Here's a thought, writes Brian Byrne. Volvo, which made its name in the US on big, safe, wagons, has decided to withdraw from what was the world's biggest estate car market. In future, only the brand's saloons will be sold there.
The reason? Because the crossover has become the new wagon in the US. And you can bet the same thing is happening on this side of the Atlantic.
Crossovers, of course, are a modification of the SUV, smoother in style and generally not AWD unless you opt for it. The most successful here at the moment is the Nissan Qashqai.
Enter the new generation Kia Sportage. A quantum improvement in style over its dumpy but worthy predecessor. If the Irish distributor could only get enough quantities, the Sportage represents probably the sharpest competitor against the Nissan.
The design is really edgy. Up front is an uncompromising cominatcha version of this Korean manufacturer's current grille style cues, overlaid with a strongly sculpted bonnet.
That strength is continued in the profile view, with prominent wheel arches, wedge aspect character lines, and a treatment of the rear upper section shaped to enhance a sense of forward motion.
Hard to describe in words, but the pictures show it all clearly. The review car's big alloys just add the final flourish to a car where the designers were obviously all talking to each other.
They were also talking to their colleagues working on the interior. The new generation Sportage is well-styled and a high-quality environment for both driver and passengers.
I have not come across a better layout of instruments and secondary controls in any car I have driven in recent years. It is truly, in virtually every respect, an exemplar of how this should be done.
Just two points to show this. The speedometer and ancillary dials are lined up exactly as they should be, the first large and central and all with graphics chosen for instant clarity. The knobs and buttons for the heating and ventilation are simply superb.
Along with the well thought-out remote and cruise control operations mounted on the steering wheel, this car is quite a joy to drive.
Accommodation for the passengers is right up there with any premium crossover/SUV in the compact/medium segments. Plenty of room for a total of five, comfortable half-leather seats, panoramic glass roof sections front and rear, and a place high enough to be able to see over the country hedges.
Given that this is a compact segment vehicle, there's pretty reasonable boot space, and its good to see that Kia in Ireland is providing a full-sized spare wheel rather than a 'skinny' or the awful cop-out of pump and sealant.
There are three levels of specification available in the Sportage in Ireland, plus a version with full AWD. All three provide a seriously well-specified car, so even at the base version you get alloys and reversing sensors, for instance.
There are two powertrains, the brand new 1.7 115hp diesel and an upgraded 2.0 diesel, used in the AWD version. This review gave me the chance to try the smaller unit for the first time, and I have to say that I'm impressed mightily. It is refined, smooth, and has a wide enough torque band to make it a doddle in traffic.
Also, and it was mentioned to me several times by passengers, it is very quiet for a diesel, at least as unobtrusive as anything from BMW, for instance. And it is surprisingly swift, given the size of the car.
It is a B band powertrain for CO2 tax reasons, which means a quite big car with a small annual tax payment. And here's a thought: there will be, later this year, a 160hp version of that engine, which will still be a Band B power unit.
The other comment I got from passengers was the ride comfort. Nothing at all like the traditional SUV from which the new Sportage emerged. Very much a car in which I'd have no problem driving from Belfast to Cork ... and then turning right around to go back again.
Finally, on safety matters, the Euro NCAP organisation has declared the Sportage to be the safest car in its genre, according to its tests during 2010.
Sportage is priced from €25,600 up to a tad under €32,000, and there are better deals for a scrappage scheme buyer. At any level, though, this makes one of the best family car prospects I have driven this year.
