LOOKS

The sharp exterior look from a 2023 redesign carries over to the 2024 Sportage. Its grille design stands out, as do its diamond-shaped headlights. Overall it’s a bold, distinctive look that some will like and others may not.

The X-Pro model I tested featured 17-inch black alloy wheels with all-terrain tires, and tire sizes on the various Sportage trims range from 16 to 19 inches.

X-Pro models also feature multi-terrain driving modes, LED fog lights, heated windshield, heated steering wheel and alloy pedal covers.

The Sportage features a panoramic sunroof with power sunshade, roof rails,
LED lighting, heated outside mirrors, rear spoiler and rear privacy glass. My test vehicle featured a sharp Wolf Grey paint color along with a black roof.

Moving inside, the Sportage offers a high-tech, futuristic look with two large screens up front, and a limited number of traditional knobs and physical controls.

There are classy wood trim features on the dashboard and inside the doors, and most importantly it offers a roomy seating area and plenty of cargo space. Comfortable Syntech materials are used on the adjustable seating, and you’ll find a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel and heated front seats, plus dual-zone climate control.

With the rear seats down, you get 74.1 cubic feet of cargo space, and with rear seats up that number is 39.6 cubic feet. These are very solid numbers for the compact SUV segment, and to top it off there’s also plenty of small storage space throughout the vehicle for your keys, wallets and whatever other random things find their way into your vehicle. You can even retract the cup holders to open up more small storage space.

HOW’S THE RIDE?

The 2024 Kia Sportage is powered by a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine, which is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and delivers 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque.

The Sportage comes in either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, and my test vehicle had AWD.

There are also hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the Sportage available for more eco-friendly buyers.

The Sportage is not a powerful ride, taking roughly 9 seconds to travel from 0-to-60 mph. Hybrid versions lower that number down to about 7 seconds.

If you’re someone who wants a ton of power and speed, the Sportage isn’t going to be your first choice. But what it does excel at is offering a smooth and enjoyable ride, and doesn’t feel overly slow despite not being super fast.

It handles well for the class, and is nimble on twisty roads. Drive modes offered include Normal, Smart, Snow and Sport. A limited towing capacity of 2,500 pounds comes with the Sportage, and outside noise is mostly kept outside while you are driving.

The X Pro models add all-terrain tires and 8.3 inches of ground clearance for some basic off-road ability, but don't go too crazy with your adventures as it’s not a true off-roader.

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY

The technology in the 2024 Kia Sportage works well for the most part, but at times tries to be a bit too clever.

Voice commands work well for radio and navigation controls, and the touchscreen is large and easy to use. But the touchscreen strip below the main screen alternates between controlling radio and controlling climate, which can get confusing at times and distract the driver. I recognize that they were trying to save space, but I just don't like the setup.

There is another large screen in front of the driver that offers all the important info you’ll need, and is part of one long unit alongside the center touchscreen. 

Tech highlights include the 12.3-inch touchscreen (base model comes with an 8-inch screen), Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, satellite radio with three-month free trial, and a wireless phone charger. The Harman Kardon premium audio system sounds bold and clear on both the high and low ends, and you get front and rear USB charging ports.

A solid lineup of safety systems are found on the 2024 Sportage, and all work impressively without being overly sensitive or intrusive.

The Sportage did a solid job of keeping itself on the right path using its lane keeping and adaptive cruise control features. The vehicle also warns the driver when they appear to be drowsy, and a Safe Exit Warning feature alerts of oncoming traffic before you open your door.

Overall government safety ratings are strong, and other systems that keep drivers safe include:
— Forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
— Lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
— Blind-spot monitoring
— Rear cross-traffic alert

A remote parking feature is also offered on the Sportage.

On the X-Pro Prestige AWD model, you also get LED rear combination lights, blind spot view monitor, surround view monitor, parking collision-avoidance assist-reverse, and parking distance warning-forward.

MPG

The official fuel mileage numbers on the all-wheel drive 2024 Kia Sportage are 23 city/30 highway/26 combined. In my time driving the Sportage, I averaged 25 mpg.

The front-wheel drive Sportage comes in at 25 city/33 highway/28 combined.

The numbers are decent, but slightly less than the best fuel economy you’ll find in the compact SUV segment. It’s not a big enough difference, though, to be a deal breaker for most buyers.

PRICE

The 2024 Kia Sportage I tested was priced at just over $40K; and its base price starts about $29K.

Trim levels include LX, EX, X-Line, SX, SX-Prestige, X-Pro and X-Pro Prestige, and the pricing is competitive in its segment.

More adventurous types will want to consider the X-Line or X-Pro models, but many people will be happy even at the well-equipped EX level.

Warranties are a strong point, including a five-year/60,000-mile overall warranty, and an industry-leading 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Five years of roadside assistance is also included, but there is no complimentary maintenance offered.

BOTTOM LINE

The 2024 Kia Sportage offers a comfy and smooth ride, bold design, roomy interior, and plenty of cargo space. It will fit many families’ lifestyles and is a solid overall compact SUV.

Its power is somewhat lacking, but as long as you’re not looking for a hot rod it does enough in other areas to make up for this.

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