2015 Kia Sportage Sports MSRP of $21,750

2015 kia sportage front/side view comes with 182HP or 260HP turbo ・ Photo by Kia

This just in from the "if it ain't broke" department: After a significant refreshing for the 2014 model year translated into massive sales gains, the 2015 Kia Sportage will carry over unchanged for the next selling season. (Well, its price does increase by $150, to reach a new MSRP of $21,750, and the brand does claim some "subtle interior updates across all trim levels," but those enhancements apparently were too subtle to be mentioned when the 2015 Kia Sportage was announced.)

Be that as it may, the 2015 Kia Sportage still showcases the kind of bold, aggressive design that folks now expect from the brand, along with a wealth of features that includes two powertrain choices. The entry choice is a robust 2.4-liter four-cylinder unit that provides 182 hp, 177 lb.-ft. of torque and fuel-economy grades of up to 28 mpg highway, while the premium powerplant is a 260-hp turbo four that makes 269 lb.-ft. of torque while capable of 26 mpg on the highway.

As a result, the 2015 Kia Sportage is more athletic, if also a bit smaller, than the typical entry crossovers; the Ford Escape, for example, is a bit bigger and more efficient, but it's also less powerful, too. That kind of superior performance then gets matched to a superior level of starting content, including:

• Six-speaker audio with USB jack
• Bluetooth technology
• Steering-wheel-mounted audio/phone/cruise controls
• Air conditioning with rear-seat ventilation duct
• Exterior LED positioning lights
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Center-console and rear under-floor storage
• A 2,000-lb. tow rating

Kia showcases much in the way of optional equipment, too, with the 2015 Kia Sportage offering all-wheel drive and cutting-edge technologies like the Kia UVO eService connectivity and infotainment system, navigation with a 7-in. color touchscreen and voice control, a rear camera display, and a premium Infinity sound system with external amp and subwoofer.

Which goes a long way toward explaining why sales of the 2015 Kia Sportage shot up by almost 75 percent in July, on the strength of 4,412 deliveries, and volume remains ahead of last year's sales pace by more than 36 percent through the end of last month.

Photo by Kia