Kia Sportage outpoints Mistubishi Outlander Sport and Nissan Juke in SUV/Hatchbacks tests

Kia Sportage

The redesigned Kia Sportage outscored the new Mitsubishi Outlander Sport and the Nissan Juke in Consumer Reports' tests for the March issue of three small vehicles that straddle the line between hatchbacks and SUVs. All three received a Very Good overall road test score.

"The melding of more carlike qualities in these vehicles comes with some concessions like passenger room, visibility, and versatility compared with that of other SUVs," said David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports' Auto Test Center in East Haddam, Connecticut. "But the Sportage outmaneuvered the other two competitors because it manages to have greater interior space without losing its fun to drive character."

The Sportage emerged as a competitive small SUV with nimble handling and an efficient powertrain. The Outlander Sport is a smaller version of the Outlander SUV, with less rear seating and cargo space. The fun-to-drive Juke is a new design based on the Nissan Versa platform, but its distinctive styling compromises rear-seat space, cargo room, and visibility.

All three vehicles have an SUV's elevated ride height and available all-wheel drive, but they're trimmer and sportier in appearance and handling. They blend characteristics of multiple-vehicle categories--SUVs, wagons, and hatchbacks. Prices for the SUVs ranged from $23,300 for the Nissan Juke SV to $23,995 for the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE.

The issue also features a face-off between the Honda Odyssey and Kia Sedona minivans. The Odyssey scored an Excellent road test score and topped CR's minivans ratings, outpointing the Sedona which scored Very Good.

All the vehicles in this test group are new, redesigned, or freshened for 2011. The Kia Sportage and Honda Odyssey were redesigned for 2011, the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport and Nissan Juke are new models for 2011, and the Kia Sedona was freshened with a new powertrain. In all, Consumer Reports has ratings on more than 50 different small SUVs, hatchbacks, and minivans--including the Odyssey's biggest competitor, the Toyota Sienna.

The Juke, Odyssey, Outlander Sport, and Sportage are too new for Consumer Reports to have adequate reliability data to Recommend. The Kia Sedona's reliability is below average and therefore not Recommended. CR only recommends vehicles that have performed well in its tests, have at least average predicted reliability based on CR's Annual Auto Survey of its more than seven million print and Web subscribers, and performed at least adequately if crash-tested or included in a government rollover test.