2017 Kia Sportage Review
2017 Kia Sportage
Serving Kings Mountain, Shelby, Cherryville, Lawndale, and Gastonia
Within the past few years, the Kia Sportage has emerged as one of the most exciting compact crossover SUVs in the world. And on September 2015 at the annual Frankfurt Auto Show, Kia revealed the inaugural model of the nameplate’s model year, with smooth surfaces and sharp edges combining to give the appearance of a modern fighter jet on wheels. That model—the 2017 Kia Sportage—is available in three variants: the LX, the EX, and the SX Turbo.v
Kia Sportage Specs:
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Fuel Economy: |
24 city / 35 hwy mpg* |
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Standard Engine: |
2.0 L Inline 4 |
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Horsepower: |
173 hp @ 6500 rpm |
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Torque: |
154 ft-lbs. @ 4700 rpmm |
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Transmission: |
6-speed shiftable automatic |
Interior
With seating for up to five people, the 2017 Kia Sportage provides up to 60.1 cu ft of cargo space with the 60/40 split- folding rear seats down. Upgrading to the EX adds 10-way power adjustability with power lumbar support on the driver’s seat; heating capability on the front seats; and leather covering on the seats, steering wheel, and shift knob. Kia adds 8- way power adjustability on the front passenger seat, front-seat ventilated capability, heating capability on the steering wheel, gloss-black dashboard and console trim, and alloy acceleration and brake pedals on the top-level SX Turbo.
Features
At the base level, the 2017 Kia Sportage comes with cruise control, a rearview camera, Bluetooth connectivity for hands- free phone operation, remote keyless entry, phone and audio controls mounted on the steering wheel, and a six-speaker stereo system that includes a 5-inch touchscreen display. Moving up to the EX adds a USB 2.1 charger for fast mobile device charging, push-button engine start, dual-zone automatic climate control with an auto defog system, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for Android or iOS device connectivity with the head unit, as well as replaces the 5-inch screen with a 7-inch color touchscreen. The SX Turbo swaps the regular six-speaker sound system with an 8-speaker Harman/Kardon® set-up, and there is an 8-inch color touchscreen instead of a 5- or 7-inch one. Also, the SX Turbo is the only trim that has a navigation system, HD Radio, a SiriusXM satellite radio subscription, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, auto-dimming rear mirror, and remote-controlled garage door opener as standard comfort and convenience features.
Performance
The LX and the EX trims of the 2017 Kia Sportage are powered by a 2.4-liter inline 4-cylinder (I4) engine that produces 181 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. True to its name, the SX Turbo has a turbocharged 2.0-liter I4 with 237 horsepower (if equipped with the standard front-wheel drive) or 240 horsepower (if equipped with the optional Dynamax All-Wheel Drive) and 260 lb-ft of torque. The Sportage engine is paired with an electronically-controlled 6-speed automatic transmission, with overdrive, as well as a Sportmatic shifter for more driver control over gear shifting. With trailer brakes, the 2017 Sportage can tow up to 2,000 lbs, and depending on powertrain combination, the SUV can provide up to 23 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.
Safety
The 2017 Kia Sportage is packed with lots of safety features. They include electronic stability control; traction control; four-wheel disc brakes with ABS; electronic brake-force distribution; brake assist; hill start assist; and front impact, side impact, and side curtain airbags that are accompanied by rollover sensors. And if you go with the SX Turbo, there’s more: rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot detection with lane-change assist, and sensor-based front and rear parking system.
* EPA estimated MPG may vary by transmission, trim and individual driving behavior.
