2011 Kia Sportage named “2010 Top Safety Pick” by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
The view from the Summit
Here at metro Detroit Kia dealer Summit Place Kia, located in both Waterford and Canton, we have some great news to tell you about the all-new 2011 Kia Sportage – and it’s news you’ll want to hear!
After extensive safety testing of our latest Kia model that covered front, side, rollover, and rear impact tests, the all-new compact CUV has received the highest recognition from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The 2011 Kia Sportage passed all four tests with flying colors and has been named a “2010 Top Safety Pick.”
We should also note that the 2011 Sportage is the fourth new generation Kia to be named a “Top Safety Pick”, following in the footsteps of the 2010 Kia Soul, the 2010 Kia Forte and, most recently, the 2011 Kia Sorento.
To officially confirm the information, Kia Motors America issued the following press release last week:
(SEOUL) August 18, 2010 – Joining the 2010 Forte compact sedan, 2010 Soul urban passenger vehicle and 2011 Sorento compact crossover utility vehicle (CUV), the all-new 2011 Sportage CUV has been recognized as a “Top Safety Pick” by the U.S.’s Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the small SUV category when built after March 2010. Arriving in Kia showrooms in the U.S. now, Sportage received the organization’s top honor by earning “Good” ratings – the highest achievable – in frontal, side, rear and rollover impact crash safety tests. The Sedona minivan was the first Kia vehicle to receive the IIHS “Top Safety Pick,” along with the “Safest Minivan Ever Tested” distinction from IIHS, shortly after its launch in 2006, and again in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
“The Kia brand is committed to providing consumers with the highest levels of passenger safety by providing a comprehensive list of cutting-edge technologies and features for increased crash protection,” said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, Kia Motors America (KMA). “The 2011 Sportage’s sleek and modern appearance continues Kia’s design-led transformation while staying true to the company’s core philosophy of providing consumers with exciting, fun-to-drive vehicles with high levels of value, quality and safety.”
Ratings from the Institute are based on results from frontal, side and rear impact crash tests, and for 2010 a good performance in a roof strength test – to measure protection in a rollover – also was required to win. Each vehicle’s overall evaluation was based on various measurements specific to each crash angle, and overall impact on crash test dummies inside the vehicle at the time of collision. All vehicles must have electronic stability control available to be eligible.
Like all Kia vehicles, the 2011 Sportage is equipped with a long list of standard safety equipment. Both trims come outfitted with driver and passenger advanced front airbags, front seat-mounted side airbags, side curtain airbags and front active headrests, four-wheel Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and a Brake Assist System (BAS), which recognizes an emergency stop and delivers significant braking power. Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) and Downhill Brake Control (DBC) also come standard on all models, the former assisting in preventing the vehicle from rolling backward when trying to pull away from an uphill gradient, while the latter locks the vehicle at a slow speed down steep grades so the driver can focus their attention on steering.
To assist drivers when the vehicle is in reverse, an available back-up warning sensor helps the driver avoid contact with certain objects in the vehicle’s path by triggering an audible warning when the vehicle approaches an obstruction, while an available rear-view back-up camera enables drivers to view certain items behind the vehicle.
The 2011 Sportage, which utilizes a completely redesigned platform, comes standard with a 2.4-liter DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder engine with Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT), offering more power (176 hp) and better fuel economy (22/31) than the previous 2.7-liter V6 engine.
So what are you waiting for?
With so many reasons to consider a new Kia, isn’t it time you paid us a visit? We really think you should. For more information on the new Sportage as well as the chance to check out the entire line of high quality, affordable Kias, you can contact us at our Waterford store by calling 248-682-6002 or by dialing 734-397-9900 for our Canton store. You can also find us on the web at www.summitplacekia.com. You can also visit us at either of our two locations: 2200 Elizabeth Lake Road in Waterford, just behind the Summit Place mall or in Canton at 41840 Michigan Avenue, just west of I-275. Once you’re there, you’ll see why everyone at Michigan and metro Detroit’s sales leader and Proud Automotive Sponsor of Michigan Athletics would “Love to see ‘ya” in a Summit Place Kia!
Editor’s Note:
Specs, trim levels and standard and optional features are based on the U.S. model and may vary depending on region.
July 9th, 2011 at 2:25 am
I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely loved every little bit of it.