(WTOP/Mike Parris)
WASHINGTON — Looking to stand out from the crowd? The 2017 Kia Sportage has a new look and a refined ride.
It wasn’t long ago that Kia was just a cheap buy with bland looks. Those days seem a distant memory after the last five or so years of stylish and value-packed rides.
But this small crossover didn’t seem to fit in as well as some other Kia models. It was a good value for the dollar, but the styling wasn’t as expressive as others in the Kia lineup.
For 2017, Kia went for it in a redo of the compact crossover – inside and out. And this time around, the styling takes center stage. It has a sleeker look outside, and the burnished copper paint helps it pop. The front end seems to be a mashup of a little Porsche crossover, inspired with headlights that wrap around and back up the hood. The grill is oddly shaped, and it has the tiniest fog lights that I’ve ever seen on a compact crossover.
The model I tested is the $33,395 SX trim level, top-of-the-line for the Sportage. It comes with larger 19-inch wheels that help add a little sport to this ride. The side view has some flared fenders for those larger wheels and adds some depth as well.
The rear-end styling doesn’t stand out as much as the rest, but it’s still more stylish than most others in the compact crossover class. A dual exhaust system and chrome strip running across help out a bit.
The SX model also offers a nice power bump. with a turbo-charged four-cylinder engine. Most crossovers in this class can’t touch the 240 hp that this Kia packs, and my fuel economy came to 25.8 mpg in 200 miles of mixed driving — better than the 23 mpg the sticker lists.
I can tell that Kia paid attention to ride as well; even with large wheels, it takes bumps better than previous Sportages. The ride seems more composed than before, and the handling is better as well. Having the power is nice, and it helps keep up and merge easily with the traffic flow.
It seems bigger than before, because it is. Yet it’s still easy to park and drive in the city. The rear vision wasn’t the best, so the camera does help when backing into that parking spot. The six-speed automatic transmission does a nice job of getting to the highest gear as quickly as possible.
Kia didn’t forget the inside when they remade this compact Ute. It’s an upscale look for this class — not terribly exciting, but quality. The heated and ventilated front seats have nice-looking leather in this class.
The space is also good for both front- and rear seat passengers, and the panoramic sunroof adds light and not much noise, unlike others. The other materials seemed to be a higher quality than before with a nice addition of more soft-touch materials. There are a lot of buttons on the center console, and it takes time to get used to them and what they do. Luckily, the 8-inch touch screen is easy to use, and the NAV works rather well. The rear cargo area has good space, and the hands-free power lift gate is a nice touch for full hands.
The 2017 Kia Sportage still is a value starting at around $23,000, but it’s also a premium crossover when you choose the SX model. With performance from a turbo engine and plenty of space for most small families, the Sportage is going from bland to standout, and in a red-hot compact crossover segment, it competes better than it ever has.
Mike Parris is a member of the Washington Automotive Press Association. The vehicles are provided by STI, FMI or Event Solutions for the purpose of this review.
