2018 Kia Sportage

Despite being the base trim, the LX trim is priced at $23,600 and is loaded with features. However, we would recommend the EX trim at a price of $26,400. It comes equipped with features such as Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, advanced safety features, and premium interiors. The best offering is actually in the high-end trim, the SX, however, is priced above the $30,000 mark and we wouldn't recommend it.

Build your Kia Sportage >>

"The 2018 Kia Sportage earns a good predicted reliability rating, and it boasts a handsome, roomy cabin and a gentle ride." - Cars.USnews

The 2018 Kia Sportage is priced between $23,600-$32,900 for the three different trim levels including the base LX, mid-level EX, and range-topping SX. With regard to its powertrain, there are two engine options with either FWD or AWD. The standard engine is the 181 hp 2.4 L 4-cylinder engine while the 240 hp 2.0-liter turbocharged engine is available on the SX Trim. With regard to the difference in trims, it is mainly to do with the interior features, this includes day interior materials, cabin comfort, and infotainment offering.

The FWD LX version starts at an MSRP of $23,600 with the AWD model costing going up to $25,100. The Sportage EX starts at $26,400 for the FWD model and $27,900 for the AWD model. The top-of-the-range SX begins at $32,900 for the FWD model and $34,400 for the AWD model. These prices exclude a destination fee of $995 on all the models.

Each trim gets an option of two drivetrains to choose from, an AWD and an FWD. The AWD drivetrains are costlier by $1500. As you go up the trim ladder you get better interiors and high-end infotainment features.

Standard Features

The base Kia Sportage LX trim includes all basic tech needs such as a rearview camera, a 5-inch touch-screen infotainment system, six speakers, satellite radio, Bluetooth, and a USB port.

The Kia Sportage EX trim adds many more comfort, safety, and convenience features. Standard EX features include genuine leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert, and the UVO infotainment system with a 7-inch touch screen.

The Sportage SX Turbo trim not only upgrades the powertrain but also gets you a larger touch screen with navigation and more driver-assist features. It adds a panoramic sunroof, a hands-free power liftgate, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a Harman Kardon audio system, front and rear parking sensors, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, a power-adjustable passenger seat, ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and the upgraded UVO system with an 8-inch touch screen and navigation.

“It’s hard to find style and versatility in the same place, but the redesigned Kia Sportage delivers on both counts. You’ll like the number of features that Kia has packed into this small crossover, too. It’s one of our top choices for 2017.” -Edmunds

The 2018 Kia Sportage comes with two powertrains options and two drivetrain options. The base 2.4L I-4 engine standard on the LX and EX trims comes mated to a CVT transmission and churns out 181 horsepower. For more oomph, you can upgrade to a 2.0L turbocharged engine on the SX Turbo model that comes with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The Sportage Turbo is capable of generating 240 HP and 260 lb-ft of torque. However, the powertrain options are limited to specific trims and can not be interchanged. While the drivetrain options are available across all three trims in the lineup.

In terms of driving experience, the basic engine offering of the 2018 Kia Sportage is adequate for running around the city. But, when you go to consider highway cruises the power might not suffice. Equipped with a very good suspension system all the bombs are absorbed and the ride delivered is extremely comforting. Adding to the experience is a sharp steering, linear and sturdy brakes, along with a sense of composure that gives sheer confidence to the driver.

The 2018 Sportage with its basic engine isn't very quick. The Sportage LX manages to go from 0-60 mph in 8.8 seconds, a split second faster than the slowest car in consideration. However, the quarter-mile timing of the 2018 Sportage seems to be pretty impressive as it records it in 16.2 seconds. Having the best timing in class due to its maximum power output.

In comparison with its competition, we have the 2018 Mazda CX-5 that generates 187 HP and 185 lb-ft of torque with its 2.5L inline, gas engine, however, this comes at a higher price tag of $24,450. The other two rivals offer a lower power output; the Hyundai Tucson generates 164 HP while the Ford Escape manages to churn out 168 HP.

Against its competition, we have a tie for the first position, both the 2018 Hyundai Tucson and the 2018 Mazda CX-5 record the 0-60 mph in 8.3 seconds. It is followed by the Kia Sportage in the second position and subsequently by the 2018 Ford Escape with a timing of 8.9 seconds. In the quarter-mile dash, we see the tables turn, as the Kia ranks first, followed by the Mazda CX-5, with a timing of 16.3 seconds. Following in the third position is the Hyundai Tucson with a timing of 16.5 seconds and a split second later we see the Ford Escape finish at 16.6 seconds.

The Kia Sportage doesn't just offer the maximum power output in the segment and stops at that, it further goes ahead to offer a fine set of brakes. Equipped with 12-inch rotors for the front wheels and 11.9-inch rotors for the rear wheels helps the Kia Sportage brings its massive weight of 3596 pounds to a standstill in just 118 feet.

Towing Capacity of the 2018 Kia Sportage

Equipped with a massive 175 lb-ft of torque along with 181 HP, the 2018 Kia Sportage gets the ability to tow 2000 pounds. However, this figure is not impressive and at the same time, it doesn't disappoint as well. The towing capacity of the computers might just be better than what the Sportage has to offer.

It is only the 2018 Ford Escape that comes equipped with a better ability to tow, with its 168 HP and 170 lb-ft of torque, it gets the ability to tow 3500 pounds. The 2018 Mazda CX-5 offers an identical towing capacity as Sportage, measuring 2000 lbs. The 2018 Hyundai Tucson is capable of towing only 1500 lbs and measures the least in the segment for the same.

"With the base engine, the Kia Sportage’s fuel economy estimates are below average for the class." - Cars.USnews

The 2018 Sportage LX FWD with the base 2.4L engine returns as much as 23 mpg city, 30 mpg Highway, and 26 mpg combined. The all-wheel-drive LX and EX models deliver 21/25 mpg city/highway. The Sportage SX which comes with a turbocharged engine drops the fuel economy ratings to 21/26 mpg for FWD models and 20/23 mpg for the AWD models. Kia has always been at the forefront in terms of delivering efficient engines, the 2018 Kia Sportage experiences the same with a fuel economy that is pretty decent when compared with the offering of its rivals.

In competition with its rivals, most of them offer similar fuel efficiencies apart from the 2018 Ford Escape with lacs a little bit. Yet with a decent fuel economy to offer, It returns 21 miles to a gallon for city drives, 29 miles to a gallon for highway cruises, and a combined reading of 24 miles to a gallon.

“What has improved, however, is visibility, thanks to thinner A- and C-pillars and more rear glass, which is a welcome change. … Extending over the back seat was my favorite of the interior features”- Cars.com

Kia offers the utmost comfort and opulence inside the cabin of the 2018 Sportage. With an ability to accommodate 5 individuals just like its rivals, the 2018 Kia Sportage's interior also offers an abundance of passenger space in both the rows. Featuring several infotainments and technological features that add to the existing levels of comfort, the cabin of the Sportage is indeed a fine place to be in.

Further, the Kia Sportage also offers an easy entry and exit. The 2018 model also sees an improvement in the interior material used. Compared with its competition, all four cars are extremely alike with regard to the passenger room dimensions offered. Sportage comes with a cloth upholstery as standard, but one can upgrade to a leather upholstery at an additional charge.

The 2018 Sportage offers the best and most tech features in the class. It comes in handy with smartphone connectivity features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and the infotainment system is easy to use and responds quickly to inputs. There are also some physical controls for audio and climate control.

In terms of the cargo space offering, the 2018 Kia Sportage does a decent job, however, it might not be enough to compete with its rivals. It provides 30.7 cubic feet as the standard cargo room, this can further be expanded to 60.1 cubic feet with the second row of seats folded down.

In comparison with its competition, we find that the 2018 Ford Escape offers the maximum cargo space in the class with a standard offering of 34.3 cubic feet, and this can be expanded to a room of 68 cubic feet. With a significant margin, the Hyundai Tucson ranks in the second position with an offering of 31 cubic feet as its standard cargo room and a maximum space of 61.9 cubic feet. Mazda had a similar offering to that of the Sportage.

"You either like the high-mounted headlights or you don't, so you can make up your own mind there. As for the rest of the stubby little Sportage, we're quite fond of it. " - KBB

 2018 Kia Sportage Design, Dimensions, and Weight

It need not be said that Kia Sportage stands out for its exterior design. Unlike its competition, it offers a unique body style along with its legendary tiger-nose grille. The 2018 model year gets a slight makeover with some significant changes on the sides making it look well proportioned and sleek. Weighing 3596 pounds makes it one of the heaviest vehicles in consideration, however, its competition isn't far behind.

Compared to the competition, the 2018 Mazda CX-5 weighs the most, at 3693 pounds, it is also the longest car in the segment, and with its length comes the best wheelbase on offer. In terms of height, it is the 2018 Ford Escape that is the tallest, measuring 66.3 inches. In terms of width, it is the Kia Sportage at 73 inches. Ford also offers the best in class ground clearance at 7.8 inches.

Exterior features offered for the 2018 Kia Sportage

• Bumper Applique
• Paint Protection Package
• Mud Guards
• Wheel Locks
• Cross Bars
• Tow Hitch

"The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the 2018 Sportage a Top Safety Pick and gave it the highest rating of Good in six crash tests." - Cars.USnews

With regard to the safety offering, the 2018 Kia Sportage bags a perfect five on five stars for its overall safety rating from NHTSA. It further goes ahead to receive a five five-star rating for the Side crash safety test. However, it does lag behind in the aspects of Frontal cash, and Rollover safety tests.

To further confirm and reassure the audience about the safety offering of the 2018 Kia Sportage, we also look into the safety rating as given by IIHS. It gets an overall grading of "Good", and this is an outcome of the majority of the safety aspects getting a "Good" grade but there are a couple of aspects where it gets graded "Acceptable". These aspects are Small overlap front: passenger-side, and Latch ease of use. NHTSA issued one recall for the 2018 Kia Sportage at the time of writing.

Safety features of the 2018 Kia Sportage

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• ABS And Driveline Traction Control
• Side Impact Beams
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front Airbags
• Curtain 1st And 2nd Row Airbags
• Airbag Occupancy Sensor
• Outboard Front Lap And Shoulder Safety Belts -inc Rear Center 3 Point, Height Adjusters and Pretensioners
• Rear Child-Safety Door Locks
• Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH)
• Front and Rear Crumple Zones

Read more about Safety >>

2018 Kia Sportage Vs 2018 Hyundai Tucson

Both the Hyundai and the Kia come from the same parent company, this is clearly visible when you see the specifications of both their offerings, the Tucson and Sportage. With several similarities across all the aspects, there does exist a major difference in their power output, this is despite getting a similar engine, it further gets similar rotors for their wheels, similar interior specs, and even similar pricing. 

2018 Kia Sportage Vs2018 Mazda CX-5

 When put up against the 2018 Mazda CX-5, which comes priced at $24,450, it is the latter that offers slightly more power than the Sportage, and this translates to better acceleration performance. However, in terms of towing capacity both the vehicles are just the same, with the ability to tow 2000 pounds. Kia Sportage has a better brake performance, while the Mazda comes back with a better fuel economy on offer. In terms of interiors, both the offerings are alike, for a slightly lower price we would suggest the Kia Sportage.

2018 Kia Sportage Vs 2018 Ford Escape

Up against the 2018 Ford Escape, the pricing of both are similar, priced at $23,940, for the Escape and $23,600, for the Sportage. However, in terms of power output, it is the Sportage that is way ahead with an offering of 181hp, while the Ford Escape churns out only 168 HP. Even in terms of fuel efficiency, it is Sportage that has a better offering. Moving on to the interior aspect, we again find that both the vehicles have a similar passenger space to offer. It is pretty clear that the Kia Sportage makes a better buy when compared.

With an average performance in terms of acceleration, power output, and torque generation, the 2018 Kia Sportage is a car that delivers in all aspects to a certain extent. In terms of safety, it scores a perfect 5 out of 5 stars, as awarded by the NHTSA. And the IIHS grades it "Good" for the same. In comparison with its competition, the Sportage seems to offer value for money and should surely be considered.