kia Sportage, handling is secure and a smooth
ride is guaranteed and generally well accepted.

Design

The Kia Sportage is
endowed with a unique, modern and attractive body. Its curvaceous
outlook gives it a strong visual presence. The car comes in different
models of the base LX or EX trim, along with optional all-wheel drive.
Standard features on all LX models include 16-inch wheels,
multi-reflector headlamps, roof rails, front and rear towing hooks, and
a front-end skid plate. Upgrading to the EX model includes a power
sunroof, fog lights, and heated side mirrors, while the Sport Package,
available on LX V-6 models, comes with fog lights, a leather steering
wheel and shift knob, a rear spoiler, rear cargo cover, standard cruise
control, and 17-inch alloy wheels. The new SUV comes with gas-filled
shock absorbers built at the rear, and has stabilizer bars at both
ends. It comes with new grille design, new headlights and fog lights,
and new alloy wheels.

Interior

Inside, the Kia
Sportage is very attractive with a comfortable and roomy interior, for
extreme comfort for passengers. The car offers an interior that easily
seats five adults (driver inclusive), with reasonable seating comfort
for all. The seats come in options of leather and cloth. The centre
console and dash board have a sleek and highly functional look. It
comprises a Bose Stereo, while USB jacks and MP3 playback capabilities
have been made a standard. It also comes with power seating and dual
temperature controls.

Under The Hood

The new 2010 Kia
Sportage is built with two separate engines. The first comes with a
fuel-efficient 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with Continuously
Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) technology and a respectable 140
horsepower; while the second engine is built with a 2.7-litre V-6
engine with 173 horsepower. Transmission options include a five-speed
manual transmission or a four-speed automatic transmission. The
automatic transmission is responsive enough with either engine.
All-wheel drive is an option. Five-speed manual gearbox is standard in
the four-cylinder Kia Sportage LX, and a four-speed automatic comes
optional, while V-6 models come with standard automatic transmission.

Safety

Standard safety
features include dual front, side, and curtain airbags; anti-lock
brakes; traction and stability control; and tire pressure monitors. A
total of six standard airbags, including front-and side-impact airbags
for driver and passenger, and side curtain airbags for front-and
rear-seat occupants are in the car. It has all-disc antilock brakes,
traction control, and a standard electronic stability system.

Price

The Kia Sportage has an average price of $16,695 (N2. 5 million) to $24,371 (N3. 6 million).