Why Doesn’t Anyone Want The Kia Sportage?
The Kia Sportage is a compact SUV that’s left on the back burner. You hear about the Kia Soul or Kia Seltos instead. So, let’s get to the bottom of why the Kia Sportage is being ignored. Check out the spec to see if it’s an SUV worth buying or not.
Why Isn’t The Kia Sportage Popular?
The Kia Sportage has a fair starting price of around $23k. Other options like the Toyota RAV4 or Honda CR-V raise the starting price of about $25k. Does saving $2k with the Kia Sportage make it worth the investment?
So far, based on fuel efficiency, no, it does not. The Kia Sportage only gets up to 23 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. Meanwhile, the Toyota RAV4 gets up to 26 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway.
Kia Sportage Performance
Under the hood of the Kia Sportage, you’ll find the 2.4-liter four-cylinder base model engine. It provides 180 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. This amount of power isn’t bad at all. You can also upgrade to the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine for 240 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque.
The Kia Sportage can go from 0 to 60 mph in 7 seconds flat. This is pretty quick against its rivals. The infamous RAV4 that we keep using for comparison can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds.
However, the Kia Sportage is not recommended for towing. When probably equipped, it can tow up to 1,600 lb. But to weigh the Kia Sportage down may impact speed and power. Go with the Toyota RAV4 to pull things between 1,500 to 3,500 lb.
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The Kia Sportage is well equipped for slippery conditions such as snow or mud. It has Dynamax all-wheel-drive to monitor road conditions automatically and adjust the power and torque of each wheel. Plus, it has a center locking rear differential for enhanced low-speed traction. Features such as hill descent control will have you crawling over obstacles.
Plus, the Kia Sportage has sound-absorbing glass for a quiet ride. The independent MacPherson strut suspension in the front and rear torsion beams with coil springs absorb impacts with ease for a smooth yet sporty ride.
Kia Sportage Features
The Kia Sportage has more room than expected with 30.7 cubic feet of space in the rear. If you fold the seats flat, you can access up to 60.1 cubic feet of cargo space. There is also a removable tray under the floor to provide hidden storage.
Plus, the Kia Sportage is smart and comfortable. It can connect to Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Alexa, and more and provide remote climate control from your smartphone. The wireless charging pad, heated and ventilated front seats, and the panoramic sunroof will keep you happy.
The Kia Sportage is up to date with modern safety features, including blindspot detection, forward collision assistance, pedestrian detection, smart cruise control, and more. So, we aren’t sure why the Kia Sportage is being ignored. It’s pretty impressive with ample power, off-roading capabilities, modern tech innovative safety features, and more. The only reason to pass on the Sportage is if you need to tow something.
