The 2010 Kia Sportage carries over from the previous model year. The Sportage is a compact crossover SUV,first introduced to the United States in 1995 and now in its second generation. It?s available in both front- and all-wheel drive.

The 2010 Kia Sportage?s base LX trim features 16-inch wheels,cloth upholstery,power windows and locks,keyless entry,cruise control,6-speaker sound system,and rear privacy glass. Air conditioning is optional with the base 4-cylinder engine,and standard with the available V-6 engine. The EX trim adds 17-inch wheels,standard air conditioning,fog lights,sunroof,a cover for the rear cargo area,and a trip computer. A navigation system is available,and an optional Luxury package includes leather upholstery,heated front seats,rear parking sensors,and an upgraded sound system. With rear seats folded flat,total cargo space amounts to 66.6 cubic feet.

The Sportage buyer has a choice of a 4- or a 6-cylinder engine. The standard power plant is a 140-horsepower,2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine,which works with a 5-speed manual or an optional 4-speed automatic transmission. The optional V-6 engine is a 173-horsepower,2.7-liter model,with which the 4-speed automatic transmission is standard. The base engine delivers 20 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway; the V-6 delivers 18 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway,according to the EPA.

Standard safety features on the 2010 Kia Sportage include anti-lock disc brakes,stability control,traction control,front side air bags,and side curtain air bags. In government crash tests,the NHTSA gave the 2010 Kia Sportage five stars (out of five) for both driver and passenger protection in front-impact tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the 2010 Kia Sportage ?Acceptable? ratings in its frontal-offset and side-impact crash tests.

Depending on trim level,starting MSRPs for the 2010 Kia Sportage ranged from $16,995 to $23,495.