When I was much younger, and in way better shape than I am now, I won a trophy or two. And as a married man these trophies are somewhere where no one can do any damage to them (wife's explanation). They are stored in a big box in the garage.
Every couple of years I take a glance at them to remind me of how old I am getting and shake a fist at the little woman who would prefer that they stay in the box for all eternity.
OK, I admit I shake my fist while I am in the garage and she is upstairs somewhere, because if she saw me shaking my fist I would probably end up sleeping with the trophies and there really isn't much room left on the shelf to
accommodate me.
But not everyone has to keep their trophies in a box in the garage. KIA, for instance, lets everyone know what trophies its vehicles have won simply by stating so on the brochure for each vehicle.
Take for example the Sportage turbo. On the brochure it proudly states the Sportage has won the Reddot Design Award, iF product design award, Le Guide De L'auto best SUV, Auto123.com compact
utility of the year and Motoring 2011 best SUV.
I tried putting winner of Slow Bicycle Race Champion 1978 and Most Improved Son 1974 on my business cards once, but it didn't go over too well.
However in the ultra-competitive world of auto manufacturers it is important to let people know when your vehicles have won awards.
In the new Sportage turbo it isn't hard to see why it has won these awards. It is a good looking SUV with a slightly muscular look, it has decent room inside, plenty of options and a ton of power.
The 2.0-litre engine pumps out a nice 260 horsepower and this is evident whenever you
decide to slam your foot on the gas pedal.
When in full automatic mode the Sportage takes in a deep but quick gasp of air before whooshing you forward at crazy speeds. This power is available slightly quicker if in manual mode and in a lower gear. Hammer it in third gear at about 70 and the Sportage propels you forward in a bloody hurry, and once you hit fourth it feels like you could pin the needle all the way to the top digits on the speedo.
Dropping a few gears every so often becomes quite fun and is nice to do when some pimple-faced git in his little "sport coupe" thinks he is all that and a bag of chips and takes off from the lights like he just got a text that the last bottle of Proactiv just went on sale at his local drug store.
Inside the Sportage is well apportioned with comfy, power, leather seats that are both heated and cooled, and a wonderful little button on the side of the steering column, which when pushed heats the wheel in an
instant.
With the days getting longer and longer and the sun making an appearance more often the power moonroof and second panoramic glass roof will be great for heating the balding, slightly-gray scalp.
When not in attack mode the Sportage is easy to drive and manoeuvre through tight parking areas and even though the snow is thankfully gone from the roads, the all-wheel drive is always a welcome option. The Sportage came with Bluetooth, dual zone climate control, navigation, backup camera, satellite radio, hill assist control, downhill brake control, TC, ABS, ESC and a host of other safety
gadgetry.
Under the floor in the back is a decent amount of storage and a tonneau cover to hide the last of the Proactive you bought from the drug store (including the sold out sign) just to teach the punk teen a lesson.
The Sportage makes you feel like you can still win a trophy or two, and ones that hopefully won't be stuck in a box never to see the light of day again.
Take it from the 1979 cross-eyed, milk chugging champion, this Sportage is definitely an award winner.
Spec Sheet
Vehicle
Kia Sportage Turbo
Vehicle type:
5-door SUV
Transmission:
6-speed manumatic
Engine:
2.0-litre turbo four cylinder
Horsepower:
260 @ 6,000
Torque:
269 @ 1,1850
Mileage:
10 l/100 km
28 mpg City
7.7 l/100 km
37 mpg Hwy
Price as tested:
$39,695
