The Kia Sportage is one of Kia’s most popular cars in the SUV segment. It was launched more than 30 years back and has been upgraded regularly with the latest technology and features. Today, the Sportage has transformed into one of the top performers in its class with a powerful engine, a well-designed cabin, comfortable and spacious seats, and other exciting benefits. Customers can also choose from different trim levels as per their requirements.

Variants available
The latest Kia Sportage features four trim levels, the most basic being the Sportage S. This is followed by the higher trim levels SX, SX+, and GT-Line. The higher the trim level, the more expensive the car will be. That said, customers will also enjoy better and more advanced features. One can choose a model depending on their budget and the features they need.

Engine and transmission
Under the hood, the Sportage has a four-cylinder engine in all variants. But, the power and torque can vary depending on the trim one chooses. For example, the basic Sportage S (Petrol, Manual) is capable of producing 115 kW of power and 192 Nm of torque and is paired with a six-speed transmission.

Ride and handling
The Sportage offers a comfortable and reliable experience. It is perfect for driving around town for everyday commutes or running errands like grocery shopping. The SUV’s softly tuned suspension system can easily absorb disturbances and the jerks that occur due to bumps on the road and broken pavement. Besides, the well-designed under-the-hood mechanism ensures a fairly good fuel economy compared to other vehicles in the segment.

Interiors
The Kia Sportage’s cabin is well-designed with a lot of high-quality finishes. On entering the car, one will appreciate the clean and contemporary ambiance. The exterior is also solidly built to keep out traffic and unwanted noise. Unlike many other vehicles, passengers will hear no squeaks due to uneven roads or pavements.

The Sportage has several standard cabin features found in most mid-size SUVs in its price range. These include cloth upholstery, a six-way manually adjustable driver’s seat, and a four-way manually adjustable front passenger seat. In addition, there are several optional features, such as synthetic leather upholstery, ventilated and heated front seats, a ten-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, an eight-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, a heated steering wheel, and driver’s seat memory settings.

When it comes to the seats themselves, they are well-deigned to offer ergonomic support with ample leg space and head space. Even the seats in the second row have a lot of legroom for a comfortable traveling experience.

Infotainment system
The standard features of the Kia Sportage include an eight-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, voice recognition, HD Radio, a USB port, a six-speaker stereo, Bluetooth, and remote keyless entry. For those willing to spend a little bit extra, the infotainment system can be upgraded to include optional features. These include a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Kia also offers as optional features a Harman Kardon stereo, satellite radio, wireless device charging, navigation, two rear USB ports, dual-zone automatic climate control, proximity keyless entry, and a panoramic sunroof.

Cargo and storage space
Although a small SUV, the Sportage offers ample space for storage. A cargo space of 39.6 cubic feet right behind the second row can be easily expanded to around 74.1 cubic feet with the seats in the second row folded down. Aside from this, the wide and flat load floor makes it easier to store luggage and bags without any hassles. The rear seats are quite spacious and have robust car seat anchors to fix car seats of varying sizes quite easily.

In addition to the spacious cargo and rear-seat space, the rest of the cabin has ample storage options too. For instance, the center console is equipped with a small lidded bin to stow away phones and other small gadgets. The cupholders are also cleverly designed to be retractable into the walls for keeping larger beverage cups or to create an extra bin to store other things.

Safety features
All the variants of Kia Sportage come with standard safety features and driver assistance capabilities. For example, Junction Turning Detection automatically brakes the car whenever a turn is made at an intersection and there is a danger of collision. Highway Driving Assist is another great feature that pairs up the Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane-Following Assist features to help the driver in semi-autonomous highway driving with the hands on the steering wheel.

Cost
Kia Sportage’s cost is quite competitive in the compact SUV segment. The drive-away price for the Sportage S (Petrol, Manual) is around AU$37,252. Those who want the top-level GT-Line (Diesel, Automatic AWD) may have to shell out around AU$57,973. The cost can increase or decrease based on one’s location and whether one adds extra features to the car.

To know the Kia Sportage’s latest prices, one can visit a local dealership. Doing so can also help one find Kia Sportage deals. Dealerships often roll out discounts and rebates that significantly bring down the overall price of the vehicle.