If there’s one automobile that has captured my coronary heart in 2017, it’s the newly designed 2017 Kia Sportage. For me, it’s the epitome of “luxurious wanting” sports activities SUV. Lovely side-view strains, an aggressive , but elegant, entrance profile with the piercing Headlight lenses, and the beautiful Tail Lights which give the phantasm that the automobile is in movement, even when parked.
I do know we’ve all been discussing (with a lot shock) in regards to the renaissance of KIA within the latest years. We ask, as we stutter, “who? how? what the… when did a Automobile Design Prince kiss the ugly Kia frog and switch it from an earthly, boring pile of aluminum to an incredible magnificence with a hanging stability of aggressive seems and class?”
The 2017 Kia Sportage is an ideal instance.
NOW FOR THE NITTY GRITTY!
FRONT
Upon first look, you might be met with a entrance profile that exudes a presence and allows you to know “I’m right here!” The now-familiar Kia entrance grille, flanked by the headlights with the piercing lenses, lets you already know that this isn’t simply an odd Crossover SUV.
There’s a vital distance between the bottom and the headlights (marked with the yellow arrow), which makes the bumper and grille look very cumbersome, nevertheless it works. Jogs my memory of an alligator looking at you! It additionally helps shield the gorgeous headlights throughout a minor-to-mid power entrance collision.
One awkward space is the foglight space (circled in yellow): They give the impression of being comfortable with the precise fog lights that include the upper trim fashions, however the low trims haven’t any fog lights. That house is simply clean, sitting on the bumper, begging NOT to be observed.
LIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS
Little doubt, probably the greatest components of the 2017 Kia Sportage. The spherical lenses, together with the delicate sign lights, whereas spectacular on their very own, are given extra prominence by the fiberglass-looking enclosure. If solely Kia added the phrases “Sportage” on the facet (marked with the arrow), they are going to be ranked up excessive with coolness with headlights of BMWs, Maseratis and the likes.
TAIL LIGHTS
The tail lights are equally thrilling, carrying over to the facet panels, a development which was impressed upon the general public by the Kia Optima. The Sportage seems prefer it’s in movement, even when parked. Once more, just like the headlights, with regards to classiness, the Tail Mild is an in depth match to a high-end luxurious vehicle such because the Porsche or the Jaguar SUVs.
FOG LIGHTS
Three trims (LX, EX and SX): 2 of them look good with the lights and the accent strains beneath the lights (EX and SX). The LX is the awkward wanting space talked about above. (Okay, wonderful, it doesn’t look as awkward on the black coloration Sportage… however solely on black!). The SX has the 4-light-foglight (that exists on different Kia SX trims, such because the Optima) that appear like they will gentle up a baseball discipline.
SIDE
The facet view profile of the 2017 Kia Sportage is streamlined, with delicate chrome accents and the piece above the again windshield. The rear home windows finish in additional of a rectangle, giving the impression of a roomy inside.
BACK
The again define of the 2017 Kia Sportage mimics the entrance, with the slender high, and the vast panels. The Tail Lights are unfold aside with a long way, offering an amply sized stage for the Kia emblem to shine.
Every thing seems good, EXCEPT!!! A query right here for KIA: What’s the cope with the center, purple, tacky plastic piece between the Tail Lights (circled in yellow)? That piece has Bought To Go!
There’s a model with a chrome piece overlaying a part of it, which truly seems a lot nicer. KIA, do us a favor and embody that chrome piece on all trims.
INTERIOR
Very sporty! Tons to love right here; too many to elaborate individually, however, right here’s a listing of some:
- Sporty steering wheel, with the hole “U” form on the backside giving it a kick-up-a-notch
- Good massive display (after all, with the navigation bundle). Might need to examine if they’ve a model with simply Android Auto or Apply CarPlay (7″ display?)
- Nice lighting of the dashboard at the hours of darkness
- Seats look nice with the sporty stitching
- Increased trims include the twin coloration inside (not loopy in regards to the tan coloration)
DISLIKES
Thankfully, not a lot. There are (solely) 2 dislikes: the primary is only a nuisance; the second is a giant disappointment!
The First, the nuisance: the knobs for the Quantity and Tune are tiny. Alright, no massive deal, therefore it’s only a nuisance.
The Second… should pause right here and shake my head with disappointment. It’s not JUST on the ’17 Sportage; Kia appears to be transferring backward in time with regards to this component of the instrument cluster. I’m speaking in regards to the gasoline and temperature gauges. Whereas the older fashions have been sq. lights, which seemed very cool, the brand new fashions appear to be going again to the tacky purple dials, which cheapen the instrument cluster and make it appear like an previous (and even new) Ford. Come on, Kia… It’s a must to return to the lights!
IN CONCLUSION
Total, the 2017 Sportage is a giant win for Kia; nice design, nice drive, superior know-how, and a Strong 9.75 out of 10 in my guide!