Remember when 20 grand was a lot of money? All right, it still is, but if you're 4x4 shopping, you know there's not much under that amount. Then comes the '98 Kia Sportage. Surely we jest, you must be thinking. But we mean it-this is a sport/ute for near-nada. With air conditioning? Check. A CD player? Check. A theft-deterrent system, four-wheel drive, a roof rack, and power everything? Check, check, check, and check. That's a whole new kind of sticker shock, ain't it? The Kia Sportage 4x4 may be one of the best-kept secrets around. Introduced in 1995, it has since been racking up oodles of best-buy awards as well as winning a Class 3 championship in the SCORE Desert Championship Series in 1997. New for this year is an updated body style for both the interior and exterior; dual airbags; and upgrades to existing features, including the drivetrain and the engine. The Sportage comes in two trim levels: The Sportage and the Sportage EX. The Sportage carries a list price of $16,395, and the base price of the EX is $18,495. The optioned Sportage we road-tested had an MSRP of $18,529. For smooth handling and torsional stiffness, the Sportage has a ladder frame design with six crossmembers, a double-wishbone front suspension, and four-link rear suspension. New for the '98 models are vacuum-operated Warn front hubs, larger front disc-brake calipers, and larger rear drum brakes (which have increased from 9.84 inches to 10.23 inches). We found that the Kia drove well on-road and had good traction off-road, although the limited ground clearance and suspension travel hurt its off-road performance.For smooth handling and torsional stiffness, the Sportage has a ladder frame design with s The Sportage comes with a peppy 2.0L dual overhead cam, which pumps out 130 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. Both the exhaust and engine-management systems have been revised for 1998, including a new stainless steel muffler, and the four-speed automatic transmission has been improved to cut down on shift shock.The Sportage comes with a peppy 2.0L dual overhead cam, which pumps out 130 hp and 127 lb- One design flaw we couldn't overlook was the cupholder. Kia boasts that its dual cupholders have been improved in order to handle a variety of beverage containers. We found that it was able to do that, but it blocked access to air/heat controls and the view of the clock.One design flaw we couldn't overlook was the cupholder. Kia boasts that its dual cupholder Inside the Sportage is an all-new instrument panel and dash (stuffed with the new passenger-side airbag), a tilt steering wheel, a more-potent but still only medium-quality audio system, and a center console with an armrest that comes standard. And Kia now offers its downsize with a leather package in addition to the cloth interior. The industry-first driver-side knee airbag returns for 1998.Inside the Sportage is an all-new instrument panel and dash (stuffed with the new passenge In addition to a generous offering of leg, shoulder, and head room, the amount of cargo space is impressive. With the seats in place, there's 25.8 cubic feet of area for storing your goods, and with the split-folding rear seatbacks lowered, you score 55.4 cubic feet. Other interior additions include bigger garment hooks and a more durable rear seatback covering.In addition to a generous offering of leg, shoulder, and head room, the amount of cargo sp We were ever so happy with the redesigned spare-tire carrier. The inside-release and separate-pin mechanisms are gone, replaced with a new locking system that holds the spare-tire carrier away from the vehicle. It's easy to release-just pull the knob seen here, and the tire swings away.We were ever so happy with the redesigned spare-tire carrier. The inside-release and separ By Tori Tellem Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
