I’ve accepted that living in Los Angeles means that I’m usually in the car. LA residents spend many, many, many hours on the road traveling from point A, to B to C. The condition of our cars can be a deal-breaker if it isn’t comfortable, reliable and especially good on gas. Kind of like KIA! I was given a 2017 Kia Sportage SX to test out for a week and I have to start off by saying that I already miss that car!! We actually drive a Kia Soul which is zippy, cute and excellent on gas. It’s the perfect car for our happy little family of three. BUT I’ve been eyeing the Sportage, Kia’s crossover SUV, so I was excited to take it on a test drive all over the Southland!
The 2017 Sportage SX was fully loaded with everything I needed right at my fingertips. The Sportage cruised my family through the urban jungle of DTLA, hugged the corners on windy, narrow roads to Malibu then drove 2 hours on the 5 South to get us safely to San Diego for a Mother/Daughter camping trip.
The car handled beautifully and the break system performed superbly when I needed to stop suddenly on the highway. Plus, we were riding in style! This luxury styled vehicle has sleek curves, a plush interior with a massive panoramic moon-roof that extended far to the rear of the vehicle. We took advantage of the open air vs the air conditioning whenever we could plus my daughter enjoyed star gazing from her perspective in the backseat.
The 2017 Sportage SX was equipped with keyless entry. That was my first time using this system but I quickly figured it out after flipping through the car’s instructional manual. The seats adjusted many different ways for comfort along with the steering wheel and the car was equipped with reverse cameras that assisted me in parking. I’m originally from Boston, so I kick butt in the parallel parking area but I can even use a little help! Another feature that I liked were the sensors that detected movement in the vehicle’s blind spots. I do wish my Kia Soul had that feature.
If I were on the Autobahn with the Kia 2017 Sportage SX, I would have tried to get the car going as fast as it could go! But at the US speed limits, the car handled smoothly on the highway. The car is equipped with 2.0L diesel engine that delivers 184 hp. Its front wheel drive and I loved the way the car handled!
Entertainment is key for long drives. The Sportage touchscreen “infotainment” system offered Sirius which has a kid channel that my daughter is obsessed with (it starts to drive me crazy but that’s a story for another day!). I also used the built in GPS system which freed up my phone as a distraction and made me hands free. The air conditioning kept things cool and even quite frigid during a few days where LA was hit with a heat wave. The driver of Kia 2017 Sportage SX as well as the passenger can individually adjust the temperature to their liking.
We definitely used up the rear storage space when we went camping in San Diego. We packed in suitcases, groceries, camp gear and still had room to spare. The back seat folds down for extra storage. With a touch of a button the hatch closes which my daughter loved! I would definitely consider upgrading my KIA Soul to a Sportage. It is spacious, has plenty of leg room and has all the bells and whistles I would want in a crossover SUV. I have driven a LEXUS in the past and I felt that the Sportage is a decent comparison. We had fun driving the car. My daughter moved into the backseat with no issue. I felt safe driving my family in and around the Southland. The Kia 2017 Sportage SX is the perfect vehicle to take on an adventure.
The MSRVP on this car is $32,500 and fuel economy is 23 MPG. Please let me know if you have any specific questions on the car.
~ This is not a sponsored post. We tested a Kia Sportage for a week for review purposes. Opinions are own own. ~
