Vehicle Curb Weight

2011 Kia Sportage SX, an AutoWeek Drivers Log Car Review

EXECUTIVE EDITOR--AUTOWEEK.COM BOB GRITZINGER: The 2011 Kia Sportage SX is a standout in styling among the cute utes, with strong character lines and sharp creases defining its fenders and flanks. It might be too in-your-face for some, but I like it. The front-end treatment is especially strong.

The theme carries inside, where the clean interior offers a plethora of easy-to-manage controls and a good seating position, though the seat bottom could use a little more length. The car seems well designed and well built.

The trick is whether one could spend every day in what seems to be a relatively noisy place, without much isolation from road, wind and engine noise. It’s not overwhelming, but combined with the car’s noticeably taut ride, it could become tiresome over time. That’s for each buyer to decide, but I’d recommend a test drive longer than around the block--perhaps out on the local freeway--before signing on the dotted line.

Speaking of power, this is one of those cars that you know is packing a four-cylinder without even trying to count spark plugs. When pushed, it strains mightily against the curb weight and doesn’t really feel like the power is as advertised. But then you check the speedo and find that you’re already up to speed, so maybe it’s just an impression of underwhelming power versus weight. Out on the highway, the car holds 70 mph easily, but running between 50 mph and 75 mph seems to require an aggressive pedal.

This is a well-equipped, well-built little SUV, but I find it hard to believe that vehicles in this small-ute class command $32,000 in the marketplace--especially one from Korea. Perhaps that explains why every company selling one of these now also offers an even smaller and less expensive utility vehicle, such as the Soul for Kia.

COPY EDITOR CYNTHIA L. OROSCO-WRIGHT: The Sportage SX was a fine ride for running around over a weekend. And the little ute seemed up to the task, particularly on the expressway, where after some initial lag we were cruising at speed and above with no problem. Passing also was a breeze, and the power was smooth as long as we didn’t have to drop down much. There is a bit of hesitation at in-between speeds and you do feel the weight. But otherwise, the Sportage was strong.

Inside, our back-seat passengers had plenty of room to ride in comfort, as we did upfront. I liked the higher-up seating position, which allowed for a great view of the road. The center stack is nicely laid out and all of the controls are easy to reach and use. The sound system was good, and we took advantage of the summerlike weather and cruised around with the windows and the roof open.

China Drafts New Details to Vehicle and Vessel Tax Law | China ...

” (Ordinance Draft) on June 14, 2011. Both the new law and Ordinance Draft, which will replace the current 2007 interim law and its corresponding ordinance for implementation details, specify the tax rates for yachts and clarify tax incentives to green cars for the first time.

According to the VVTL, every owner or custodian of a vehicle or vessel that is mentioned in the tax rates chart attached to the law is subject to vehicle and vessel tax (VVT) payments. However, the following types of vehicles and vessels are exempt from the VVT:

The Ordinance Draft added that vehicles and vessels from foreign countries, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan are also tax exempt when they are permitted to temporarily enter Mainland China.

Vehicles and vessels travelling or operating within airports or ports will be exempt from the VVT for five years since January 1, 2012, according to the Ordinance Draft.

Vehicle tax RMB36 to RMB180 per vehicle

For a vehicle whose tax rate is calculated based on its curb weight, the Ordinance Draft clarifies that:

As China becomes more concerned over environmental issues, the new VVTL also promises to offer tax incentives to new-energy cars. Correspondingly, the Ordinance Draft specified that the pure electric vehicles, fuel cell vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles can enjoy VVT exemptions, and other types of hybrid vehicles can enjoy a 50 percent tax reduction from the original tax rates for the actual type the hybrid vehicle falls in according to the tax rates chart.

Vessel tax While annual tax rates for most vessels in the new VVTL stay the same as those in the old interim law, the new law specified annual tax rates for yachts for the first time.

Environmental law deskbook

Environmental Statutes

Air pollution control law, compliance and enforcement

CFR

Emergency vehicle accidents, prevention, reconstruction, and survey of state law