Second-hand: Kia Sportage

What a difference a generation – and a corporate merger – can make.

When we kicked the tires of a used, first-generation Sportage compact sport-utility six years ago, we found a cute-ute that needed service to keep it humming.

Designed before Hyundai's involvement, the Mazda-powered Sportage was rough around the edges but offered a lot of bang for the buck when Canada's first Kia stores opened in 1999.

That unrefined, body-on-frame truck bowed out after the 2002 model year, leaving the market Sportage-less for two years before the new, car-based model debuted.

By all accounts it was worth the wait.

CONFIGURATION

Like other crossovers, the new-for-2005 Sportage adopted a front-drive unibody platform, in this case Hyundai's Elantra sedan. (Hyundai bought a controlling interest in Kia in 1998 during the Asian financial crisis, outbidding Ford.)

The Sportage shared its platform, powertrains and many of its components with its corporate brother, the Hyundai Tucson.

While its exterior dimensions remained largely unchanged, the new Sportage took advantage of its space-efficient chassis to create a commodious cabin, good for five adults in a pinch. The split-folding rear bench offered plenty of head- and legroom, with lots of useable foot space under the front seats.

"I'm 6-foot-2 and close to 300 pounds. I can almost stretch my legs out completely and my sitting position is flat instead of twisted and contorted like what I get in most small cars," reported the owner of a 2007 model.

Drivers faced a straightforward dash layout with all the controls mounted high. Interior materials had a premium look, belying the bargain-basement price. The generous cargo area, finished in hard plastic, was a potential source for noise, however.

Unlike competitors such as the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, the Sportage did not hang its spare tire out the back. Instead, owners had access to a handy hatch that included a lift-up window for loading smaller items.

The standard engine was Hyundai's DOHC 2.0 L four cylinder, good for 140 hp; optional was an all-aluminum DOHC 2.7 L V6 making 173 hp and 178 lb.-ft. of torque. Buyers could choose from a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic with the four banger. The six cylinder came bundled with the automatic.

All models were available with all-wheel drive, supplied by BorgWarner, and activated by a dashboard switch summoning a 50-50 front/rear torque split. Unfortunately, there was no low-range gearing for true off-roading. Base models spun their front wheels.

Antilock four-wheel disc brakes and traction/anti-skid control were standard. So were front side airbags and curtain side airbags.

The Sportage did not change much in subsequent model years; look for an all-new model in 2010.

ON THE ROAD

Blessed with a meaty, rigid unibody, the Sportage exuded quiet strength.

"Open the door and slam it. It sounds solid!" boasted one owner on the Internet, echoing sentiments by others that seemed to be targeted at detractors of the Kia nameplate.

While the structure was sound, the cute-ute's powertrains were not as refined nor as powerful as its main competitors. With its porky curb weight (one of the heaviest in its class), the Sportage went about its business slowly.

Zero to 96 km/h came up in 10 seconds with the popular V6/automatic/AWD combination. The four-cylinder motor added more than a second. Owners noted the engines were noisy and felt underpowered when climbing an incline at highway speeds or in other situations that stressed it.

Braking was good at 53 metres to haul down from a speed of 112 km/h, while road-holding was adequate at 0.75g. Unlike many Korean models, the Sportage was not softly sprung, but instead exhibited a firm (but punishment-free) ride and communicative steering.

Owners did express some disappointment with the V6's fuel economy, barely topping 20 m.p.g. (13 litres/100 km) around town.

WHAT OWNERS REPORTED

Despite some dismal dependability statistics published by J.D. Power and Associates and others, Kia has been a fast study and has rapidly improved the quality of its vehicles.

In our Internet scan of owners' comments, we could not detect any major issues with the second-generation Sportage.

Not-so-common complaints revolved around air-conditioning mould, faulty rear window wipers, a few electrical bugaboos and occasional hard starting in winter.

"It is always blowing a power steering hose at -25 degrees or lower. I don't think it is made for the north," commented the owner of a '06 model.

Owners found the Sportage to be comfortable, practical, dependable and, apparently, fun to drive. And, according to a U.S. study, the Sportage is one of the least expensive vehicles to insure.

"The more time I am clocking behind the wheel, the more I'm liking this vehicle," wrote one driver.

Surprise seems to be the prevailing sentiment among owners.

We would like to know about your ownership experience with these models: Audi A3, Chevrolet Uplander/Pontiac SV6 and Honda Ridgeline. Email: toljagic@ca.inter.net