The current-generation 2012 Kia Sportage has been an absolute standout SUV for Kia. It has established itself as one of Kia's most popular models in Australia, US and all around the world today, winning many awards including Australia's SUV of the Year winner.
Kia Sportage was designed by a now former Kia designer, Massimo Frascella (in the brand's Californian design center). Frascella, who has been involved in designing cars for Ford, Land Rover, Jaguar and even Aston Martin, worked under Kia's head of design, Peter Schreyer (himself a former Audi designer), continuing the current Kia family look that made its first big splash on the striking Kia Optima.
One of Kia's greatest strengths has been its ability to marry high-end European design and engineering with Korean manufacturing processes. This has resulted in a car that is European at heart but with the affordability and value-packed features of the leading Korean carmaker. This is what has been said that differs between the Japanese and Korean approach to car manufacturing as the Japanese are more likely to stick with their own engineering and design ideals.
From inside out and on the road, the Kia Sportage is similar to many of its Japanese rivals: smooth, easy to live with day-to-day, and with reasonable ride quality over poorly surfaced roads. The bigger chrome wheels adds second look to the external aesthetics.
The interior layout is fabulously modern. The young at heart designed dash board, console and seats plus the hand-free audio control, blue tooth connectivity, and the rear parking sensors and reverse camera are amongst the features one would love to have in a sporty SUV.
The 2012 Kia Sportage comes in fuel efficient 2L engine with a tiptronic gear box, and available in 4x2 and 4x4 versions.
Kia Sportage, along with the full lineup of Kia vehicles are backed by a 3year/100,000km warranty in Fiji, and available from Kia Motors Fiji Showrooms, located at the corner of Grantham Road and Carpenter Street, Garden City Raiwai Suva and in Main Street, Nadi Town. Source: Kia Motors