For all the equipment that comes standard on Sportage, antilock brakes remain a $490 option. Fortunately, ABS is available on all models, so buyers don't have to take a package that includes features they might not necessarily want.
We drove our Sportage on the highways and byways of Southern California, where sport-utilities are as popular as fast-food outlets, and had occasion to shift into four-wheel drive one thoroughly wet afternoon. That day, in two-wheel drive, the Sportage easily lost traction at its drive wheels, even during normal acceleration from a stop sign. A flick of a lever put us in 4WD-high and solved the problem. The Sportage was suddenly more sure footed.
On drier days on crowded California freeways, we found the compact size of the Sportage a blessing. It slips in and out of traffic with an ease larger SUVs can't match. With its four-cylinder engine, however, you need to plan your maneuvers ahead of time and start working the accelerator a little sooner than you would with a bigger engine. It's useful to build some speed before you start climbing a steep grade. When it comes to getting the most from Sportage engine, the manual transmission is much better than the automatic. If your commute makes the manual an acceptable alternative, we highly recommend it.
One thing you notice quickly is that, for all its accouterments and design features, the Sportage has a slightly raw feel in its ride and handling. Indeed, this back-to-basics quality can be part of the Sportage's charm. Just don't expect the chassis sophistication, the handling response or the vibration dampening you might get in larger SUVs or those based on cars, such as the Honda CR-V.
The payoff for its trucklike ride is greater off-road capability: Sportage 4x4 models use a traditional part-time four-wheel-drive system that is better equipped for muddy terrain than an all-wheel-drive system, such as that found in the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute. Sportage 4x4 models are also equipped with a low-range transfer case for when the going really gets tough. This enables the Sportage to go places unreachable in a CR-V, Escape or Tribute. The rougher the terrain, the more of an advantage the Sportage offers. Next Page