2017 Kia Sportage Crossover Makes U.S. Debut in Los Angeles

After initially making its debut at the Frankfurt auto show earlier this year, the 2017 Kia Sportage compact crossover makes its U.S. debut at the Los Angeles auto show. Though its styling is nearly identical to the global Sportage, the U.S.-market car will use different powertrains when it goes on sale next year.

The new Sportage certainly displays a more aggressive face than its predecessor, with a version of Kia’s corporate “tiger nose” grille flanked by high-mounted triangular headlights. The top-trim SX model being shown at the reveal also has the same large foglights from the Sorento SUV, and the wide taillights in the rear take cues from the Kia K900 luxury sedan. A 1.2-inch longer wheelbase makes for increased interior room compared with the previous Sportage, with more space in the rear seat and the cargo area.

2017 Kia Sportage Rear Three Quarters

Unlike the European Sportage (and its corporate cousin, the 2016 Hyundai Tucson) the 2017 Kia Sportage won’t offer the company’s 1.6-liter turbo-four paired with a dual-clutch. Instead, a revised version of the outgoing Sportage’s 2.4-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder with 181 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque will be the standard engine, paired with a six-speed automatic. The uplevel Sportage SX Turbo comes with a 2.0-liter turbo-four that makes 241 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque through a six-speed automatic transmission—essentially the same powertrain as the 2016 Kia Optima sedan. Both engines will be offered with either front- or all-wheel drive.

Standard equipment for the 2017 Kia Sportage LX includes a five-inch touchscreen that incorporates Bluetooth and a backup camera, while the EX model has a 7-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capability. The top-trim SX Turbo comes standard with navigation, leather seats, HID headlights, a heated steering wheel and Kia will also offer all sorts of active safety features like autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and lane-departure warning, though we don’t yet have details on the Sportage’s option packages.

Keep an eye out for more information, like pricing and EPA fuel economy numbers, as we near the 2017 Kia Sportage crossover’s arrival in the U.S. next year.

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