New Kia Sportage 2024 Redesign, Changes, Price – The 2024 Kia Sportage is a compact crossover SUV that has evolved in size and capability with each generation. The Sportage, which seats five and is available in hybrid and off-road models, competes with the Hyundai Tucson, Toyota RAV4, and Ford Escape. The 2024 Sportage is toned down to compete with some of its rivals.
It makes no pretense, which wins us over. We give it one point for interior and exterior aesthetics, giving it a total score of seven. The Sportage’s athletic, poised stance is aided by its long wheelbase and short overhangs. However, similar to a well-fitting athletic shoe, the extended roofline brings the curvature inward toward the heels. It appears to be sleek and thin, with little obvious fat.
2024 Kia Sportage Redesign
Because it will be replaced next year, the 2024 Kia Sportage will receive minimal updates. The previous-generation Sportage S is dubbed the Nightfall Edition, while the EX now includes a standard power sunroof. The LX and SX Turbo trim levels maintain most of their original features. The Sportage retains its stunning shape with minor design tweaks. Its compact silhouette is reminiscent of our favorite high-top sneakers; the interior, while well-designed and equipped with a wide touchscreen for entertainment, makes us want more oversized windows and an improved outward view.
The 181-horsepower inline-4 engine that powers most Sportage crossovers will satisfy almost every motorist. Thanks to its six-speed automatic transmission, it won’t be rushed, and it’s close to cumbersome with optional all-wheel drive. We’d still choose it over the turbo-4’s 240 horsepower; we appreciate its gutsy acceleration, but the high sticker price makes us squirm. With a stronger suspension and wider wheels, the SX Turbo enhances handling even more, but it still falls short of our definition of “sport.”
The Sportage comfortably seats four adults and has a towing capacity of up to 60.1 cubic feet with the rear seatbacks folded down. Your priority list is entirely up to you. You also get safety: every Sportage comes standard with automatic emergency braking and a good NHTSA crash-test rating, whereas the IIHS’s more fussy algorithm only recognizes the SX Turbo as a Top Safety Pick.
Interior
The Sportage earns a seven in this category, providing accommodation for up to four large adults and considerable cargo. It is a vehicle capable of performing multiple tasks concurrently. The primary objective of the vehicle is to transport the driver and front passenger in relative comfort, which it accomplishes wonderfully. The front seats in the LX and Nightfall trim levels are upholstered in a casual knit fabric, while the Sportage EX and SX Turbo crossovers feature leather upholstery. While we would have preferred bigger seats, the seats in the front are comfortable and come with power adjustments on higher trims.
The rear seat’s 38.2-inch leg length supports the majority of long-legged passengers, but head room is limited. On the other hand, three huge adults will require the use of a shoehorn and blue words to fit. The back seats fold down to expand cargo space from 30.7 to 60.1 cubic feet, and the load floor is not unduly high. While the interior of the Sportage is well-built, the engine may sound strained when pushed close to the redline.
Engine
Not much with the entry-level 2.4-liter inline-4. It produces 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque and sends them to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission for completely adequate acceleration. Although the engine noise is not very refined, it does not intrude significantly into the cabin. The 2.0-liter turbo-4 engine in the Sportage SX Turbo produces 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, which is significantly more exciting.
It boosts the engine to generate a third more power while maintaining the same 6-speed automatic transmission. It’s thirsty for gasoline and twisty roads, and it delivers its power with enthusiasm, with torque pulling at the wheel in front-drive variants.
2024 Kia Sportage Release Date and Price
The price has climbed by at least $1,900 compared to last year, with the 2017 Sportage LX starting at $27,205, including a $1,215 destination fee. All-wheel drive increases the price by $1,800. The SX, EX, SX-Prestige, and X-Line trim levels and two new off-road packages, the X-Pro and X-Pro Prestige, are now available. AWD is included as standard on the X-Line and X-Pro models. The Sportage X-Pro Prestige is the most expensive model, starting at $38,005.