My wife and I selected this model of Sportage because we knew of its reputation for rough terrain handling and rugged durability. In those aspects, it hasn't disappointed. If you compare the older and newer models of Kia Sportage, you'll notice that all of the newer ones are lower to the ground. This is something that's baffled me. If you want to take full advantage of the four-wheel-drive on this baby, you don't want her skimming too close to the road. That sort of thing can spell trouble. With this model we're up at a safe distance from rocks, potholes, etc. Another feature of the newer models that's less than desirable is all of the plastic that goes into them. Our older model is made of big solid chunks of durable metal.

I first saw Sporty on the website of the car dealer that I have mostly used over the years. At the time, I was driving a Toyota Corolla. This was a time when Toyotas were in the news for having massive problems, and because of back issues, I was needing a bigger car just to facilitate getting in and out. Sporty seemed like the perfect solution. I liked the look and the style. It was a small SUV. I'm not the best backer-upper, so I didn't want something too big. Kia in general has a good reputation, too.