Major Options / Build: Navigation System, Alloy Wheels, Bluetooth, Backup Camera, Blind Spot Monitoring

Additional Description: The all-new 2020 Kia Sportage enters its fourth generation with a major redesign that puts a little less emphasis on sport and a lot more emphasis on quality and comfort. Not to mention an intriguing new face. When the Sportage made its debut, the compact crossover SUV field was thinly populated. That's not the case today. The segment is chock-a-block, with over a dozen entries, all with virtues. Getting a new vehicle to stand out from the crowd is a challenge. The 2020 Sportage takes a different approach, emphasizing elements that almost always pay off in the showroom: quality interior furnishings, plenty of room, creamy ride, quiet operation, safety features in step with the times, and a good value story. In addition to moving suspension tuning toward the comfort side of the ledger, Kia has dialed back on power. Displacement of the two engine choices is unchanged: a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter. At 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque, output of the 2.4-liter four-cylinder is about the same as that of the version. All-wheel drive is optional. The all-wheel drive uses a new Magna system that anticipates road irregularities. Kia cites an impressive 39 percent improvement in structural rigidity. Safety features include forward collision warning and autonomous emergency braking; lane departure warning (which emits a particularly irritating beep but lacks lane-keeping); blind spot detection; and rear cross traffic alert. Predictably, this adds up to a little more room inside, particularly welcome for passengers in the outboard rear seats, who can ride comfortably with only minimal cooperation from those up front. (Like all compact CUVs, the rear center seat is suitable only for child seats, very small adults, or passengers who would be more welcome somewhere else.). The going away view might be better without the red reflective strip that spans the rear hatch, connecting the taillights. But the head-turning details are on the new front end, with its array of seemingly random styling elements, particularly the running lights set low in the fenders. Kia calls them ice cubes, and they're certainly distinctive. Naturally, interior appointments contribute to the comfort quotient, and the Sportage gets very good marks on this portion of the scorecard. Materials wouldn't be out of place in a vehicle costing half again as much, there's hardly a hard surface anywhere, and sporty perforated cloth seats, with heating and cooling, make the going more pleasant. the wheel's flat bottom, suggesting sportiness, is a little over the top. Flat-bottom wheels are necessary in sports and racing cars, allowing driver thigh clearance. Control functions are easy to identify, and for those who find total touch screen secondary controls irritating the display is augmented by a collection of switches, buttons, and knobs. No mysteries. The 8-inch screen, for its part, is home for a nav system that's more cooperative than many, and is angled slightly toward the driver. The combination of more mass and fewer ponies is an unlikely formula for improving 0-to-60 mph performance. Kia addressed this issue in the Sportage LX by installing a new turbocharger that reaches maximum boost faster, summoning maximum torque more quickly. Agility-wise, the character of the new Sportage seems to differ from its immediate ancestor. The new 2020 Kia Sportage raises the ante in terms of quality and comfort. Sportage is a satisfying ride in other scoring areas, civilized and quiet, structurally solid, with a strong value proposition.Front air conditioning, Front air conditioning zones: single, Rear vents: second row, Airbag deactivation: occupant sensing passenger, Front airbags: dual, Side airbags: front, Side curtain airbags: front / rear, Side-curtain airbag rollover sensor, Antenna type: mast, Auxiliary audio input: Bluetooth / USB / iPod/iPhone / jack, Radio: AM/FM / touch screen display / voice operated, Radio data system, Speed sensitive volume control, Total speakers: 6, Watts: 160, ABS: 4-wheel, Braking assist, Electronic brakeforce distribution, Front brake diameter: 12.0, Front brake type: ventilated disc, Power brakes, Rear brake diameter: 11.9, Rear brake type: disc, Armrests: rear center with cupholders / rear folding, Center console trim: leatherette, Door sill trim: aluminum, Door trim: leatherette, Floor material: carpet, Interior accents: metallic-tone, Shift knob trim: urethane, Steering wheel trim: urethane, Assist handle: front / rear, Cargo area light, Center console: front console with armrest and storage, Courtesy lights: door, Cruise control, Cupholders: front / rear, Multi-function remote: keyless entry / panic alarm / trunk release, One-touch windows: 1, Overhead console: front, Power outlet(s): 12V rear / two 12V front, Power steering: variable/speed-proportional, Power windows: lockout button, Reading lights: front, Rearview mirror: manual day/night, Retained accessory power, Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic, Steering wheel mounted controls: audio / cruise control / phone / voice control, Storage: accessory hook / door pockets / front seatback / in floor / sunglasses holder, Vanity mirrors: dual, Liftgate window: fixed, Rear door type: liftgate, 4WD type: full time, Axle ratio: 3.20, Drive mode selector, Locking differential: center, Alternator: 140 amps, Battery: maintenance-free, Battery saver, Door handle color: body-color, Exhaust tip color: black, Fender lip moldings: black, Front bumper color: body-color, Grille color: black / chrome surround, Mirror color: body-color, Rear bumper color: body-color / chrome accents, Rear spoiler: roofline, Rear spoiler color: body-color, Rocker panel color: black, Window trim: chrome, Connected in-car apps: Google POIs / Google search, Infotainment: Android Auto ready / Apple CarPlay ready, Infotainment screen size: 8 in., Clock, Digital odometer, Driver information system, External temperature display, Fuel economy display: MPG / range, Gauge: tachometer, Instrument cluster screen size: 3.5 in., Trip computer, Trip odometer, Warnings and reminders: low fuel level / low oil level / low washer fluid / tire fill alert, Daytime running lights: LED, Headlights: auto high beam dimmer / auto on/off / halogen / wiper activated, Taillights: LED rear center, Side mirror adjustments: manual folding / power, Automatic emergency braking: front pedestrian, Body side reinforcements: side impact door beams, Camera system: rearview, Child safety door locks, Child seat anchors: LATCH system, Crumple zones: front / rear, Driver attention alert system, Emergency interior trunk release, Energy absorbing steering column, Impact absorbing bumpers, Impact sensor: door unlock, Lane deviation sensors, Lane keeping assist, Pre-collision warning system: audible warning / pedestrian detection / visual warning, Rearview monitor: in dash, Emergency locking retractors: front, Front seatbelts: 3-point, Rear seatbelts: 3-point, Seatbelt force limiters: front, Seatbelt pretensioners: front, Seatbelt warning sensor: front, Driver seat manual adjustments: height / reclining / 6, Front headrests: adjustable / 2, Front seat type: bucket, Passenger seat manual adjustments: reclining / 4, Rear headrests: adjustable / 3, Rear seat folding: flat / split, Rear seat manual adjustments: reclining, Rear seat type: 60-40 split bench, Upholstery: cloth, 2-stage unlocking doors, Anti-theft system: alarm with remote, Power door locks: anti-lockout / auto-locking, Hill descent control, Hill holder control, Stability control, Traction