The compact crossover is easily one of the most competitive segments. Almost every automaker makes one and with so many options to choose from, how do you weed through the good and bad? There are the obvious heavyweights of the class, like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, but maybe you’d like something that isn’t sitting in every driveway in your neighborhood? Well there’s the excellent Mazda CX-5 and what about the stylish Kia Sportage? The Kia Sportage was one of Kia’s first models when it entered the US in the mid-1990s and 20 years later Kia has positioned it as the sportier and more stylish alternative to its Honda, Toyota and Nissan rivals.

After a week with the 2017 Kia Sportage, here are five things that I either loved or hated about Kia’s smallest crossover:

1It stands out

Kia’s latest design language has transformed nearly every model in its lineup to stylish standouts that it’s kinda crazy if you look at how far they’ve come in the last ten years. The 2017 Sportage builds on the sportier styling of the last generation, but adds a higher level of sophistication and class. From some angles it looks more expensive than it actually is, although its face may take some getting used to. It also stands out compared to its boxier rivals, like the Nissan Rogue and Honda CR-V.

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