Here's a look at the updated 2011 Kia Sportage. The new Sportage has an exterior that is big, brutish and athletic. Sweeping curves give way to a newly designed chrome grille, with fierce headlights and taillights, which mix with sharp angles.

The interior is of a similar high quality. Dashboard and instrument panel are updated and futuristic looking. Light and signals bleep like the bridge of The Enterprise. Seating serves up room for up to seven with comfort and style. Legroom and headroom are great no matter where you're positioned. Rear cargo space is decent; it has to be in order to compete with the growing crossover competition.

The Sportage starts under $20,000, yet nothing about the cabin feels value-oriented, except for maybe the two-tiered layout of the center console. According to the LA Times: "buttons, gauges and plastics are all high-quality and have a solid air of competence that car manufacturers can't fake when they're cutting costs."

Power comes from an inline four-cylinder engine, which can produce 176 horsepower and 168 pound-feet of torque, both average for this class. Fuel economy is rated at an average of 21 miles per gallon in the city, 28 mpg on the highway. During a week of driving, a test car averaged 21.4 mpg over 700 miles.

Yet at the lower end of the model spectrum, the base model with the manual transmission, the automatic-equipped LX and the LX with all-wheel drive all represent significant value at $19,000, $21,000 and $22,500, respectively.

These more basic models feature the build quality, the looks and the safety of the pricier versions. Also standard on all Sportages (and all Kias), is a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, a five-year, 60,000-mile basic warranty and 24-hour roadside assistance.