2018 Kia Sportage

The cheapest trim in the Sportage range is the LX, which come in either front-wheel-drive or all-wheel drive. The FWD version starts at an MSRP of $23,600 with the AWD model costing $25,100. Above the LX is the EX, which starts at $26,400 for the FWD model and $27,900 for the AWD model. The top of the range model is the SX, at $32,900 for the FWD model and $34,400 for the AWD model. There's also a destination fee of $995 on all the models. These prices exclude tax, licensing and registration fees.

The Kia Sportage is one of the better handling crossover SUVs out there and performs admirably whether on small city roads or the freeway. The steering is responsive and direct, launching the Sportage around bends with ease and making the car feel light. Kia seems to have found the elusive sweet spot between the ride being too soft and too firm. The result is that while occupants are cushioned from the bumps on the road, there is still little body roll compared to other SUVs, and when cornering at speed the Sportage maintains its composure. There's the option of Normal, Sport and Eco modes to tweak the driving experience with the Sport mode particularly useful on the LX and EX trims to sharpen throttle programming and shift patterns to maximize the lack of power.

The brakes on the Sportage are firm and provide the same consistent response at all the speeds tested. With comfortable, supportive seats, and a distinct lack of road noise, the Kia Sportage provides a very relaxed and easy driving experience, but one that's more than capable of handling whatever most users might throw at it.

The Kia Sportage has slowly evolved from being a budget option to being a real contender in its class due to continuous improvement. There are a few downsides to the Sportage such as mediocre fuel economy, and of course, having less cargo space than key competitors. It's also not the best for towing, but as a crossover, it'll seldom be called in for heavy duty work.

But the positives far outweigh the negatives, giving buyers a fine balance between ride comfort and composure, as well as outright capability. The turbo engine is a boon for usable performance, without sacrificing much in the way of gas mileage, while all-wheel-drive is available on all trims. The interior is also immensely classy, high quality, and feels like it's been built solidly. Standard features are impressive, and safety is top of the line.

The Sportage stands halfway between the practicality of the Honda CR-V and the premium-feel and performance of the Mazda CX-5, making it an ideal middle-option for buyers not wishing to compromise in either area.

In the Sportage range, the best combination of value for money and features is the EX, preferably in the all-wheel-drive format. The LX lacks some of the features of the EX, such as fog lights, keyless ignition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane change assist. It also lacks the seven-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It may miss out on the turbocharged engine of the SX Turbo, but it can be equipped with a comparable level of equipment through various options packages while offering ample performance and improved gas mileage estimates. It's a happy medium that still offers more than most rivals.

The Honda CR-V is renowned as the class leader because of its brilliant all-rounder attributes, but the Kia Sportage is a worthy challenger. The 2.4-liter on the LX and EX model Sportages only makes 181 hp with fuel economy figures of 23/30/26. In comparison, the equivalent CR-V 2.4-liter engine makes 184 hp with much better fuel economy numbers of 26/32/29 mpg. Of course, both offer turbo motors but the Sportage offers the more potent force-fed motor. The Honda also has substantially more cargo and passenger space than the Sportage, and both boast premium-feel cabins. The CR-V has better safety equipment, but Kia's infotainment system is definitely the more intuitive of the two. Ultimately, practicality necessitates the CR-V, while if you can sacrifice cargo volume, the Sportage is sportier and slightly more premium.

Unlike the Kia Sportage, the Mazda CX-5 has stunning looks and fantastic driving dynamics. When it comes to performance, the base Mazda offers a 2.5-liter engine which makes 187 hp, only six more than the base Sportage and without a range-topping turbo alternative. The Mazda's fuel economy is a combined 28 mpg compared to the Sportage's 26 mpg and it's a better engine to drive, too. Cargo space is comparable on both models, but the CX-5 lacks the rear passenger space of the Sportage and is one of the most cramped models in the segment. But the interior feels opulent, and the levels of technology are exceptional. Both cars deliver a great ride compared to many of the competitors in their class, but the CX-5 is the most dynamically talented. If you're after a driver's SUV, the CX-5 can't be beaten, but the Sportage gives you turbo power and more cabin space, compromising just a little handling ability for the sake of greater practicality.