2018 Kia Sportage Pros vs Cons

If you're in the market for a smaller SUV, the 2018 Kia Sportage offers something unique. This compact crossover is a budget vehicle with some luxury features. Kia has put a lot of effort into providing a comfortable ride for passengers. If you primarily want a crossover to haul the family around in, then the Sportage is worth a test drive.

What's New For 2018

The Kia Sportage received an overhaul just last year in 2017. This means no major changes are present in the 2018 model. The base model does get an upgrade to the cloth upholstery. It is now stain resistant. This is a great feature to have for those with children.

Ten Reasons You May Like the 2018 Kia Sportage – The Pros

1. Fast Turbo Engine

The turbo engine is worth the upgrade if you appreciate good acceleration. The 240 hp engine performs well and adds some excitement to your driving experience. With this engine choice, your routine commutes can be downright fun.

2. Good Performance

The base model and medium trim are called the LX and EX models. Both come equipped with a 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder engine. This engine produces 181 hp and 175 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine is strong enough for most of the uses you'll have for your Sportage. AWD is an available option that makes for great performance in any weather or terrain.

For even more power and better performance, you can opt for a turbo-charged engine. The 2.0 4-cylinder will get you 240 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. This engine is peppy. It provides plenty of power and great acceleration. The 6-speed automatic transmission performs very well.

3. Great Handling

Handling and braking are excellent on the 2018 Kia Sportage. In an emergency, you should be able to stop in under 120 ft. while going 60 mph. Steering feels responsive and sporty. The Sportage hugs the curves around tight turns. Kia has managed to create a crossover SUV that is fun to drive.

4. Nice Infotainment System

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both offered with this year's infotainment system. A 7" touchscreen gives you crisp graphics and intuitive menus to access the various features with. The Sportage also features voice-commands for the navigation system and a lot of steering-wheel controls. The highest-level sound-system gets you eight speakers and a 320 watt stereo.

5. Comfortable Ride Quality

The 2018 Kia Sportage features excellent ride quality. This is one of the highlights of the Sportage. It is among the best in its class and certainly one of the best at this price point, when it comes to a smooth, comfortable ride.

The Sportage does a great job of soaking up any bumps in the road. Vibrations are at a minimum here. The ride is also quiet with little-to-no wind and road noise.

6. Above-Average Towing Capacity

The 2018 Kia Sportage offers decent towing capacity for its size and class. You can tow up to 2,000 pounds with trailer breaks and 1,650 pounds without them.

7. Very Affordable Price

The 2018 Kia Sportage is a budget vehicle. It is one of the lowest-price crossover SUVs on the market. Even when you go up to the higher trim levels, it still manages to be cheaper than a lot of its competitors. This makes the Sportage a great bargain, especially when you factor in the interior quality and comfort.

8. Excellent Interior Quality

This is another major win for the 2018 Kia Sportage. It is among the best in its class for interior comfort, design and quality. The center console design is smart and attractive. The seats are posh and cozy. There is plenty of head and leg room for a long, comfortable ride.

The quality of materials, fit and finish inside the Sportage are comparable to an expensive luxury vehicle. If you want to ride in style while still on a budget, then the Sportage is your vehicle. The 2018 Kia Sportage is a budget crossover vehicle with a luxury-car interior.

9. Safety Features and Crash Tests

The 2018 Kia Sportage is one of the safest vehicles on the road. It's a perfect vehicle to safely carry your family around in. The NHTSA gave it a five out of five star rating for crash tests. The IIHS gave it their coveted Top Safety Pick award.

The Sportage comes with a lot of safety features as standard. Driver assist systems such as rear-traffic alerts, rear-view cameras and blind-spot monitors are all included. Automated braking kicks in in emergencies and there are ample amounts of airbags everywhere.

10. Unique Looks

The Kia Sportage has a unique exterior design. There's nothing else quite like it on the road. You will never mistake the Sportage for some other crossover SUV. If you want a compact crossover that is unique, then the Sportage is a good choice.

Reasons You May Not Like the 2018 Kia Sportage – The Cons

1. Limited Cargo Space

This is probably the biggest set back for the Sportage. Kia clearly created this crossover to be more for carting passengers around than for cargo hauling. Cargo space is very limited for a vehicle in this class. You are only going to get about 31-60 cu. ft. of storage, depending on if the rear seats are up or down.

2. Average Fuel Economy

Fuel economy for the Sportage isn't terrible, but it's lower than many competitors in this class. You should get about 23 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

3. Unusual Styling

This may seem like an odd choice for a negative, considering that exterior style was also a pro. The Kia Sportage has a unique style that seems to foster a lot of love and hate. If you like it and want unique, then it may be a pro for you. If you don't like different, then it can easily be seen as a negative aspect for this crossover.

How it Stacks up to the Competition

Three of the main competitors for the Kia Sportage are the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V and the Toyota Rav4. All of the listed competitors here are great vehicles in their own right. Most competition offers better cargo space than the Kia. Overall performance may be better as well. The Kia beats all of these models when it comes to safety, cost and interior comfort.

Conclusion

The 2018 Kia Sportage is one of the best budget-buys you can get in this crowded market of crossover SUVs. There are a lot of models that do certain things better than the Sportage. However, if you want the safest crossover at an incredible price, the Sportage is hard to beat.