| | choose between front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive for both engines depending on their driving needs. Additionally, the base model of the 2012 Kia Sportage can only be purchased with the standard six-speed manual transmission, while other trim levels feature a six-speed automatic transmission as standard equipment.Safety Kia has not skimped on safety with the 2012 Sportage, which incorporates traction and stability control, hill start and hill descent systems and a full array of air bags and safety belts. Additionally, four-wheel antilock disc brakes with braking assistance are standard equipment on every Sportage trim level and provide additional stopping power even in inclement weather.PerformanceThe acceleration and handling of the Kia Sportage is about average for its class. In road tests, the 2.4-liter engine paired with a front-wheel drive manual transmission was able to go from zero to sixty miles per hour in under ten seconds, a midrange performance benchmark for this vehicle. All-wheel drive models can go off-road, but the 2012 Kia Sportage is not suited for extensive or overly demanding off-road adventures. Standard features and optionsThe 2012 Kia Sportage is available in four trim levels. The base level features standard equipment including basic air conditioning, full power accessories including locks, mirrors and windows, Bluetooth capability and a six-speaker stereo system that includes a CD player and MP3 playback functionality. Sixteen-inch wheels are standard on the base model with optional seventeen and eighteen-inch wheels on higher trim levels. |