The 2017 Kia Sportage looks and feels very different from previous model years of this vehicle. It’s spacious and comfortable and comes with plenty of high-end features that offer a more luxurious ride.
Exterior Styling Improvements
Not only does the outside of the car look drastically different from the last model, but the 2017 Sportage is also stronger and more rigid. In fact, 51 percent of its body is made with high-strength advanced steel, compared to just 18 percent used on the 2016. The result is an improvement of torsional rigidity by 39 percent. The integrity of its body is also better because engineers and designers added hot-stamped steel on the roof structure, wheel arches, A-, B-, and C-pillars, and side sills.
It shows off an aggressive front end with high-placed headlights, an oversized grille, and LED daytime running lights. Another unique new feature of the exterior is the cluster of fog lights, which resembles an ice cube.
Upgrades Beneath the Hood
Many of the other compact crossover SUV manufacturers are doing away with the option for a more powerful engine, but the 2017 Kia Sportage still has the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that gives the car an advantage over its competitors. It produces 260 pound-feet of torque and 241 horsepower, making the Sportage one of the only options in its class that has an engine that produces more than 200 hp.
Another cool feature is the three available driving modes, which was something that used to cost a lot of extra money to have. The normal mode balances acceleration with fuel economy, while the Eco mode helps you save on gas costs by getting a few extra miles per gallon. Sport mode makes driving performance the top priority, improving the handling and feel around tight curves.
Interior Updates
When you climb into a 2017 Sportage, you’ll also notice some major differences from the outgoing model. The first selling point is an optimized interior, adding more space for passengers as well as cargo. The cargo area offers 30.7 cubic feet of room for your family’s gear, and you can fold down the rear seats to increase the capacity to 60.1 cubic feet.
There are plenty of tech features available as standard and optional upgrades, including the newest version of Kia’s infotainment system, called UVO3. The different trim levels have varying sizes of touchscreen displays, ranging from five to eight inches in size. You can also get extra USB charging ports on the higher trim levels and Android Auto as a standard feature on the EX and SX models.
New and Improved Safety Features
The 2017 Sportage is the second car in Kia’s lineup to include a full suite of active safety tech features, like blind-spot warning with rear cross traffic alert, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and lane departure warning. Spring for the highest trim level to get all of these high-end features.
If you’re in the market for a compact crossover, take the 2017 Kia Sportage for a test drive to see just what it has to offer.
This photo, “2017 Kia Sportage SX arriere,” by Zytonits used under CC BY-SA 2.o. “2017 Kia Sportage SX arriere” is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.o by Gay Family Kia.
Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.