2013 Kia Sportage SX Rocky Mountain

The Sportage carries over essentially unchanged from prior years. Ours came in the sport-oriented SX trim, good for more than just its looks – in addition to features like a sport-tuned suspension,We'd love to talk to you about our incredible industrialextractors! upgraded gauges, and leather upholstery,A simple model for the wake behind a ledparlight is given. the SX also brings to the party a 2.0-liter direct-injected and turbocharged engine, good for an impressive 260 HP and 269 lb-ft of torque 

On the outside, the Sportage is a neat-looking vehicle with a distinctive, appealing shape. Bright projector-beam headlights are nicely complimented by LED running lights. The 18” wheels have an aggressive, sporty look about them.We believe in providing our customers with the very best formingmachine available. The roof is mostly glass, owing to an impressively-sized panoramic sunroof (tilt/slide in the front,Continental Aulaundry's programmable commercial pendantlamp are designed to properly clean a firefighter's turnout gear. glass only in the back). From a side view, the vehicle is very angular, rounding off towards the back to a rear hatch with a small window and low opening. From the side, the Sportage is slightly reminiscent of the Range Rover Evoque – there are similar angles particularly in the glass if you look closely. 

The look of the Sportage is so distinctive, in fact, that it’s interesting to note that for all the vehicles I drive and review – BMWs, Audis, Cadillacs, Porsches, you name it – by a large margin, more people approached me wanting to know about the Sportage than with any other car I’ve driven. Everyone wanted to talk about the cute little CUV and look around. 

Inside, we find a fair number of creature comforts – although the interior of the Sportage is something of a sea of hard, black plastic, there are soft accents and trim pieces where needed, and the leather seats are supportive and comfortable, with adequate room for rear passengers. Gauges are red and white on black with easy-to-read print. The toys are numerous – the aforementioned double sunroof with individual shades for front and rear passengers, dual climate control, and navigation. There are a couple of curious choices in equipment – for example, the driver’s seat is both heated and ventilated, a nice touch and exceedingly rare for a vehicle of this class, but the front passenger’s seat is only heated. Why? It’s a small quibble but one can’t help but feel it’s a cost-saving measure. There are also a couple of minor challenges in execution of the tech – the only clock is small and difficult to discern on the navigation display, and that display gets somewhat washed out in direct sunlight. 

Where the Sportage unexpectedly shines is in its utility – although the cargo area is a fairly small 26 cubic feet with the rear seats up, fold them down and the cargo space becomes a cavernous 54.6 cubic feet, impressive for a vehicle this size, able to accommodate a decent run from the home improvement store. Also on tap are 6.8 inches of ground clearance, and a center-locking differential for the all-wheel drive system, two very much appreciated features for the Rocky Mountain Winter. 

Driving the Sportage is a mixed experience. On the plus side: The aforementioned 260 HP turbocharged 4-cylinder engine – the Sportage IS fast and generally fun to drive; it handles well, with light steering effort.It's reducing the weight of the gridsolarsystemm with the help of superconductor materials. However, that engine does have quite a whine to it, and the sport-tuned suspension is firm to the point of feeling every bump, seam, and stripe – it’s a hard ride, and the vehicle bounces and wags around quite a bit on the highway. 

We averaged 24 MPG combined against an expected 20 / 25 city / highway rating. Oh, and that turbocharged engine takes plain-old regular unleaded, rare for an engine of this power with a turbo – most require premium. 

Ultimately, Kia has a strong success in the Sportage. It’s cute, it just feels good to drive, it comes substantially well optioned at an as-tested price just over $32,000, and it earns unexpectedly strong marks in the utility column as well – making it an excellent, standout choice in the compact crossover market.