The official arrival of the 2024 models here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis always makes this time of year so special: after all the amazing food, décor, and family of the season, we get to closely observe torque and horsepower specs along with new features we all love. The 2024 Kia Sportage saw upgrades that were fiercely stanced as a hockey team on the winter ice staring down their opponent. The Toyota RAV4 is going to be quaking in its snow boots heavily, as this crossover is well-equipped for busy students, families, and entrepreneurs.
There are now brand-new LED projector headlights and a second row of seat-mounted airbags to improve safety, with the power source as the 2.5-liter gas direct injection inline 4-cylinder. Hybrid models come with a 1.6-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine that cranks out 177 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 44-kW electric motor unit. The combined total system power output is 227 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, boasting an estimated 34 miles of all-electric driving range with the battery at full capacity.
The available 12.3-inch dual panoramic displays with navigation offer over 24 inches combined display for everything from a spur-of-the-moment old-school Mario Kart session to navigation features and other vital details. The Autoblog staff were greatly impressed with its radical redesign that included much bigger dimensions, multiple hybrids, and top-notch technology, concluding that it’s a valiant and well-deserved segment leader. A detailed comparison test between it and the newly redesigned Honda CR-V hybrid deemed the Sportage as the smart choice, thanks to its distinctive style and excellent safety technology.
Best-in-class cargo space is an asset that any busy family is going to hold quite near and dear on their “essentials” list, along with a vast back seat that is ready for the “delightful brick-and-mortar hauls of spring.” The current market has dictated the all-important price point as one of the most important features of any car, and this is where the Sportage has a viable upper hand. The interior offers up a sense of cool that the competing RAV4 or Forester can’t offer, with a choice of navy, red, and sage green interior.
The EX Hybrid also is eligible for the “New Year’s resolution” friendly upgrade of misty Gray or Triton Navy color combos, ranking Kia as a reigning champion when it comes to generous content on lower trim levels. Every powertrain option is eligible for the cabin’s swooping main attraction of a giant curved panel housing twin 12.3-inch displays that are politely shared by the enthralling and unique EV6. Also stuffed in the holiday stocking courtesy of the EV6 is the new row of touch-capacitive buttons offering accessible shortcuts for the infotainment menu and climate control.
This new interior is quite different from Kia’s usual look which comes off initially as even cleaner, with reviewers stating that they look better than eager models coming out of the gate from numerous competitors. The X-Pro trim adds a compelling step up in a major way with BF Goodrich all-terrain tires, 17-inch matte black wheels, and recalibrated drive mode settings for challenging reduced traction conditions. A few of our favorite extra available features include navigation, wireless device charging, a panoramic moonroof, synthetic leather upholstery, a Harman Kardon stereo, and the ingenious convenience of a hands-free power lift gate.
