2015 Kia Sportage SX Luxury: Template For Small SUV Success

There has never been a better time to be shopping for a pint-sized, inexpensive, do-it-all daily driver.

Kia manages to balance out the more modest aspects of the crossover's passenger compartment by way of its features list.

Some models in the Sportage line-up, however, present a more cautionary tale of how you can easily overload a vehicle with options and end up forking over more money than is absolutely necessary.

One of the advantages of selecting the Sportage SX Luxury (and regular SX) trim is access to the vehicle's 2.0-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

There's also a respectable amount of cargo space to be found inside the crossover once you fold down the back seat.

The Sportage features a very attractive touchscreen infotainment and communications interface (with navigation).

The 2015 Kia Sportage is a perfect example of the highly evolved state of the small people mover segment.

My recommendation is to shirk the premium gear in the SX Luxury you don't really need.

What did I wish for behind the wheel of the Sportage SX Luxury? Maybe a little more refinement from the 2.0 turbo.

The 2015 Kia Sportage presents one of the most cohesive designs on the small SUV landscape.

The Sportage really doesn't have a bad angle, as even in profile its bold shape suggests power and prestige.

Families will have no trouble fitting two adults and two teenagers into the Sportage's first and second rows of seating.

The Sportage's optional all-wheel drive system was surefooted and stable during a long week of winter driving.

The SX Luxury trim isn't just pricy for a Kia.

The budget-friendly roots of the Sportage are more easily detected inside the cabin.