Planet 4×4, UK’s leading magazine dedicated to the four wheel drive and off-road enthusiasts, has recognized Kia Sportage as Britain’s best value for money in it’s annual awards. After it won the title in 2006 and 2007, the Sportage has been chosen as the “Value for Money Champion” for the third time, making it the only vehicle to repeat the success for three consecutive years in a row.

The 2009 Kia Sportage SUV has seen a number of improvements since it won last year’s Planet 4×4 award. In 2008, Sportage production has been moved from South Korea to Kia’s groundbreaking Slovakian plant where it is being built alongside the cee’d family.

At the same time, the vehicle also received a mid-cycle exterior and interior updates to make it feel more “European” and some technical improvemnts including upgraded suspension and beefier braking system.

The new Kia Sportage has also one feature which is better than any other 4×4 in Europe – it is the only one to come with a seven year warranty. This underlines the quality of Sportage – built alongside the cee’d family at the Zilina factory in Slovakia.

Alan Kidd, editor of Planet 4×4, said; “The 4×4 market is ever-changing, but there’s been one constant throughout the history of our 4×4 of the Year awards. That’s the Sportage, which has maintained a 100% success rate in taking home the Best Value trophy for Kia every time. You’d think we’d be ready for it by now, but each year our testers are startled afresh by what a practical, well built, well equipped and good to drive package it delivers, at a price that makes most other manufacturers look greedy.”

“The market does keep moving on, and vehicles that stay the same run the risk of getting left behind - especially given the number of excellent new additions there have been to the small SUV sector during the last year. But right now, value for money matters more to people than ever before - which makes the Sportage’s new seven-year warranty look like the most significant development of the lot.” [Source: Kia UK]