2001 Kia Sportage Trims and Specs

The 2001 Kia Sportage Convertible is a 2-door compact, rear-wheel-drive SUV that seats four. It has a 12-inch shorter wheelbase than the 4-door, and a cargo space half the size. With the seats down, it does hold 39 cubic feet. The convertible top is a soft-top over the rear seats, while the front seats retain a fixed hardtop. A 2.0-liter, 130-hp DOHC I4 powers the 2001 Sportage Convertible, with a 5-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic available. Dual front airbags and a driver's knee airbag are standard.

Equipment is equivalent to the 4-door, with power features, intermittent wipers, a tachometer, 15-inch wheels, a tilt steering wheel, power steering, and a security system. Air conditioning is optional, as is a choice of a cassette or CD player. ABS brakes, keyless entry, a CD changer and cruise control are other extras. No roof rack is available with the convertible. Fun and affordability are highlights for drivers of the 2001 Sportage Convertible, but frequent repairs and a sluggish engine disappoint.

To go with its sporty half-convertible look, the 2001 Kia Sportage 4WD Convertible adds part-time 4WD with low-range gearing, capable of tackling both tricky paved roads and true off-roading adventure. The soft top cover exposes the rear seats, while the front seats sit under a fixed hardtop. The two-door convertible seats four, and the rear seats split-fold, though not flat, to expand 13 cubic feet of cargo space to 39 cubic feet. The drivetrain consists of a 130-hp, 2.0-liter, 16-valve I4 with 5-speed manual, running on the road on 15-inch wheels.

Like its 2WD counterpart, the 2001 Sportage 4WD Convertible lacks standard air conditioning and a radio, but does come with power windows, locks, and mirrors, tilt steering, intermittent wipers, a clock and tachometer, and dual front airbags, including a knee airbag for the driver. Crash test ratings are below average, however. Available options include cruise control, a CD player or CD changer, keyless entry, and ABS brakes. The 19/24 mpg is decent for an SUV, though doesn't win too many fans among drivers, who do like the tight cornering, easy maneuverability, affordability, and sporty looks of the 2001 Sportage 4WD Convertible. Mechanical problems, a cumbersome top removal process, and cupholders that block the air vents are problems.

The 2001 Kia Sportage STD is the base model of the budget compact SUV, a rear-wheel drive sport utility that is also easy to motor around the city and grab tight parking spots. A 2.0-liter, 130-hp DOHC I4 sits under the hood with standard 5-speed manual transmission. A 4-speed automatic is optional. There are no major changes to the 2001 Sportage STD this year, except for Kia's new 100,000 mile/10-year warranty program.

The four-door Sportage STD seats four and sits on 15-inch. A segment-leading driver's knee airbag is standard, along with dual front airbags. Though it's a base model, it comes with full power features, tilt steering, a tachometer, intermittent wipers, and a security system. Strange that air conditioning is only optional. Other options include ABS brakes, cruise control, remote entry, a cassette or a CD player, alloy wheels, and a rear window wiper. The cargo area fits up to 26 cubic feet, but a roof rack can be added. Rear seats split-fold, but do not fold flat. A rear spoiler is also available. Comfort, easy handling, and an unbeatable sticker price are highlights for owners of the 2001 Sportage STD. Unfortunately, the cupholders block the vent, the engine feels underpowered, there are issues with power window failure, and loud road and wind noise.

Built with a truck body and featuring low-range gearing, the 2001 Kia Sportage STD 4WD can be taken off-road, making it rather unique among most compact and affordable SUVs. The four-door SUV features part-time 4-wheel drive, manually engaged by the driver. A 5-speed manual transmission accompanies a 130-hp, 2.0-liter, 16-valve DOHC I4 engine, which can tow up to 200 pounds. A 4-speed automatic is optional. The 2001 Sportage STD 4WD seats four, with 26 cubic feet of cargo space (55 with the seats down) and an optional roof rack. Rear seats split-fold, but do not fold flat.

Power windows, locks, and mirrors, power steering, a tilt steering wheel, intermittent wipers, 15-inch wheels, and a tachometer come standard on the 2001 Sportage STD 4WD, but air conditioning and a radio/cassette player or CD player are optional, to help keep the price down. Dual front airbags are standard, but ABS will cost extra. Other extras include cruise control, alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, CD changer, and keyless entry. A wiper for the rear window is also an option. At 18/23 mpg, the 2001 Sportage STD 4WD gets so-so fuel economy, and drivers like the interior headroom, 4WD capability, sporty styling, and easy handling. On the downside, the Sportage spends a lot of time in the repair shop, the engine is underpowered, and the power windows stop working.

The top of the line trim in the compact SUV offering is the 2001 Kia Sportage EX, a rear-wheel drive, four-door mini utility vehicle that offers more standard features than the convertible or base four-door trims. It does carry the same 130-hp, 2.0-liter, DOHC I4 engine as the rest of the lineup, with either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic. Power features, dual front airbags (and a knee airbag), intermittent wipers, 15-inch wheels, and a tachometer are all standard.

But the 2001 Sportage EX thankfully adds air conditioning, cruise control, and a CD player. Appearance-wise, alloy wheels and leather and wood interior trim are also standard. The rear window now gets its own wiper, and a roof rack is also included, to augment cargo-carrying capability beyond the 55 cubic feet inside when the rear seats are folded down (26 with them up). ABS brakes are still optional, as are keyless entry, a rear spoiler, and a CD changer. On the EX only, leather seats are available. Power window failures and transmission woes are just some of the repair problems drivers mention with the 2001 Sportage EX. But they love the standard features, the easy handling, and Kia's new 10-year, 100,000 mile warranty.

Off-roading capability, leather and wood trim, a CD player, and full power features are just some of the attractive aspects of the 2001 Kia Sportage EX 4WD, a four-door compact SUV with part-time, driver-engaged 4WD and 15-inch alloy wheels. Low-range gearing makes this affordable personal SUV tough in snow and unpaved roads alike. Power comes from a 130-hp, 2.0-liter DOHC I4 and choice of 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic. Headroom is ample, if backseat space is not, and the rear seats do fold somewhat flat, for up to 55 cubic feet of cargo space. A standard roof rack lets you carry even more.

At 19/24 mpg, fuel economy is about what you'd expect. In addition to what's listed above, standard equipment includes dual front airbags (and a segment-first knee airbag for the driver), cruise control, intermittent wipers and a rear window wiper, privacy glass, tilt steering wheel, and a tachometer. ABS brakes are optional, as is a rear spoiler. Added comfort and convenience takes the form of leather seats, remote entry, and a CD changer. There are lots of complaints about the 2001 Sportage EX 4WD in terms of repairs -- to replace cylinders, power windows, and early brake wear. But drivers do say the 4WD performs well, and the SUV is a good budget starter car for someone who works in the city, but plays in the outdoors on weekends.