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Think
of this as the northern-tier-of-states model.
Lots of people in cooler climes survive quite
well without A/C. And some don't want the extra
weight and bother. Anyway, relax. If you want
A/C in the LX you can have A/C for $800 extra.
(A/C is standard in the EX). And you can opt
for four-wheel drive, and an automatic instead
of the five-speed manual. But there is no automatic
with 4WD in the 4-cylinder LX. You'll have to
shift for yourself, which is just the way some
buyers want it. They are beaming at this Sportage
LX manual with 4WD...and optional A/C.
If
the 16-valve four-banger with its 140 horsepower
and 136 pound-feet of torque is not strong enough
for you, even with the manual to customize the
power curve to your needs, then choose the EX
and its V6. (An engine not offered in the Toyota
RAV4 and Honda CR-X doesn't offer. The Jeep
Liberty does with a segment-leading 210).
The
engine in the Sportage EX is an all-aluminum,
2.7-liter V6 making 173 hp and 178 lb-ft of
torque. Dual exhausts at the back announce its
presence. The V6 is teamed with a four-speed
automatic transmission. No manual is available
with the V6 but thankfully there is a manual
element in the automatic. These days, four-speed
automatics simply seem deficient. The "manumatic"
helps mask any shortcoming.
The
EX has more standard features including a power
sun roof, heated exterior mirrors, remote keyless
entry, security cover for the cargo area and
a illuminated circle around the ignition switch.
A Luxury package adds leather seating, heated
front seats, automatic headlight control, upgraded
audio system and a Homelink transmitter that
can open your garage door and turn your house
lights on from the car. Oh, yes body-colored
bumpers, a step up esthetically. And, get this,
we are still around $24,000.
The
4WD system in the Sportage leaves it a primarily
front-wheel drive vehicle until those leading
wheels lose traction then the rear wheels offer
their support. At crawling speeds, (under 20
mph) a 50/50 power split can be locked in by
pushing a button on the dash. This can bring
some really slippery surfaces to heel. Overnight
snow? The Sportage ground clearance of 7.7 inches
helps keep you well elevated even if the plow
is late.
Another
car-like feature in the 2005 Sportage is all
around independent suspension. This is another
certainty that the 2005 Sportage is skewed toward
maximizing the road experience. The proof is
in the pudding.
The
2005 Sportage I drove, a 4WD V6, is far more
car-like than the cute-ute of old. Any roll
in the tight and twisties is like that of a
car, not a truck. It feels lower to the ground
than it is and actually has a sporty flair.
It feels secure and responsive. It is in short
fun to wheel about.
The
vehicle's utility is good. Access to the cargo
area is a hatchback hinged at the top. The back
window flips up separately to access on-top
items. The spare tire is now indoors under the
cargo floor.
The
seats are remarkably easy to fold totally flat.
The folded down back on the front passenger
seat is at a slightly different level but it
still affords uninterrupted space for something
big and long from dashboard to rounded hatchback.
A kayak perhaps, but certainly any household
stepladder. Golly a third-grader superglued
to stilts is even an possibility, if it comes
to that.
The
2005 Kia Sportage has replaced added utility
and increased value for cute. Kia's strength
has always been in lower prices. Now that can
be read as greater value for the money. This
belongs on your look-at list.
For
More Information Click: Kia
Sportage
For the Kia 2005 Model Guide : Click
Here
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