14 Fun Facts and Cool Features on the 2017 Kia Sportage
No longer the cheap SUV it was when it first arrived in the U.S., the Kia Sportage has evolved into a distinctive entry in the compact SUV segment. Building on the third generation, which was one of the cars that helped overhaul Kia’s image, the fourth generation promises to take things to another level. A wide array of new technology and convenience features are now available on the 2017 Sportage, and it’s looking to be one of the most gadget-heavy entries in its segment. Additionally, an extensive overhaul of the car’s interior and its chassis also suggests the Sportage will be more sophisticated than the car it replaces both in the way it drives and in its cabin appointments. After checking out the U.S.-spec 2017 Sportage at its debut at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show, we’ve compiled a list of fun facts and cool features that Kia’s longest-running nameplate now comes with.
Built in South Korea, Developed in California
The Kia Optima and Sorento are built locally for the North American market, but the Sportage is one of the few vehicles in the South Korean automaker’s lineup to be manufactured in its home country. Sharing the same production line with the Soul and the Forte until the latter is moved to a new plant in Mexico, the 2017 Sportage will be manufactured in Kia’s Gwangju Plant in South Korea and will be exported to North America.
Development for the fourth-generation Sportage, on the other hand, took place in the United States at Hyundai-Kia’s California Proving Grounds. Prototypes were tested for high-speed stability, off-road driving, and performance on poorly maintained road surfaces, among other conditions.
A Stronger, More Rigid Body
Compared to the previous-generation Sportage, the 2017 model is built using more advanced high-strength steel, making it stronger than before. Fifty-one percent of the new car’s body is made of advanced high-strength steel; the outgoing model had 18 percent. As a result, torsional rigidity has improved by 39 percent on the 2017 Sportage. Body integrity has also been strengthened thanks to extensive use of hot-stamped steel on the A-, B-, and C-pillars, side sills, roof structure, and wheel arches.
Polarizing Yet Distinctive and Familiar
One look at the 2017 Sportage, and you’ll realize that there won’t be anything like it in its class; it’ll be a compact SUV that will turn heads. Featuring headlights placed high and LED daytime running lights positioned like a three-blade propeller, the 2017 Sportage will make its presence known everywhere it goes. Yes, it has a face only a mother could love, but it’s a nice change in a segment filled with cars that are merely different flavors of vanilla. Additionally, the car’s familiar silhouette, which first appeared in the third-generation Sportage, remains, keeping it recognizable even with the new (and cringeworthy) front end.
“Ice Cube” LED Fog Lights
One of Kia’s signature design cues are its ice cube LED foglight clusters, which replace traditional halogen bulbs with a set of four small LED units grouped together on higher trim levels. When combined with the aggressive front fascia, these give a distinctive look that lets the car stand out even more than it already does. At night, the Sportage’s presence is amplified thanks to these LED clusters because they look like illuminated cubes of ice.
Larger, More Vertical (and Imposing) Grille
Part of what gives the 2017 Sportage such a striking presence, in addition to its high-mounted headlights and ice cube LED foglights, is its massive grille. Unlike in other Kia vehicles, the brand’s signature tiger nose grille is larger and more vertical in the Sportage, giving it a more imposing presence that can make those who prefer conventional design cringe. Still, the supersized grille adds character to Kia’s compact SUV. Should you decide to buy a 2017 Sportage once it goes on sale, you can rest assured that there won’t be anything that looks like it.
A Substantial Suspension and Steering Overhaul
For 2017, Kia completely overhauled the Sportage’s fully independent suspension and did so to improve ride, handling, and vehicle stability. The multilink rear suspension gains most of the changes and now features dual-member shock absorber housings and a dual lower-arm setup. Up front, the MacPherson struts have been redesigned for improved stability and to better cope with changing road surfaces.
Should you want your Sportage to be more athletic, the top-of-the-line SX grade comes with a unique suspension tuning with firmer shock absorbers. All models also get a revised electric power steering system with 25 percent less friction for better precision and feel. The steering box has also been mounted farther forward for better weight distribution.
Locking Center Differential and Unique Front Fascia in AWD Variants
Like its big brother, the 2016 Sorento, the 2017 Sportage comes with a 50/50 locking center differential when you opt for the available AWD system. When you’re driving, the Sportage’s AWD system anticipates and senses the road ahead so that it can optimize traction, especially in bad weather conditions. This means you’ll be able to traverse nearly everything Mother Nature throws at you. AWD Sportages also come with a different front fascia that enables for a steeper approach angle when you’re doing some mild off-roading.
Turbocharged Engine Returns for an Encore Performance
Although some of the Sportage’s competitors have stopped offering more powerful engines as an option, Kia carried over the turbocharged, 2.0-liter I-4 from the previous generation and dropped it under the hood of the 2017 model. Even though its down on power at 241 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque—a drop of 19 hp and 9 lb-ft, respectively—the Sportage remains one of the few entries in the compact SUV segment that continue to offer an engine with more than 200 hp for those wanting a bit more gusto in their family-mobile.
Three Driving Modes to Suit Your Mood
A few years ago, you’d have to pay a huge premium on a luxury car to get selectable driving modes, but now many mainstream offerings have them as options or as standard on higher trim levels. To go with the 2017 Sportage’s fun-to-drive promise, all models come with a drive mode selector that allows you to choose between Normal, Eco, and Sport modes. Normal mode strikes a happy medium and attempts to balance fuel economy and acceleration, and Sport mode prioritizes performance over everything else. Eco mode, on the other hand, ekes out as much as it can out of every drop of fuel.
A Driver-Centric Cockpit
Seeing as the 2017 Sportage promises to be an SUV that will offer plenty of thrills from behind the wheel, the cockpit has been designed with the driver in mind. As a result, the center stack has been tilted toward the driver, indicating the car suggests a driving experience that’s more engaging than your run-of-the-mill family hauler. Additional interior details in the SX trim such as a flat-bottom steering wheel with paddle shifters also hint at the car’s sporting intentions.
More Cargo Space
SUVs should be practical. There shouldn’t be a reason why they can’t outhaul hatchbacks and wagons—unless they’re just lifted versions of those two cars. For 2017, the Sportage’s interior has been optimized so that it’s more family-friendly and has more space. As a result of better packaging, there’s more room for passengers in both rows of seating, and cargo space with the split-folding rear seats in place has increased by a generous amount from 26.1 to 30.7 cubic feet. With the second row folded, maximum cargo capacity has increased from 54.6 cubic feet, which is less than the Kia Forte5’s maximum capacity, to a more respectable 60.1 cubic feet.
UVO3 Debuts in the 2017 Sportage
A new iteration of Kia’s infotainment system called UVO3 will also debut in the 2017 Sportage. Depending on the trim level, you’ll have either a 5-, 7- or 8-inch touchscreen with your car; each one comes with specific features as you go up in trim level. On the range-topping SX model, navigation comes standard along with a 320-watt Harman Kardon premium audio system with eight speakers. For the EX and SX trims, there are also additional USB ports that are used only for charging your mobile devices. A new addition to the latest version of UVO is 8 GB of available space to store your music in should you be inclined to upload a mini playlist into your car.
Android Auto is Standard on the EX and SX Grades
Android users rejoice! Kia has equipped the 2017 Sportage with Android Auto as standard, so you can link your smartphone with your car and use all of its features via the car’s touchscreen. Once you’ve got your Android device plugged into the main USB port, you’ll be able to call up Google Maps to give you multiple routes to your next destination and use Google Music to bust out some tunes on your road trip. Later on, Kia will also add Apple CarPlay so iOS users can link their devices with their vehicles and let Siri take over the infotainment system.
Extensive Suite of Active Safety Features
Following in the footsteps of its sibling, the 2016 Optima, the 2017 Sportage will be the second Kia vehicle in the lineup to offer a full suite of active safety tech. Although the 2016 Sorento also comes with lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and blind-spot warning with rear cross traffic alert, the Sportage takes things a notch above by adding automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection.
The range-topping SX trim will have these active safety systems standard; the EX trim will have them as part of an optional package. If you’ve got a 2017 Sportage equipped with these safety features, you have no excuse to hit another car or a pedestrian while driving.
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