2020 Kia Sportage Trim Levels with Comparisons & Configurations.

It is easy to see why smaller SUVs and crossovers have become so popular. They combine two of the things people prioritize nowadays - fuel efficiency and technology. Although there are a lot of options out there, not all of them are good at striking a good balance between price, fuel efficiency, and features.

Despite how competitive the small crossover market is, the Kia Sportage has managed to make a name for itself. Around for quite a while now, this vehicle entered its fourth generation in 2017. In 2020, it continues to better itself with additional safety features and more advanced technology.

In total, there are four trim levels to choose from. The entry-level LX is surprisingly well-equipped for its price. Going all the way up to the SX Turbo trim unlocks a turbocharged engine and other performance features. Along the way, there are several packages to be added to help customize the perfect version of the Sportage for you.

The following is a detailed summary of what features can be found on each of the trim levels. After reading, the goal is to make drivers better prepared to select the right 2020 Kia Sportage for them.

Compare the 2020 Kia Sportage LX vs S Trims. What is the difference?

Going with the first three trims, including the LX, gives the Sportage a 2.4L four-cylinder engine. With this, drivers will get 181-horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard for all models of the Sportage. Front-wheel-drive is also standard, but any trim can be had in all-wheel-drive as well. The maximum towing capacity for all versions of the Sportage is 2,000 pounds.

The entry-level LX trim is the only one that has 17" alloy wheels. There are no other available options here. Versions of the LX that have AWD have the option of replacing their tire mobility kit with an actual compact spare tire. Doing so also eliminates the luggage under tray.

In front of the LX, drivers will find a matte black and bright chrome grille. Moving around back, there is a stylish rear spoiler. This entry-level model gives drivers projector beam headlights, LED daytime running lights, and high beam assist. An optional lighting feature for this trim is projector beam front fog lights. The side mirrors are powered, and heat, as well as integrated turn signals, are available add-ons.

The front windshield is made from sound-absorbing glass. This can dramatically cut down on wind and road noise. Available for the LX is solar control glass. A windshield wiper de-icer is also available.

Looking inside the LX trim, drivers will find a six-way manually adjustable driver's seat and a four-way manually adjustable passenger's seat. A 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar adjustment is available here. The seats are made from woven cloth, but drivers can upgrade this to a more durable type of cloth including a fabric treatment. Heated front seats are optional.

The infotainment system runs on an 8" screen that uses voice recognition as well as Bluetooth to simplify driver's lives. This system can use either Android Auto or Apple CarPlay to connect compatible smartphones with the Sportage. There is an auxiliary audio input jack as well as a USB port capable of both audio input and charging. Drivers will also find 12-volt power outlets. Steering-wheel-mounted controls make it easy to control the music, as well as cruise and phone functions.

There are a few more available interior features for the LX trim. It can add dual-zone automatic climate control that features an auto de-fog function. There are also dual illuminated mirrors in the sun visor available.

Safety-wise, Kia equips the LX with a decent amount of advanced driver aids. Coming standard are forward collision avoidance assist with pedestrian detection, a driver attention warning, lane keeping assist, and a rear camera display. Drivers also get remote keyless entry. Optional features for this trim are rear-cross traffic alert and blind-spot collision warning.

Many of the optional features for the LX are lumped together in what is known as the Popular package. It adds the blind spot warning, dual-zone automatic climate control, and much more. Drivers interested in getting the most bang for their buck will want to give serious consideration to the LX with the Popular package.

Those in the market for a sportier small crossover should take a look at the S trim. It sits on 18" alloy wheels with a dark gray finish. It also adds a flat bottomed steering wheel featuring paddle shifters. The grille for the S trim is gloss black with hot stamping and bright chrome. It also gains skid plates and a roof rack.

The previously optional heated side mirrors with turn signals are standard for the S. Projector beam fog lights also become standard. Drivers can upgrade to LED fog lights and LED rear tail lights. A panoramic sunroof can also be added. Also available is the smart key feature.

Inside, the sportiness continues with alloy pedals. This trim gives driver the option of adding an auto-dimming rear view mirror with HomeLink and a compass. HomeLink is a sophisticated way of getting the Sportage to communicate with garage doors, gates, and security systems.

Heated seats remain merely optional, and drivers can now add LED interior lighting. A leather wrapped steering wheel is standard, but leather on the gear shift knob is optional. Other available interior add-ons include metal door scuff plates and piano black trim.

There are also a few optional tech upgrades. Drivers can add a wireless charging pad and a USB port in the back. They can also upgrade the infotainment system to include UVO link, which adds SiriusXM satellite radio. With UVO link, drivers can download the Kia app to gain remote access features. These features include remote climate control, remote door unlock, and the "find my car" function. You can also control these features through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistance.

As far as safety features, the blind spot collision warning and rear cross-traffic collision warning become standard. Optional features are unlocked by the S as well. This is the first model that can be equipped with smart cruise control featuring stop and go technology. With this version of cruise control, the feature can bring the vehicle to a complete stop if necessary. All the driver needs to do to start going again is tap the accelerator. Also available is an electronic parking brake with auto-hold.

Overall, there is a lot to be gained by moving up to the sporty S trim, although much of it is optional rather than standard.

Compare the 2020 Kia Sportage S vs EX Trims.  What is the difference?

The first thing that drivers may notice is different about the EX is the wheels, which are still 18" but gain a machine finish. For the front grille, Kia went with gloss black and bright chrome. This trim makes the smart key feature standard equipment. Both smart welcome and the solar control glass become standard here as well.

Inside, drivers now get the 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar adjustment. An eight-way power-adjustable passenger's seat becomes available. The dual illuminated sun visor vanity mirrors, which were optional on the LX and disappeared for the S, become standard. Also included now is the dual-zone automatic temperature control with an anti-fog feature.

One of the best features in the EX trim is the smart power liftgate. It can open automatically if it senses the smart key, something very handy for those with arms full of groceries. Models without the compact spare tire also have the removable tray for storing small items, further adding to the Sportage's convenience.

Drivers can choose to upgrade their sound experience. Available for the EX is a Harmon Kardon premium surround sound system featuring eight speakers. Heated front seats are now standard, and a heated steering wheel is optional. Ventilated seats are also optional. The leather on the gear shift knob becomes standard and leather trim on the seats is available.

The piano black interior trim is standard and the option of adding metal door scuff plates goes away. Now standard is the USB port in the rear for the back passengers. The infotainment system now has the option of upgrading to both satellite radio and navigation. Parking assist with both front and rear sensors is the only newly added optional safety feature.

For the EX trim, Kia added a good deal of luxury.

Compare the 2020 Kia Sportage EX vs SX Turbo Trims. What is the difference?

The SX Turbo is the only Sportage available with a more powerful engine. It is a turbocharged 2.4L four-cylinder. With it, the Sportage generates 240-horsepower as well as 260 lb-ft of torque. The horsepower for the SX Turbo with all-wheel-drive suffers a little, going down to 237. This turbocharged engine increases the fun, but not the towing capacity. The same six-speed automatic transmission can be found here.

There are other performance-enhancing features for the SX Turbo, making it the most fun version of the 2020 Sportage to drive. It has larger front brakes than previous models. It also has an independent multi-link rear suspension.

Standard for the ultimate version of the Sportage are 19" alloy wheels. A compact spare tire is standard on versions with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive. The SX Turbo shares the same gloss black grille with hot stamping and bright chrome that the S has. Adding to the sporty look are dual chrome-finish exhaust ports.

The SX Turbo gets several lighting upgrades. Standard are LED front fog lights, headlights, and rear tail lights. The metal skid plates are now standard, as well as the panoramic sunroof.

Alloy sport pedals come back for this trim. The eight-way power-adjustable passenger's seat is now standard. This is also the only trim to give drivers the auto-dimming mirror with HomeLink as standard equipment. The flat-bottom steering wheel with paddle shifters makes another appearance.

The Harmon Kardon sound system comes inside the SX Turbo, and so does the heated steering wheel. Leather seat trim and LED interior lighting become standard. There is also a supervision meter instrument cluster featuring an LCD trip computer. Ventilated front seats and the wireless charging pad, previously optional, are now standard. The upgraded infotainment system, with the satellite radio and navigation, is also included.

This trim gets all of the safety features available on the 2020 Kia Sportage. Standard now is an electronic parking brake with auto-hold, the parking assist with front and rear sensors, and smart cruise control with stop and go. With its more powerful engine and long list of standard upgrades, it is easy to see the appeal of the SX Turbo.

Which Trim to Choose?

Kia has a well-deserved reputation of giving drivers a lot of features at a more affordable price. This is certainly true of the 2020 Sportage, which has four strong trim choices. There really is no bad choice here.

Like with a lot of vehicles, sticking to the middle of the trim list is a good way to go. The S trim has a sporty appearance and unlocks a ton of optional tech and safety equipment. Going with the EX gets you the dual-zone automatic temperature control, upgraded seat options, and more.

Ultimately, most drivers will be well-served by saving a little money and sticking with the S trim of the new Sportage.