2017 Kia Sportage Review

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The Kia Sportage is a bit of an outsider in the world of compact crossovers.

It’s an oddball that has always walked to the beat of its own drum. This year, it’s no different. The all-new 2017 Sportage may appear fairly conventional at first glance, but take a deeper look and there are a lot of differences from the usual swarm of Honda CR-Vs, Toyota RAV4s and Ford Escapes.

For starters, there’s its shape. Now entering its fourth generation, the Sportage has grown 1.6 inches in total length, but at 176.4 inches long, it’s still shorter than most of its competition. With a width of 73-inches, it’s wider than any other compact crossover though. This gives the Sportage a nice, proportioned stance that doesn’t appear tippy like some of its competitors.

The styling too offers a few unique elements not found on other CUVs. Most prominent are the 'ice cube' cluster of four LED fog lamps on either side of the front bumper. And while on the topic of the front bumper, two different styles are offered depending on which drivetrain is selected. Front-wheel drive Sportages get a lower, squared off front fascia while all-wheel drive models receive a higher, angled front bumper that improves approach angles.

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