By EWAN KENNEDY
4 September 2006

The Sportage is a tough little machine that uses a ladder-frame chassis and has a dual-range transfer case. Despite these advantages that make it suitable for genuine off-road use, it’s not intended for constant heavy-duty work, rather as a weekend toy. It certainly stands out in a class that’s being dominated by ‘pretend’ 4WDs that are really not much more than passenger wagons with all-wheel drive.

Drive is part-time 2WD to the rear wheels through a limited slip differential. The front wheels have automatic hubs and are engaged by the driver as needed when the back wheels start to loose their grip on the landscape.

Sportage’s styling gives it a modern look that appeals to all but the most dyed-in-the-wool old-time 4WD buyers.

In the Korean manner the Sportage offers impressive value-for-money. For example, it has power windows and door mirrors, central locking, a radio/cassette player with an electric aerial and many more of life’s little luxuries.

The Kia 4WD first arrived in this country late in 1996. These are getting on in years and may be near the end of their lives. From early 2000, though it has basically the same body up front, it is longer in the tail, providing substantially more boot space. This later model, which also has some minor upgrades, is the one to go for if you can raise the cash.

Seating is fine for the two in front, but the rear seat legroom may prove marginal if tall adults are seated in the front. Luggage space is good for a 4WD in this class, especially from the updated 2000 model onwards.

The Sportage is powered by a 2.0-litre Mazda-based engine. It is a modern twin-cam design with sequential fuel injection and four valves per cylinder.

It is necessary to use the five-speed manual gearbox constantly to get the best from the engine under hilly conditions.

A four-speed automatic transmission is an option but takes the edge off performance. Having said that, the auto works well and those who do a lot of traffic work will appreciate it.

Suspension is by double wishbones at the front and a four-link setup at the rear. Handling and ride are the weak points of the Sportage. The suspension is under damped, resulting in a relatively soft and pitchy ride that doesn’t inspire confidence on secondary sealed roads.

Off road you will find the combination of good ground clearance, decent approach and departure angles and big wheels allows you to go into some pretty difficult areas. As mentioned, the Sportage isn’t aimed at constant hard work, but on forest trails and beaches it really works nicely.

Kai Sportage is safe enough in its on-road handling, provided the driver doesn’t try to push it too hard. Things were improved somewhat at the beginning of 1999 and again with the longer body of 2000, but are still nothing special. Always remember that it’s a small truck, not a passenger car.

Rear drum brakes don't give a lot of continual stopping power in hilly areas with a load on board. Try them for yourself if you are going to be driving in those circumstances and feel for a pedal that’s going too close to the floor.

We haven't heard any real complaints about parts availability in these relatively early days. Prices are about average for this class, perhaps a little cheaper than for some Japanese competitors.

Insurance is not generally a worry but it always pays to shop around. Be sure you understand what you are getting for your premium dollar, especially how much excess you have to pay.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Kia screws its cars together reasonably well and we have heard of no real troubles in the Sportage. The standard isn’t to that of Japanese vehicles, though.

Serious off-road use is rare so if you find a Sportage with body and underbody damage take care. The areas that usually suffer first are the door sills, bumper corners and protection plates.

Also look for fine scratches in side panels that have been scraped through scrub.

Make sure the engine starts easily, idles smoothly and has reasonable performance at all times. Any hesitation under acceleration is a sign to be wary.

Check the gearshift is smooth and quiet and doesn’t crunch on fast downchanges.

Check the brakes pull the 4WD up easily with no pulling to one side, and without one wheel locking before the others.

Look over the interior trim for rips, tears, burns and other damage. Off-roaders can really get knocked around in this area when people clamber in and out with dirty clothes and heavy-duty boots.

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