The ride was well-damped; there was no bottoming out on tight turns, which is great when off-roading in the 4x4 or traversing big-rig-destroyed highways. The body roll was minimal, and I liked the weight of the steering. The vehicle went where it was pointed, without drama or severe understeer.
A lack of NVH was a standout, and Kia should be commended for keeping the bar high. Nothing says cheap faster than excessive interior noise from the road, tires, and wind. The new Sportage also has 4 inches more track front and rear over the old model for increased stability. The brakes and the stopping power were impressive as well.
I walked away from the Sportage with the feeling that it’s cohesive now, not a bunch of parts each doing a job, but a unified vehicle that no doubt will please not only previous Sportage owners, but those who want an SUV with over 65 cubic feet of total cargo volume without having to rob a bank to afford it.
