Kia Sportage

Our verdict

The Kia Sportage is a slightly uncomfortable-looking small SUV that can handle a wet paddock and deeper potholes, but suffers everywhere else.

Comfort

The ride's pretty good but as usual there's a pay-off in excessive bodyroll and steering so utterly vague it might as well be a government spokesman.

Performance

If you're game for a laugh then there's a 173bhp, 2.7-litre V6 that they've called the ‘Titan' with an auto 'box; 0-62mph in 10.5 and just 112mph, so it's no performance car. More sensible are the pair of 2.0-litre motors, one diesel, one petrol. Both have around 140bhp, but the diesel is a fair bit slower.The petrol hits 62mph in 10.4 seconds and tops 111mph, while the diesel figures are 13.8 secs and 104mph. No thrills.

Cool

I've just been a little bit sick in my mouth.

Quality

Materials are cheap, but panel gaps and general attention to detail look reasonable. A recent refresh has helped. A bit.

Handling

The usual SUV-lite 4x4 system sees a front-wheel drive car pump torque to the rear wheels if there's a lack of grip. Not exactly fun, and possibly one of the least effective of these systems - clunky in operation and can happily digest any performance capability.

Practicality

Big boot (667litres) becomes bigger when the seats are folded (1887litres), plenty of space for five, but a nasty C-pillar blind spot. Not that practical really, because once people see you driving it, you will lose your job and friends.

Running costs

Relatively poor economy from the petrol V6, but both 2.0-litre cars should get high 40s for mpg and insurance in group 10 or below. Running costs generally are very reasonable, but depreciation will be more akin to a sickening lurch into the pit of financial despair than a gentle tailing off of capital value.