- The 2011 Kia Sportage SX Turbo debuted on Friday, taking aim at the 2011 Acura RDX and undercutting its Japanese rival by almost $7,000.
- The Sportage SX will go on sale later this month with a base price of $26,490, including a $695 destination charge.
- The Sportage SX gets Kia's 256-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo GDI four-cylinder engine linked to a six-speed automatic transmission. Kia said the Sportage SX will deliver an estimated 22 mpg in city driving and 27 mpg on the highway.
ORLANDO, Florida — The 2011 Kia Sportage SX Turbo debuted on Friday, taking aim at the 2011 Acura RDX and undercutting its Japanese rival by almost $7,000. The new Sportage model will arrive in showrooms later this month with a base price of $26,490, including a $695 destination charge.
A Kia spokesman told Inside Line that the Sportage SX targets the 2011 Acura RDX, which starts at $33,480, including an $860 destination charge.
The Sportage SX gets Kia's 256-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged GDI four-cylinder engine linked to a six-speed automatic transmission. The Sportage SX is the second vehicle in Kia's U.S. lineup to get this engine; the 2011 Kia Optima Turbo was the first.
In comparison, the Acura RDX gets a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that delivers 240 horsepower. It is linked to a five-speed automatic transmission. The RDX delivers 19 mpg in city driving and 24 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA.
The 2011 Kia Sportage SX AWD will start at $27,990, including destination.
Kia said the Sportage SX also features a sport-tuned suspension with firmer shock and strut rates. It also is equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, an SX grille, dual exhaust and special side sill moldings. The cabin gets standard aluminum door sills and a new "supervision gauge cluster," and can be ordered in orange or blue color packages.
The base 2011 Kia Sportage is equipped with a 176-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. It starts at $18,990, including destination.
Inside Line says: Kia rounds out the Sportage lineup with a new SX Turbo model that has compelling numbers — in terms of fuel economy, horsepower and price — when compared with its chief rival. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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adukes_007 says:
07:33 PM, 12/07/2011
Really nice ride. There is a new owners forum for the turbo models.... www.kiaturbo.com
deathtollwrx says:
07:17 PM, 09/01/2011
I test drove the maxed out model today at CarPros Kia in Carson, CA. I must tell you the interior is really nice. It has heated and cooled seats (really wierd) A navigation system, backup sensors and a backup camera. The car drive really well and had good handling and great pickup (felt as solid as my C300). I must say it's almost as nice as a luxury car inside. The quality was just very impressive. It's a thursday night but the Kia dealership is packed. Alot of the cars actually have dealer markup yet they are still selling them like crazy.
This very well might be my next ride.
adukes_007 says:
07:11 PM, 08/01/2011
New forum for turbocharged Kias.
www.kiaturbo.com
adukes_007 says:
11:27 AM, 04/01/2011
The price is a bit higher than what I expected but the turbo is well worth it at high altitudes. Overall it is nice but I wonder if it is too small for most people.
www.turbosonata.com
tbone85 says:
09:44 AM, 03/08/2011
"Sometime back, korean cars had the price advantage.At 26K, the RAV4 V6 certainly makes a better choice over the sportage."
Depends on what you value. RAV has more flexible engine, Sportage has better warranty. Sportage is likely to be better equipped at the $26k mark.
dgmail says:
03:23 AM, 03/08/2011
KIA + Hyundai = RENTAL CAR
dgmail says:
03:22 AM, 03/08/2011
Hey mohatu,
As an Import owner of a Honda Odyssey that SUCKS. I Can and will Post about any and everything that I like.
And if you don't think the Leinerts are import bias, than you have your head in the sand.
Why don't you have a problem with them?
agt1717 says:
08:35 PM, 03/07/2011
Sometime back, korean cars had the price advantage.At 26K, the RAV4 V6 certainly makes a better choice over the sportage.
cjgt says:
12:26 PM, 03/07/2011
@ dgmail
LOL! ALL of them?
n2guru says:
11:27 AM, 03/07/2011
Hyundai/Kia have made great strides in improving their products. They are so much better than the cheapness they used to be spewing out. Beautiful styling, better quality, good power, great MPGS, more standard features, and at a reasonable price. They are the first to claim 40 mpgs in a midsize compact and achieve it, WITHOUT a hybrid or turbo (Elantra, anyone?) They will have naysayers who are complete fanboys. They are slowly changing the publics perception of them, through their persistent breakthroughs and we can no longer deny that they are truly competitive with the rest. What a complete turn around, eh? Good for them and good for us consumers.