Auto chop

When a car needs little change or improvement year after year, it is a testament to an excellent design that has struck a chord with the general public. The 2020 Kia Sportage is one such vehicle, a compact crossover with sporty attractiveness, an extended roster of sophisticated features and one among the simplest standard warranties within the business. Still not convinced? Consider that the 2020 Sportage gets good marks altogether of its crash tests and does well within the areas of resale and reliability. Compared to the Honda CR-V and therefore the Nissan Rogue, the Sportage features a more robust look that's almost Porsche Macan-like until you get to Kia's signature front. The Sportage is additionally big on choice, offering the choice of all-wheel drive (AWD), normally aspirated or turbocharged 4-cylinder engines and enough electronic goodies to form the Geek Squad consider abandoning their Volkswagen Beetles.

The 2020 Kia Sportage gets a technological update that brings better tech to the lower trims. An 8-in infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a driver condition monitor, lane-keeping assist and forward-collision mitigation are all now standard equipment on every 2020 Sportage. a replacement S trim was added, slotted between the bottom LX model and therefore the mid-range EX. See the 2020 Kia Sportage models purchasable near you

What We Like

AWD available on all trim levels

The lusty 2.0-liter turbocharged engine on top trim level

Generous standard tech

10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty

What we do not 

No longer the smallest amount expensive vehicle in its class

Blind spots have grown with the redesign

Fuel economy lags behind the highest of the category 

Less cargo space than some rivals

Some driver assists not standard on all trims

$25,035–$36,035

LX and EX models accompany a naturally aspirated (non-turbo) direct-injected 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine good for 181 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel-drive (FWD) LX and EX vehicles are rated to realize 23 miles per gallon within the city and 30 mpg on the highway, while AWD LX and EX versions get 21 mpg city/25 mpg hwy. SX Turbo models get a turbocharged direct-injected 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine making a healthy 240 hp (237 hp with AWD), and FWD versions can do 21 mpg city/26 mpg hwy, while AWD models get 20 mpg city/23 mpg hwy. A 6-speed automatic drive with manual shift control is standard on all trims.

Sportage LX is the Sportage prototype. Standard features and equipment include 10-inch aluminum wheels, LED daytime running lights, a rear spoiler, privacy glass, power-adjustable outside mirrors, a car window wiper and defroster, cargo net hooks, a luggage under-tray, a dual-level cargo floor, cloth seats, a 60/40-split-folding and reclining rear seat, front seatback pockets, a manually adjustable driver's seat, air-con with rear vents, power door locks, keyless remote entry, power windows, steering-wheel-mounted audio and control, a tilt-and-telescopic wheel, a 160-watt stereo with six speakers and an 8-in touchscreen, a 3.5-in thin-film-transistor LCD cluster, a Bluetooth phone and streaming audio, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, USB and auxiliary input jacks, 4-wheel disc brakes, selectable drive modes (Normal, Sport and Eco) and a rearview camera.

The Popular package ($1,595) is out there for LX models. It includes a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, roof rails, UV-reducing solar-control glass, dual-zone automatic climate control, a windscreen wiper deicer, a rear-center armrest, cup holders and dual illuminated visor vanity mirrors.

The Sportage S ($ 27,035, FWD; $ 28,735, AWD) is a brand new tire for 2020. It includes a dark chrome trim with 18-inch dark-alloy wheels., fog lights, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic collision warning, leatherette seats, a sporty flat-bottom wheel with paddle shifters, roof rails and power-folding mirrors. It's worth noting that upgrading to AWD on the S trim is an upcharge of $1,700 which is unusual considering adding AWD costs $1,500 on every other Sportage trim.

The Sportage EX ($28,235, FWD; $29,735, AWD) includes all the S's standard features and adds or upgrades with 18-in alloy wheels, a gloss-black grille with chrome trim, a sensible power liftgate, solar glass, a windscreen wiper deicer, dual illuminated-visor vanity mirrors, heated front seats, a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, a leather-wrapped wheel, and shift knob, dual-zone automatic climate control, smart key, and push-button start and a further USB port for the rear seat.

An EX Technology package ($4,500) is often added to EX models with the Premium package. This includes leather seats, a panoramic sunroof with power sunshade, a heated wheel, wireless charging, adaptive control, 8-in touchscreen navigation, and SiriusXM, a 320-watt Harman Kardon 8-speaker premium audio system, ventilated front seats, an 8-way power front passenger seat, front and rear parking assist sensors, an auto-dimming car mirror with HomeLink and compass, and a compact love handle.

The Sportage SX Turbo ($34,535, FWD; $36,035, AWD) comes with all the EX's standard features and adds or upgrades to 19-in alloy wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, a compact love handle, a panoramic sunroof with an influence sunshade, bi-xenon headlights with dynamic bending light, LED fog lamps, LED taillights, a dual exhaust, power-folding outside mirrors with LED turn signals, metal-finished front, and rear skid plates, metal sport pedals, metal door-scuff plates, LED interior lighting, ventilated front seats, an influence adjustable front passenger seat, a heated flat-bottom wheel, paddle shifters, dashboard stitching, an electronic hand brake with auto-hold function, a black headliner, black high-gloss interior inserts, an 8-in touchscreen with navigation, a 4.2-in color thin-film-transistor LCD cluster, wireless charging, adaptive control, and front and rear parking assist sensors. the most important upgrade is that the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine making 240 hp (237 hp with AWD) and 260 lb-ft of torque delivering an exciting performance.

All Sportage models accompany advanced dual front airbags, front-seat-mounted side-curtain airbags and dual full-length side-curtain airbags with rollover sensing. Anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, hill-start assist, downhill brake control, and LATCH connectors are all standards, as maybe a rearview camera display. Newly standard on all models for 2020 are forward-collision mitigation, driver attention warning, and lane-keeping assist. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert is out there on the LX model and standard on every other trim.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the Sportage nearly as good on all tests and gave it a Superior score for front-crash prevention when equipped with autonomous emergency braking. SaferCar.gov, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)'s website, gave the Sportage a 5-star overall rating.

There's a reason compact crossover vehicles just like the Sportage have gained an enormous chunk of market share recently: They're great to drive. With just a rather taller stance than a comparably sized sedan, the compact crossover is easier, offers greater visibility and nearly matches the performance and fuel economy of its trunk-laden cousins. Add in greater utility and available AWD just like the Sportage has, and you have got a winning combination.

The Sportage impresses with good handling and a quiet, composed ride. LX, S and EX models, with the two .4-liter engine producing 181 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque, deliver quite adequate acceleration and haven't any problem skirting through traffic and merging onto fast-moving freeways. The SX Turbo's 240 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque are better matched to the Sportage's nearly 4,000-lb curb weight, and enthusiastic drivers will appreciate the sport-tuned suspension's slightly stiffer ride quality.

The Sportage's interior has come an extended way, with a beautifully designed and executed layout that puts the driving force on top of things. The long list of ordinary and available features leave little to be desired, especially within the loaded SX Turbo models. Kia's fit and finish are impressive, with great materials selection and tasteful restraint.