Kia Sportage Ground Clearance: What To Know
2018 Kia Sportage by Vauxford — CC BY-SA 4.0
Modern vehicles are sitting a lot higher off the ground when compared to their older counterparts. This is largely because more automakers are realizing that there is an increase in demand for more ground clearance.
Since the debut of crossover SUVs a few years back, consumers are looking for car options that can tackle rough terrain better. They want an ordinary daily commuter that can offer enough ground clearance—a feature that has mostly been reserved for monster SUVs and trucks.
The Kia Sportage is a great compact SUV that provides a lot of comfort and bold styling. In today’s post, we’ll take a look at how much ground clearance it offers and how well it compares to its competition. We’ll also advise on some of the activities the Kia Sportage ground clearance allows you to do as an owner.
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Kia Sportage Ground Clearance
The 2021 Kia Sportage is the latest model in the company’s fourth-generation lineup. It’s available in four trim levels – S, EX, LX, and SX Turbo. The minimum ground clearance varies depending on the drivetrain.
For example, the front-wheel-drive version has a ground clearance of 6.4 inches while the all-wheel-drive trim rides at 6.8 inches. The ride height doesn’t win any awards. However, the vehicle does have some solid features when it comes to tackling rough terrains.
With as much as 6.4 inches off the ground, the SUV stays protected from scratches and scrapes when driving over uncertain terrain. This is despite the fact that this version sits much lower than its predecessor. For some of the previous Kia Sportage models, buyers got a lot more ride height.
Here’s how the Kia Sportage ground clearance has changed over time:
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How does the Kia Sportage compare to its competitors?
Some of the key rival models that compete with the Kia Sportage in the same market category include the Volkswagen Tiguan, Nissan Rogue, Buick Envision, Jeep Cherokee, Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, Ford Escape, Subaru Forester, Jeep Compass, Chevrolet Equinox, and Mitsubishi Outlander Sport.
Here’s how they fare against the Kia Sportage ground clearance:
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As seen above, the Kia Sportage offers the least amount of ground clearance when equipped with front-wheel-drive. If you go for the all-wheel-drive version, you get to compete well against the Buick Envision which sits lower by 0.1 inches. Things don’t get any more competitive than that.
However, every other competitor on our list fares better when it comes to ground clearance. Some of the top performers include the Volkswagen Tiguan, Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, Jeep Compass, Nissan Rogue, Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, Jeep Cherokee, and Subaru Forester. They offer 8 inches of ride height or more.
This means that they are better positioned at tackling rough terrain and unpredictable road surfaces. This is, of course, if we only factor in ground clearance. There are plenty more features that enable vehicles to move on uneven roads. Be sure to take a look at them as well:
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Activities that you can do with the Kia Sportage
The Kia Sportage does not have as much ground clearance as its competitors. But, don’t let this fool you. This SUV is more than capable of moving away from the occasional gravel that we see on our roads. Its current generation has been recognized by drivers and critics for its ability to meet expectations.
This is while still maintaining its efficiency and great handling as a crossover. Most competitors have already accepted that in order for them to perform well off-roading, they must give up fuel efficiency and comfortability. But not Kia.
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Here are some of the activities that you can take up if you own a Kia Sportage.
1. Off-roading
Off-roading is made possible by the Sportage’s ground clearance. With 6.4 inches in the front-wheel-drive or 6.8 in the all-wheel-drive, you’re sure to stay high enough from potential scrapes on the vehicle’s underbelly. This is also made possible by the SUV’s 28 degrees of approach angle in the all-wheel-drive variant.
2. Camping
The Kia Sportage can also be used for camping, where you can do some light-duty towing. It has the capacity to pull up to 2,000 pounds if you have trailer brakes on your trailer. If not, the capacity reduces to about 1,653 pounds. Considering the Sportage is quite compact, this is still remarkable. It wouldn’t also be possible without adequate ground clearance.
3. Exciting driving
For those looking for some excitement during their drives, the Sportage comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that churns as much as 237 horsepower. It is quick in its acceleration and boasts some of the most charming driving dynamics in the crossover market today. Its impressive driving traits make it fun to drive.
4. Luxurious experience
The ground clearance offered by the Kia Sportage isn’t just meant for off-roading. It also puts the vehicle at a comfortable stance for a luxurious experience. This is especially true if you pick the EX Technology package that offers leather surfaces, ventilated front seats, panoramic sunroof, upgraded audio system, heated steering wheel, and wireless charging. You get to have as much fun driving down the highway as you would off-road.
Conclusion
If you’re on the market looking to get the Kia Sportage, it may have hit you by now that it comes with the least amount of ground clearance when compared to its competitors. This is not a point of concern if you’re looking for a daily commuter. However, if you’d like to do some rough trail crawling often, you may want to consider going for another option that rides higher above the ground.
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