Automotive

2015 Kia Sportage SX AWD Compact Crossover Puts the Sport in Sportage – A Car Review

2015 Kia Sportage SX AWD
Cash for your car

The 2015 Kia Sportage SX AWD compact crossover combines the qualities of a passenger car with a smaller SUV, while retaining its turbo punch.

2015 Kia Sportage SX AWD

Granted, you shouldn’t take it off-roading, but that’s hardly top of the list of Sportage expectations. Still, it’s a fun ride, whether you’re scooting around town on a night out or while you’re running errands. Of course, don’t forget Kia’s 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty or the 6-year, 60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, and with a starting price of $21,000, the Sportage remains easy on the bank balance and on the eyes.

First off, the Kia Sportage is a sweet-looking car. It can fit in a parking spot for compacts, but has the power of a beefier rider. In fact, one of the best developments with the 2015 Kia Sportage SX AWD is the turbocharged, 260-horsepower four-cylinder engine. It’s quick, strong, and nimble, its power a pleasant surprise for such an economical vehicle. However, you’ll also have to deal with a slightly firm ride and middling fuel economy (19/26 mpg), but they may well be worth the trade-off at this price point.

The 2015 Kia Sportage SX AWD

The 2015 Kia Sportage SX AWD

Also keep in mind that the 2015 Kia Sportage SX AWD is a small crossover that holds five. Those in the front will appreciate the leg and shoulder room, but the backseat gets tight, depending on your passengers; plan accordingly if you regularly drive older kids from appointment to appointment. Also, the cargo room measures 26.1 cubic feet, but it’s more vertical than horizontal. If you need to pack in a ton of gear for a weekend excursion or bulk up on supplies at the warehouse store, make sure it stacks well.

For such a thrifty car, the Kia Sportage has a nice-feeling interior, with soft-touch materials and fine detailing. The driver can easily access the gauges, knobs, buttons, and other controls, especially those on the 7-inch touchscreen for the navigation system. The base-model Sportage gets air conditioning; power windows, locks, and mirrors; an adjustable steering wheel; keyless entry; 17-inch wheels; Bluetooth; and USB/iPod connectivity. By the time you get to the SX model, you can add a power driver seat, a cooled glove box, 18-inch wheels, and more. However, the price tag climbs to around $30,000 for this version, which may not align with Kia’s typical pricing proposition.

The 2015 Kia Sportage SX AWD

As an all-wheel-drive vehicle, the Kia Sportage earns five stars overall from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as well as five stars in frontal and side crash tests, and four stars in the rollover category. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Sportage “good” ratings overall. It may ease your worries to know that the Sportage comes standard with dual front, side and curtain airbags; anti-lock brakes; and stability control. You may want to supplement these features with a rearview camera in one of the available packages, as the Sportage design includes notable blind spots.

Kia has long combined solid features, good looks, sound performance, and a stellar warranty at an affordable price. The 2015 Kia Sportage SX AWD continues this tradition with a chic, zippy crossover. Neither a sedan nor an SUV, the Kia Sportage offers some of the best features of both, squeezed into the size of a compact, but with some power on the side.

For more information, go to Kia.com.

About the author

Jane Emery