Five Things to Know About the 2019 Kia Sportage

Published on January 24, 2019 in Previews by Michel Deslauriers

The compact SUV segment is extremely popular in Canada, and we expect that it will continue to grow as consumers trade in their compact and midsized cars.

It’s thus crucial for each manufacturer to offer at least one in its lineup, and at Kia, it’s the Sportage that fills this role. Like its name suggests, the automaker gave it a sporty edge to help it stand out from its rivals, notably the Honda CR-V, the Toyota RAV4, the Ford Escape and the Hyundai Tucson. Completely redesigned for 2017, it soldiers on this year without any major changes. Here are five things to know about the 2019 Kia Sportage.

A Powerful Engine Available on Option

The 2019 Kia Sportage is equipped as standard with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine that develops 181 horsepower, available with a front-wheel drivetrain or optional all-wheel drive. However, the range-topping SX Turbo trim benefits from a turbocharged, 2.0-litre four that produces 237 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Thanks to this powertrain, the Sportage is amazingly quick and consumes almost the same amount of fuel as with the base engine.

Ready for Winter

The base Sportage LX comes with heated front seats and heated outside mirrors, and retails from $25,295 before freight and delivery charges. For an extra $2,200, we can add the Dynamax all-wheel drive system, and for $30,595, we can step up to the EX trim that includes a heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel. Last but not least, heated rear seats are available in the $37,695 EX Tech variant.

Cargo Space could be Better

When the rear seats are upright, the 2019 Kia Sportage’s cargo area offers a volume of 868 litres. Folding down the rear seatbacks increases that volume to 1,703 litres. That’s good, but many other compact SUVs can do better. In fact, only the Mazda CX-5, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross and the Jeep Cherokee have smaller cargo areas.

Comprehensive Infotainment System

The base Sportage LX includes a modest five-inch screen, but from the EX trim up, we get a seven-inch touchscreen as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, while the EX Tech and SX Turbo variants rely on an eight-inch screen, wireless phone charging and an upscale Harman/Kardon sound system.

Interesting Warranty

As is the case with every Kia vehicle, the Sportage is backed by a five-year, 100,000-km (whichever comes first) comprehensive and powertrain warranty, while roadside assistance is included for five years, regardless of mileage. In addition, there’s a one-year/20,000-km warranty on adjustments for consumable items such as bulbs, wiper blades, fuses and brake pads, among other things.