CAR Dealer took the Kia Sportage for a long drive from the office on the south coast to Wales – and here’s what happened.

We’ve written many words about the Sportage before. Here for instance. And here. And here. Even here.

That’s because it’s a firm favourite with the Car Dealer office.

We strongly believe the new Kia was one of 2010’s best cars, and that if you buy one – particularly in the right colour with the right wheels… ie. White with the 18-inchers – you will have one of the most distinctive cars currently in the UK.

It’s not exactly new, I admit. It has been on sale since the back-end of last year, and when looking back at 2010, perhaps the Aston Martin Rapide was better than the Sportage. But few cars look so damn good and come with a decent array of spec for such reasonable money. And… Here we go again… it has a seven-year warranty.

Okay, let’s move on. I needed to go to Wales last week, so I naturally chose the Sportage. Why? Because I wanted to carry out a little experiment – seven months on since its full-model launch, can the Sportage still turn heads?

Each town or city I passed through on my road-trip was scored out of ten. A score of one was given if pavement walkers paid no attention to the LED-lit SUV, and a ten was given if I found myself talking like a salesman to someone I didn’t know.

May 12, 11.52 – Gosport, near Portsmouth – 5.8/10

Car Dealer office is based, roughly, in between two Kia dealers. Unsurprisingly, during the scrappage scheme, both dealers were as busy as… Well, a Kia dealer during scrappage. Business has continued to be strong for them since the launch of the Sportage. So much so, Gosport and Portsmouth are rather blighted by the SUV. Brown ones, orange ones, blue ones and white ones all reside on the South Coast.

But, even with this, the Sportage still draws looks of admiration. A solid 6 out 10.

May 12, 12.30 – Hambledon – 3.6/10

This is where I live, and I wasn’t expecting to have to stop. But, drinking too many coffees in the office meant I had to stop at home and relieve myself. In the conservative village of my residence (why did I say that?) which has more than a whiff of the 19th century about it, the Sportage gets some looks. Looks of horror. Remember this is Volvo V70 and Land Rovers of 1953-vintage country.

May 12, 13.14 – Winchester – 6.9/10

Passing Winchester bound for the A34, I thought I would pop into my old University city. What I wasn’t expecting was the number of looks the Sportage received. Stopped at the zebra crossing by the Guildhall, even a traffic warden gave an approving nod. But traffic wardens’ opinions don’t really count, do they?

May 12, 13.38 – A34, Tot Hill Services – 7.0/10

Going further north (still in the south!) reveals the Sportage is a bit of unusual sight. I mean, at a queue on the roundabout leading off of the A34 into the services, a chap in a C-Class Mercedes let me in. Presumably to have a better look at the ‘tage.

May 12, 14.35 – A service station somewhere on the M4 – 7.9/10

Stopping for a drop of fuel resulted in the highest score so far. You see, I was quite canny here. Instead of telling the petrol station lady what pump I had filled up at, I just said ‘The Kia, love.’ She replied: ‘Kia? Can’t see no Kia.’ Enough said.

May 12, 15.17 – Cardiff – 8.8/10

On my journey to Wales the number of Sportages I saw became fewer and fewer. While they are a fairly common sight in the south of England, in Wales the Sportage is a relatively rare sight. Traffic just outside of the city – due to the silly 50mph speed limit no less – gave the onlookers ample time to stare and gawp. By the time the I reached the centre of the city, people were actually staring. I could see one couple visibly muttering about the ‘unusual blue’ car.

Verdict

300 miles I travelled in the Sportage, and despite it being considered ‘old’ by us hacks, it’s still a car which is causing a stir with the public. It just shows what  triumphant job Kia has done with the Sportage which can only continue. How long will the Sportage carrying on getting admiring glances? We don’t know – but it might be longer that we all think.