2017 KIA Sportage Ushers In New Breed of Sophisticated CUVs

KIA’s longest running nameplate sees improvements inside and out, expected to hit dealers in 2016

At Jim Butler KIA in Chesterfield Valley, we’re proud to have served as a St. Louis KIA dealer this past year. We are always ready to look ahead however. As 2016 approaches, we wanted to highlight a 2017 model-year vehicle that should hit our St. Louis KIA dealership next year.

The 2017 KIA Sportage made a public debut at this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show, and the crowd was wowed. KIA’s longest running nameplate sees contemporary design updates for the exterior as well as a more spacious interior.

The chief design officer of the next-gen Optima Peter Schreyer also oversaw the 2017 Sportage’s transformation. Smooth curves wonderfully compliment the sharper creases on the body panels. The front fascia sees the most dramatic change. The trademark tiger-nose grille of KIA is still displayed prominently, but the headlights have been lifted up higher and now sweep along the edges of the hood. According to KIA, the wheelbase has been stretched 1.2 inches (now 105.1 inches), while overall length has increased 1.6 inches to 176.4 inches.

The interior overall is roomier and more spacious to enhance the KIA experience. The dashboard is designed to have two distinct zones: display and control. The display zone utilizes the instrument panel and new color touchscreen, while the control zone has intuitive climate and audio controls. Advanced High Strength Steel was used more extensively, and the goal of the 2017 KIA Sportage is to earn five stars from the NHTSA and Top Safety Pick + from the IIHS.

AWD will be an available feature for the Sportage if you’re the off-road type or want to tackle whatever weather St. Louis will throw at you. Under the hood, the 2.4-liter engine on the EX and LX trims churns out up to 181 horsepower and 175 lb.-ft. of torque to help improve fuel economy. The SX turbo trims will benefit from the turbocharged 2.0-L with up to 241 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque.

While we look forward to 2016, we also are excited for the upcoming vehicles in KIA’s lineup. To learn more about new KIAs near St. Louis or to schedule a test drive, call Jim Butler KIA today at 636-256-9600 or contact us online!

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