Curbside Classic Outtake: The Car I Forgot Existed Edition

Paul Niedermeyer
by Paul Niedermeyer

Do you remember this car? I didn’t. I don’t mean the vehicle in general, but this variation of it. This doesn’t happen often, but it’s humbling to know there are gaps, and I’m thankful to come across the opportunity to refresh the memory banks.

As I said, I knew it was Kia Sportage, but totally forgot this variation existed. The half-soft top small SUV was popular for a while there, with Suzuki leading the charge, and Isuzu’s Amigo, Daihatsu’s Rocky, and…oh oh; am I forgetting another?

More new Curbside Classics here

Paul Niedermeyer
Paul Niedermeyer

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  • Stickman Stickman on Jan 25, 2010

    I had a second generation Isuzu Amigo with the half soft top. It was the V6 + Auto + 4wd and performed quite well anytime I went off road. I never tried any of those rock courses that you see the jacked up trucks climb, but it was very competent for my needs. I remember it's reliability and capability fondly. Not so fond of its ride quality which was better than the Wrangler (and much better than my previous K5 Blazer) but eventually a little too harsh for me. I went car for a turn and now I'm in an Isuzu Trooper with a little bigger engine and a lot better ride.

  • VanillaDude VanillaDude on Jan 25, 2010

    My two year old's doll stroller has a similar top. Maybe that is why this vehicle looks like a girl's toy.

  • SCE to AUX They're spending billions on this venture, so I hope so.Investing during a lull in the EV market seems like a smart move - "buy low, sell high" and all that.Key for Honda will be achieving high efficiency in its EVs, something not everybody can do.
  • ChristianWimmer It might be overpriced for most, but probably not for the affluent city-dwellers who these are targeted at - we have tons of them in Munich where I live so I “get it”. I just think these look so terribly cheap and weird from a design POV.
  • NotMyCircusNotMyMonkeys so many people here fellating musks fat sack, or hodling the baggies for TSLA. which are you?
  • Kwik_Shift_Pro4X Canadians are able to win?
  • Doc423 More over-priced, unreliable garbage from Mini Cooper/BMW.
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