If you’re in the market for a new SUV, you might have considered options such as the Honda CR-V and Ford Escape, which have gotten a lot of publicity. But look beyond the ads and you’ll find that there are plenty of other alternatives out there, with better features and lower prices. Case in point, the 2024 Kia Sportage. The upgraded version of the popular Kia model boasts many interesting additions, including a brand-new infotainment system and a standard pedestrian detection system.
But is the Kia Sportage the right vehicle for your lifestyle and, most importantly, is it worth the money? Let’s find out.
Design & Comfort
Although fans of previous Kia Sportage versions chose this model for its practicality and comfort, Kia didn’t compromise on design. The 2024 model is a good-looking car, with an updated exterior that features LED lighting options, new front grille and exhaust tips, as well as several wheel options. The car is available in eight colors: clear white, Sparkling Silver, Steel Gray, Pacific Blue, Burnished Copper, Hyper Red, Black Cherry, and Snow White Pearl.
Kia also spent some time redesigning the interior, which now has an upscale look. You can choose from seven neutral-color finishes, available in cloth, leather, or leatherette. The cabin is very spacious, as it should be for its class, and Kia also improved the cargo with a Smart Power Liftgate™, which opens automatically when it senses your smart key. There’s also a smaller, concealed storage space under the cargo floor that makes loose items easier to store. Although the cargo itself isn’t as large as some of its competitors, it is well compartment and comes with an improvement in terms of practicality. Unless you usually fill your cargo to the brim with gear, the space is more than enough for everyday situations. If you love taking your car on long road trips, then you’ll love the panoramic sunroof with power sunshade. The heated and ventilated front seats will also keep you comfortable no matter the season.
Tech
2020 is a big year for car tech and thankfully, Kia has aligned the new Sportage to all the major trends that drivers want to see. Drivers now get standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and an 8-inch touch-screen, which, according to the dealers at bobsightkia.com, is one of the key improvements on the 2024 Kia Sportage. Tech enthusiasts will be glad to find out that the Kia Access app offers remote accessibility with compatible smartphones. You can therefore control the temperature in the car, lock and unlock doors, find your car, give remote commands to Amazon Alexa/Google Assistant, all remotely. The wireless charging tray is also a nice addition and wires will no longer bother you while driving. As far as audio goes, the 2024 Kia Sportage stands out through the Harman Kardon™ Surround Sound with Clari-Fi™ restoration technology.
Safety
Safety is a top concern on all vehicles but, for a compact SUV that’s mainly used by families with children, safety is particularly important. Fortunately, Kia didn’t skimp on safety improvements and, best of all, many of them are available with the standard version. The maker paid extra attention to collision prevention: the radar-based detection system warns you about possible objects in your blind spot and the forward collision-avoidance assists (FCA) can automatically apply the brakes if it detects a pedestrian. You also have beams that automatically dim themselves when they detect oncoming vehicles and Smart Cruise Control that keeps a predetermined distance from cars in front of you.
Driving experience
Whether you want to take the kids to school or go on a road trip to the countryside, you’ll love the driving experience on the 2024 Kia Sportage, which was made with high-tensile strength steel allows for improved rigidity. Traction and control have also been improved and, if you’re looking for more adventure, you should definitely go for the sporty option, which has a turbocharged engine. Another welcome feature is the Traction Control System which improves stability in challenging road conditions.
Price
The 2024 Kia Sportage is available in four trims, starting at $23,990 for the LX version and going all the way to the $33,590 SX Turbo. Unlike many of its competitors, however, this car has many great features already included in the standard variant: front-wheel drive, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, six-speed automatic transmission. 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, read privacy glass, and much more. Although the other versions will raise the price a bit, you get what you pay for and the SX Turbo really offers everything you could wish for in a compact SUV. However, one thing that could have been better price-wise is the fuel efficiency, which didn’t manage to exceed that of its rivals. If you don’t want to spend a lot on gas, or you’re worried about the car’s carbon footprint, this is something to keep in mind.
Many Kia fans also wonder if they should buy the 2024 version or take advantage of the release of the new model to buy a used, older version. This is always an option and nowadays you can get some pretty good deals on functional used Kia’s, but the 2024 model is a big step up from previous versions. If you want to have access to all the latest tech features and enjoy a smooth ride quality, paying extra for a new Sportage pays off.
Overall, the 2024 Kia Sportage is a great car and, if you’re looking for an upgrade, it’s one of the top contenders. This compact SUV is quite versatile and even though it is ideal for families, it will also match your lifestyle if you frequently go on long trips and you need extra space for sporting gear. As is the case with the Mazda CX-5 and the Hyundai Tucson, the 2024 Kia Sportage shows that infotainment systems and modern safety features are here to stay and in the following years we’ll see more of them fitted on standard variants.