The Kia Sportage is a spacious and comfortable crossover SUV that has quickly become a top seller. The 2017 Sportage LX is reasonably priced but comes equipped with plenty of features.
Full Exterior Redesign
When you catch a glimpse of the 2017 Sportage, you’ll immediately notice that Kia completely redesigned the exterior. Some of the unique features include the cluster-style ice cube lights on the front, which complement the aggressive front fascia. The grille is also larger than what was on the outgoing model, creating a more vertical front end that adds character and sets it apart from the other compact crossovers on the road. The LX trim also includes LED running lights, rear privacy-tinted windows, automatic headlights, and 17-inch alloy wheels.
Improved Suspension for a Smoother Ride
Drivers of the past Sportage models often complained about the firm ride, making it less comfortable for longer trips or car rides with young children. Kia engineers responded to this criticism by completely overhauling the suspension of the 2017 model. New dual-member shock absorber housings paired with a dual lower-arm setup work together to provide a smoother ride. The struts at the front of the car also underwent a redesign, helping to grip changing road surfaces better and improve stability. The overall result of these changes is a stable, smooth car that’s easy to handle.
Selectable Driving Modes
In the past, only high-end luxury vehicles offered selectable driving modes, but the 2017 Kia Sportage is showing off this feature in its base LX model. The three available modes are Normal, Eco, and Sport, so you can get the feel you want out of the car. Eco improves fuel economy while Sport focuses on performance, and Normal sits right between the two sides.
Interior Luxuries
When redesigning the Kia Sportage, designers also added new features to make the interior feel more luxurious. Standard features on the LX include a 5-inch touch screen display, rear climate vents for improved comfort, a six-speaker sound system with an auxiliary jack, a USB port, and satellite radio, and Bluetooth connectivity for phone and audio.
In older models, the backseat of this small SUV felt cramped for taller passengers, but part of the improved design added several inches to the length. You’ll really notice a difference when comparing the size of the rear seat between the outgoing model and the 2017. The seating capacity remains at five.
Plenty of Room
Most SUV buyers are looking for vehicles that are versatile and functional. One of the areas of importance is typically the size of the cargo area, since you’re probably looking to haul plenty of stuff. The 2017 Sportage LX has a cargo area that measures 30.7 cubic feet, marking an increase of more than four cubic feet from the previous model. With the rear seats down, it jumps to 54.6 cubic feet.
Although the LX trim of the 2017 Kia Sportage is the base model, it comes with a variety of features that make it feel high-end.
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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.