Yahoo Autos Kia Sportage Interior Review: A juggernaut of both tech and space
This generation of Kia Sportage is easily the best yet. It went from an afterthought of a compact crossover to being one of the best in its segment, and a huge reason for that success is its interior.
The most obvious reason this Sportage’s interior is finally competitive is due to the sheer size of the car now. Backseat legroom and cargo capacity — in depth test of cargo here — are both top-of-class now, and they feel it. That rear bench will recline or stand up further straight depending on use case. And if you buy either the Hybrid or gas-only Sportage, it comes with a spare tire under the cargo floor. The Sportage is so big inside that if you’re buying a three-row SUV simply for the extra space they offer and not for the extra seats, you may want to think twice. On the flip side, if you’re in the market for a compact SUV and actually want something that feels compact, the Sportage likely isn’t the one for you. Considering Americans and their thirst for big cars, though, that portion of buyers is surely a thin slice.
Beyond the sheer size of the Sportage’s insides, the cabin sure is a lovely, modern space. Fans of the Kia EV6’s interior will find a lot to like here, as the Sportage helps itself to the panoramic curved display that houses two 12.3-inch high-resolution screens. The curve of the housing angles the infotainment system toward the driver ever so slightly, but doesn’t prohibit use from a passenger. Kia’s usual software plays on the screen, which is quick to respond and features the alluring black-and-purple color scheme. You get both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but neither works wirelessly. That big, digital cluster features smooth animations in drive mode changes, and you even get different views and colors depending on the mode you’re in.
