2004 Kia Sportage 2.0L 16V 5MT FWD (141 HP)

Vehicle Overview

The second generation of the Sportage was hugely different than its predecessor, and, starting with the 2004 model, it came with unibody construction, replacing the body-on-frame solution that was previously used.

Hyundai bought Kia in 1998, and the second generation of the Sportage was one of their first joint projects. This time, Kia focused on the European market, and even if it shared its new crossover platform with the Hyundai Tucson, it sported a different design. In addition, the price was attractive, and the engine offer was excellent.

The car’s exterior was humble, sporting a pair of headlights that resembled the biodesign era, which was already gone from trends. Moreover, the black, unpainted front and rear bumpers were nothing to write home about it. Still, the flared wheel arches and the profiled door panels resembled an off-road vehicle. But the overall design was decent, and the raked-forward C-pillar created a dynamic image for the small-sized crossover.

Inside, the automaker used hard plastic in many areas, trying to cut production costs. After all, the car’s price was attractive. But the quality of the interior room and materials was better than on the previous Sportage. Its front bucket seats were comfortable, and customers appreciated the dashboard with its green-lit instrument panel. In addition, there was enough room for three passengers in the back, and the Sportage’s large trunk could compete with many compact-sized MPVs.

Surprisingly for its segment and price range, the Sportage had a wide engine range, either gasoline or turbo-diesel. In addition, a 2.7-liter V6 and automatic transmissions were on the options lists.