2017 KIA Sportage EX

The 2017 Sportage is Kia's compact crossover, slotting between the smaller Soul and the larger Sorento in the lineup. It competes with the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Ford Escape, offering a longer warranty than any of them. The Sportage steers with a firm, direct feel and handles corners with confidence, though the ride is on the firm side. Inside, the cabin is roomy up front with a well-laid-out dashboard, but rear legroom is a bit tight for taller passengers. Standard equipment includes a touchscreen stereo with backup camera, and available features add blind-spot detection and heated seats. Heated leather seats and the 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay set the EX apart from the LX below it. The 2.4L I4 makes 181 horsepower and pairs with a six-speed automatic, returning 25 mpg combined in front-wheel drive. Drive Mode Select lets you switch between Normal, Sport, and Eco to sharpen throttle response or save fuel.