The compact crossover is easily one of the most competitive segments. Almost every automaker makes one and with so many options to choose from, how do you weed through the good and bad? There are the obvious heavyweights of the class, like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, but maybe you’d like something that isn’t sitting in every driveway in your neighborhood? Well there’s the excellent Mazda CX-5 and what about the stylish Kia Sportage? The Kia Sportage was one of Kia’s first models when it entered the US in the mid-1990s and 20 years later Kia has positioned it as the sportier and more stylish alternative to its Honda, Toyota and Nissan rivals.
After a week with the 2017 Kia Sportage, here are five things that I either loved or hated about Kia’s smallest crossover:
5Sportier than Most
The Sportage sits at the sportier end of the crossover segment. It’s not quite as nimble as the Mazda CX-5 or Ford Escape, but it’s small footprint, turbocharged engine and upgraded suspension make it more enjoyable to drive than most models in this segment.
Wrap Up: As its name suggests, the 2017 Kia Sportage is one of the sportier models in the compact crossover segment. It’s not quite as nimble or fun to drive as the Mazda CX-5, but it’s turbocharged engine gives it a bit more “zoom zoom” than the Mazda. It’s interior is smaller than the CR-V, but if you don’t need to haul as much stuff, the Sportage is the more stylish option with its more upscale looking exterior.
