LIKE this please.

The new 2011 Kia Sportage Test drive review by MYCARLADY’s Sarah Lee in Las Vegas, Nevada tells you the truth about the good, bad and ugly in new cars. The Sportage is definitely a winner all the way, with only a few quirky items not worth worrying about.

First of all this new version is a welcome change from previous models, starring the new Euro-Asian look that has carried KIA into the 2010-2011 center stage with the Soul, Sorento, Forte and Forte Coupe. I don’t think there is a better looking, more well-balanced design platform scaling all the different models, sizes and price points of a single auto manufacturer out there right now.

The new “Stage lights” in the headlamps are awesome, who cares if they are taken right off the Audi. As a matter of fact, the back-end resembles the Q5/Q7 and why not imitate a fashion leader. The fit and finish is solid and eye-appealing with just enough chrome, polished aluminum and leather to accent without over-dosing. Thanks for skipping the fake wood and laminate, as old as Oldsmobile. BTW, for those dissing the smaller rear passenger windows, I’ll take the extra metal rising up the belt line and protecting my shoulder over the need to stick my head out the window.

The handling, and ride are solid without being sluggish, especially when you consider the 176hp 4cyl engine puts out more hp than the old v6. The wider body stance keeps us firmly on the road when taking corners and in the wind. The acceleration was good, even as I had the air on full blast (67 with my dual temp controls) in Las Vegas 108 degree summer heat and accelerating into traffic at 50+mph.

The gas mileage says 22 and 31, which is awesome for a 5 passenger suv, but let’s be real, the middle passenger #5 better be small. Tall is okay in the 2011 Sportage because head room, there is plenty. A 6’2″ guy ducked a bit to get int he rear seats but had plenty of room (no moon-roof in my demo). The rear seats don’t recline but there is plenty of head and legroom to be comfortable on a long drive. My rear passengers got air from one of the 4 vents in the front blowing gusts, so no one complained about not having rear air vents.

The back hatch has very respectable storage for this class, with a 60/40 rear seat split for long items. I could get 3-4 golf bags in the back without any trouble.

I’m sorry to tell you, the only way to get push button start is by ordering the top of the line EX and adding Leather, Navigation, and you must get Leather seats if you want the panoramic moon-roof. Also the new UVO inteactive voice recognition package won”t be available til January 2011. It’s a Microsoft system, first debuted at CES last year in the Sorento, and we haven’t seen it there yet either. At $19k-28k, I think the Sorento is a better play but hands-free dialing, sending emails and texting are the wave of the future, by law, so get ready.

There are some intersting interior color options: orange and blue, and a heated and cooled front seat package, yet you still have to order “Homelink” as an option and the passenger front airbag light is annoying, by being “on” when you have no front passenger, the opposite of every other car manufacturer out there.

The A/C cooler glove-box is a copy of the Dodge Caliber, not sure it was ever used as a cooler, but hey, it’s another “boasting” point. Better to crow about the awesome warranty: 5yr/60k basic and 10/100k powertrain, still an amazing selling point only sister Hyundai has maintained over the years, and the quality has improved on top of that deal.

All in all, Kia has done a great job with the entire Sportage makeover for 2011 and should be proud. Already named Best in Class for residual value, let’s see KIA support the all-new 2011 Sportage with a strong lease program to buy some market position as they did when launching the FORTE, and don’t forget to ship them!

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If you need any other car buying, selling, trading or financing assistance on any new or used vehicle, please do not hesitate to email me at sarahlee@mycarlady.com or give me a call; 702-521-7546 I’m here to help you with any of your automotive needs and advice is free.

Sarah Lee is an automotive executive with 20+ years of experience. She writes about Cars, and is a staunch consumer advocate on car related subjects. Her company: MY CARLADY is a car buyer’s service committed to getting you the best deal on your next new or pre-owned vehicle. You can reach her at CAR DEALS