The 2017 Kia Sportage named the “Best New Compact SUV”

And the award goes to…. The 2017 Kia Sportage has just been named the “Best New Compact SUV” of 2017, by Cars.com. It is also in the running for the “Best of 2017” Cars.com award. Kia did not just win these awards for being Kia, they received these awards for their innovation, design, and technology they have continued to revolutionize.

“With all of the improvements made for the 2017 model year, it’s hard to ignore the Sportage” said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning KMA.

As our St. Louis drivers know, the Kia Sportage continues to outdo itself each year. The 2017 Kia Sportage is a perfect balance of European and sporty style, with an impressive level of craftsmanship. Not only having a distinctive style, that is more seen in luxury vehicle then the everyday vehicle, it also has a roomy interior, easy-to-use technology, and other upscale features that you would not normal see in everyday vehicles. Not only did it come with a more luxury feel it is also equipped to be top safety pick. It has optional crash prevention wraps, advanced driver assistance technologies, significant suspension and steering improvements, and available intelligent AWD.

“To be recognized by the experts at Cars.com as ‘Best Compact SUV’ and as a ‘Best Of’ nominee represents how far the Kia brand has come in its continued commitment to world-class quality and top-notch design”, said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning KMA. With all these awards and upgraded features why wouldn’t the Kia Sportage be your next picked vehicle for 2017! Come check them out at Jim Butler Kia in St.Louis, MO.

2017 Kia Sportage Named Kelly Blue Book "Best Buy Of The Year"

The Kia Sportage, Kia Motors America’s longest running nameplate, has been named Kelly Blue Book’s KBB.com Best Buy of the Year among small SUVs/crossovers. Following substantial yearlong data collection, which also included testing and evaluation, the Sportage was one of 12 winners out of the 300 total new-car models included in the process.

“The new-for-2017 Kia Sportage offers versatility, ease-of-use and laudable utility in a fun-to-drive package,” stated Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book. “Its value-price and the length of comprehensiveness of its warranty were also keys to its 2017 Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Award win in the red-hot Small SUV/Crossover category.”

The 2017 Kia Sportage was designed with flexibility in mind- with tons of safety features, innovative packaging, a turbocharged engine and a completely driver-friendly interior.

“The all-new 2017 Sportage has improved in all the right areas, from its expressive styling and functional interior to its refined performance,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning KMA. “To be recognized by the experts at Kelley Blue Book as a Best Buy among some of the toughest competition demonstrates the all-new Sportage is a breed apart from the CUV segment.”

The 2017 Kia Sportage has also been named an IIHS Top Safety Pick+.

These awards speak volumes and you can’t deny that you want to check out the 2017 Sportage for yourself… Visit us at Jim Butler Kia in St. Louis, MO- we’d love to help you find your next car!

2017 KIA Sportage Wins Top Safety Pick Plus Award

The 2017 Sportage earned the most distinguished safety award from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The Top Safety Pick Plus award has been revised and is more rigorous from the previous years. Each vehicle must earn “good” ratings in the five crash-worthiness tests, “advanced” or “superior” rating for front crash prevention in order to qualify for the award, and have driver assistance technologies to aid in crash prevention.

The 2017 Sportage features a wide range of safety features including:
• Autonomous Emergency Braking
• Lane Departure Warning System
• Blind Spot Detection with Lane Change Assist
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Bi-HID headlights with Dynamic Bending Light technology
• High-Beam Assist
• Front Parking Assist
• Rear Parking Assist

The all-new KIA Sportage has significantly improved because of its extensive use of Advanced High Strength Steel and with 51-percent of the body-in-white consisting of Advanced High Strength Steel that has improved by 39-percent. Furthermore, the Sportage has more than a football field’s length of structural adhesives.

The all-new 2017 KIA Sportage features significant suspension, steering improvements, and intelligent AWD. It comes in three trim levels. The SX trim has a 2.0-liter inline-four with 240 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft of torque. The LX and EX trims use a 2.4-liter engine that puts out 181 horsepower and 175 lb-ft. The Sportage is the first Kia to offer UVO3, featuring 14 telematics services, eight GB of music storage, and access to onscreen apps and Wi-Fi tethering capability, complete with Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, all which are free of charge.

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!

Shop our 2016 Sportage inventory

Next-gen Sportage Revealed Inside and Out Before Auto Show Debut

Redesigned interior gives KIA CUV an updated look for 2017 model year

The next-generation KIA Sportage will take the stage at the Frankfurt Auto Show later this month, but KIA fans can catch a glimpse of the 2017 KIA Sportage right now — and that includes exterior and interior photos!

KIA promises the most refined, highest-quality cabin to date for the next-gen Sportage, and the new interior shots show a definite redesign. New technology features and active safety features abound.

The redesigned dashboard includes the large display screen, most likely the UVO infotainment system. A flat-bottomed steering wheel and new options such as cooled seats and a heated steering wheel should be available. The cabin appears to give off a more horizontal look than its predecessors, and Edmunds.com said wireless phone charging should be a feature on the 2017 Sportage.

The same man, Peter Schreyer, who redesigned the Optima headed the design on the new Sportage. Noticeable exterior changes include higher headlights and a lower grille next to quad driving lights on both sides. KIA said the new stance of the Sportage is more “imposing ... and stable-looking.”

A GT trim level looks like it will be added to at least the Sportage line. Other noticeable features include chrome accents and a metallic skid plate.

The next-gen Sportage will be ready to take on the Honda CR-V, Mitsubishi Outlander and Mazda CX-5. St. Louis CUV fans can find new KIA Sportages now at the KIA Butler, Jim Butler KIA in Chesterfield Valley!

To learn more about the KIA Sportage or to schedule a test drive, call Jim Butler KIA today at 636-256-9600 or contact us online. As your St. Louis KIA dealer, we invite you to check out our new Sportages in-person at our Chesterfield dealership. If you’re in the St. Louis, Chesterfield Valley, Creve Coeur or Maryland Heights area, stop by our lot at 722 Long Road Crossing in Chesterfield. Here at Jim Butler KIA, you can make your new vehicle purchase with confidence. We are located in Chesterfield, MO, and serve as your St. Louis, Chesterfield Valley, Creve Coeur and Maryland Heights KIA dealer.

Shop our Sportage inventory!

Latest Sketches Show What Next-gen Sportage May Look Like

Keeping close with spy shots, new Sportage set for public debut in Frankfurt in September

After spy shots were divulged of the next-generation KIA Sportage, KIA’s European design team whipped up some sketches of just what that new Sportage should look like without the camouflage cover on it. The sketches seem to closely resemble the aforementioned spy shots.

One of the most noticeable changes on the exterior happens right up front. While the grille may keep much of the same composition, the front LED headlights are swept back for a more streamlined, sleeker approach. The CUV almost takes on the shape of a sports coupe as the roof arches back more. In the back, the LED taillights stretch across the hatch.

KIA promises the most refined, highest-quality cabin to date for the next-gen Sportage. While the interior shots showed only the front seats, the sketches presented by KIA give a better idea of what the driver and front-seat passenger will experience. It appears that the UVO touchscreen is angled more toward the driver as a wrap-around feature as opposed to earlier Sportage models.

Whether the United States and Jim Butler KIA will see a Sportage such as this remains to be seen, but the public reveal of the newly styled Sportage will take place on Sept. 15 in Frankfurt, Germany. Stay tuned to Jim Butler KIA’s blog and social media for updates on the Sportage and other KIA models!

To learn more about the KIA Sportage or to schedule a test drive, call Jim Butler KIA today at 636-256-9600 or contact us online. As your St. Louis KIA dealer, we invite you to check out our new Sportages in-person at our Chesterfield dealership. If you’re in the St. Louis, Chesterfield Valley, Creve Coeur or Maryland Heights area, stop by our lot at 722 Long Road Crossing in Chesterfield. Here at Jim Butler KIA, you can make your new vehicle purchase with confidence. We are located in Chesterfield, MO, and serve as your St. Louis, Chesterfield Valley, Creve Coeur and Maryland Heights KIA dealer.

Shop our Sportage inventory!