Kia Goes Smaller to Get Bigger

In Canada compact vehicles sell best, with the number one vehicle purchased a battle between Mazdas hot new 3 and Hondas venerable Civic. The same scenario gets played out in the compact SUV segment of the market, with the top seller being Fords Escape.

Kia Motors plans to get in on the compact SUV action once again, an arena it helped originate in the early 90s with its 4x4 capable Sportage. While the new 2005 Sportage may not be able to emulate a mountain goat with quite as much agility off-road, it should be much more athletic when paved surfaces begin to wind on the way to the summer cottage.

Kia released the first official photos and technical specifications for its upcoming compact

The first official photos of Kias new updated Sportage were released earlier this month. (Photo: Kia Motors America)

The original Sportage was an instrumental model for Kia when introduced in 1993, as the brand was new to North America at that time and needed a competitive SUV to initially gain market share. Along with zany advertising, that featured a wacky character taking a modest family for a joy ride in a then new Sportage,

The original Sportage (shown here) was an instrumental model for Kia, racking up 568,720 sales outside of Korea. (Photo: Kia Motors America)

With time, the Sportage became uncompetitive in North America and was dropped from Kias lineup soon after the much larger Sorento was introduced in 2002 as a 2003 model. Now the Hyundai-owned division is bolstering its SUV ranks with a second model that is representative of the original in name only. Unlike the 1993 version, the 2005 Sportage will lose its body-on-frame design for a car-like monocoque architecture, which

Its safe to say that the Sportage will offer quite a bit more for the money than the comparable Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V when it goes on sale later this year. (Photo: Kia Motors America)

"Adding to our quickly expanding full product line-up, the all-new Sportage will reinforce our SUV offering together with the tremendously popular Sorento, thereby boosting Kias brand reputation in the SUV category," commented Yong-Hwan Kim, Senior Executive Vice-President and COO of Kia Motors.

Being that Kia is a relatively new player in North America, at least compared to Honda, Toyota and the like, its products have to be better and less expensive than its Japanese and domestic rivals. Its safe to say that the Sportage offers quite a bit more

Massive 15-inch ventilated front disc brakes and 9-inch drums in the rear take care of standard stopping duties. (Photo: Kia Motors America)

It also offers more power than many competitors in top trim. Its optional 2.7-liter V6 develops 175 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and a maximum of 178 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. The base engine is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder, featuring 142 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 136 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm. European and other markets will get a high-tech 2.0-liter common rail diesel powerplant as well, which would be the one to get at todays

According to the press material, the Sportage will feature an "ergonomically designed center fascia with driver-friendly control placement." (Photo: Kia Motors America)

Transmission choices include a 5-speed manual or H-Matic 4-speed automatic, the latter the only gearbox offered with the V6. For all-weather traction the Sportage offers optional electronic full-time 4-wheel drive - front-wheel drive is standard.

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