If you think that the Kia Sportage is a cheap alternative to some of the pricier compact SUVs, you're only half right. You're correct in citing the price difference, but you'd be wrong to think that it's a "cheap" truck. Despite its bargain price, it's actually quite nicely put together, and has a good many features for the money. And its warranty ain't half bad either.

But is it comfortable? Is it spacious? Should you buy it instead of its higher priced competition? Well, yes, no and perhaps. Yes, its interior has a nice seating position and is ergonomically sound, its most glaring fault being a radio with tiny buttons and mediocre sound quality. It is not especially roomy, especially in the rear seat, and boy do we wish for a rear door that could be opened without swinging the spare tire out of the way. But whether or not you should buy it instead of other SUVs depends on how much you care about image versus substance, and whether or not you can live with its rather anemic four-cylinder engine. To some, a bit more power would be worth money.