2017 Kia Sportage LX SUV

The 2017 Sportage will be 1.6 inches longer than its predecessor, which Kia says opens up more rear legroom, more headroom (slightly more than a half-inch in the rear seats) and room for a lowered second-row floor for easier entry and exit. There's also more space for stuff, as cargo room behind the rear seats increases to nearly 31 cubic feet.
A new suspension design and more rigid chassis also promise to preserve the Sportage's sporty character while refining comfort and ride quality.
Inside, the Sportage evolves with higher-quality materials, seats, trim and additional insulation to quell road noise and vibration. There's also new technology like wireless phone charging. Thinner reinforcement pillars promise better visibility, and even the panoramic sunroof is wider.
Base models (LX) will get a standard 5-inch touchscreen infotainment display, Bluetooth hands-free phone and streaming audio, while the EX model brings leather upholstery, a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, WiFi hotspot capability, and the latest version of Kia's Uvo 3 package of connected apps and services.
The SX Turbo model will include all of the above, but with an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation system and 19-inch wheels among the upgrades. Options will include heated front seats, an automatic opening liftgate and a premium eight-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.
What's Under the Hood?
The new Sportage may look inspired by jets, but its power source will be more Cessna than F-35. A pair of four-cylinder engines carries over from the current model, with a 2.4-liter rated at 181 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque available as the base engine. A turbocharged 2.0-liter is also available, rated at 241 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are down on power slightly from today's engines, presumably in the name of better fuel economy (Kia hasn't announced EPA efficiency ratings yet).
Both engines pair with a six-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel drive an available option.
What Else Is Out There?
The more relevant question is: What isn't out there?
Buyers are spoiled for choice in the compact crossover class, which offers cornerstones like the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Ford Escape, models that offer more cargo space than the current Kia. The new Sportage will grow a bit, but how that improves passenger or cargo space remains to be seen. If utility and cargo are priorities, buyers would be better served by other models.
Still, the Sportage rates as one of the sportier crossovers in its class, similar in spirit to the Mazda CX-5, another crossover short on cargo space, but long on smiles behind the wheel. If driving engagement combined with a measure of utility is on your list, the Sportage is worth a look.
The new Sportage arrives at dealers in early spring, at a price that Kia says will be competitive in the segment. Pricing will be announced closer to launch, and we'd expect the Sportage to start at around $22,500. Check back for more on the 2017 Kia Sportage, including specs, driving impressions and buying advice as it becomes available.