2000 Kia Sportage EX review from North America

I bought this car from an ad in the newspaper, and liked the look of it so much, that it kind of blinded me from checking the mechanical background.

Although the car came with a report of history, and it had been in no accidents, I wish I had asked to see maintenance records.

This car from the start has been stressful. It's very loud to start, the heat shield is rusted and almost completely falling, will be replaced shortly.

My car just turned off one night, and I was on a back country road during a thunder storm. When I got it towed and looked at, he said there was a plastic part under the gas tank that was cracked, and he has no idea how it could ever crack.

When it was being towed, there were no anchors on the car; someone had taken them off, which he couldn't understand.

I don't feel safe at all in this car. While driving on the highway, the heat gauge is always at the top. It has no power whatsoever; on the highway it's pushing to drive 120km/hr. Going up hills, just forget about it, I could walk faster. Shifting is rough, and it is more of a chore.

The passenger side window doesn't work anymore, you can't even hear the motor trying.

The rngine light is constantly coming on, had it reset once; got told it was just over sensitive.

I just really hate this car, and I'm in the midst of getting ready to sell it. My previous car was a 91 Nissan Sentra, it by far was a better vehicle than the Kia. I will never buy or recommend Kia to anyone.

Seats are comfortable, and the look is really appealing.

Noisy, sounds like wind is coming through from back window.

The car rusts very easy!