Overview & Reviews

The Sportage is now in its eighth model year, so to help move its aged sport-ute along, Kia will offer the four-doors in just one trim level (eliminating the EX and Limited trim models) with more standard feature content than before, though you can no longer get leather upholstery. All Sportages are equipped with body-color door handles and an exterior latch on the rear hatch to ease loading cargo. A Two-Tone Package is available for hardtops; this option group contains two-tone cladding, bumpers and fenders and a cladding-color roof rack and hard-face spare tire cover. In addition, Kia has expanded the standard list of safety features to include seatbelt pre-tensioners and force limiters for the airbags. Finally, interested buyers should note that the Sportage will be going on hiatus for the 2003 model year (to make room for production of the new midsize '03 Sorento); a completely redesigned version (likely with unibody construction) is expected to return in the fall of 2003 as an '04 model.

• Budget price, impressive equipment levels, stout construction, high fun factor, convertible body style.

• Anemic engine, cheap interior materials, limited rear seat and cargo room.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 65.00

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  Never Again - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By AmKorean - May 28 - 10:00 am

  I actually bought a 1999 model but I am sure that it still applies. I wished I had read the reviews on this SUV before I bought it. I think I would have thought it out a little more had I read the other reviews. In the first six months of my having this SUV the battery died. The cars transmission was recalled in the first year. One of the rear seat belts broke in the second year. This year there is a missing washer on the rear drivers side door which sounds like the window isnt closed, that sound of rushing air all the time is annoying! My mother told me to never buy another Korean made car, and we are Korean!

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  buy a better car - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By thisis the worstcar - January 19 - 2:00 am

  this is the worst purchuse of a car i have ever made. the sportage looked like a good value at the dealership and in ads but was i wrong. 3 weeks after i bought it the ac gave out and the power windows broke. it has been all downhill since that. i will never buy a cheap kia again

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  Cheap, Plastic Headache - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By ssinec - December 7 - 10:00 am

  I have had my 2002 Sportage for about 6 months now and have about 9000 miles on it and its already falling apart. I had to have the rear door and lock assemply repaired, which have never worked properly. Ive had the front windshield replaced, which split down the middle. The front bumper has come unattached on the driver side due to cheap plastic screws that held it in place. The cup holder has broken. The passenger window will not go all the way up. Take my advice, do not buy this SUV! Its just a cheap, plastic headache with a cheap paint job and poor construction.

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  Dont By it - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By paqman21 - June 19 - 10:00 am

  I would advise you to stay away from this SUV. It is not worth the money. If you are not in a windy city it might be good for you. I didnt like going from the first lane to the fourth lane in one swift blow.

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  Do NOT buy if you drive in rain or snow - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By Lori - November 1 - 6:46 pm

  Its a 4x4, bt extremely dangerous to drive in rain or snow, doing below speed limit. The backend slides out constantly, regardless of having new tires because of it being a light weight vehicle. When problems arose w/ an oil leak, the dealer blamed express lube. I was given an attitude by the dealer. They were very expensive. When 4x4 wasnt working, th car was in shop for 3 days, returned unfixed and had to drop it back off for 3 mere days! I replaced the fan belts, alternator and starter. Another annoying fact, it would gt stuck in reverse all the time. I would have to roll a little in reverse, then put in drve for it to go forward from a parked position. It was very noisy w/ the soft top. Catalytic converter smelled going uphill, dlr sd normal

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  Scammed - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By cheated by dealer - August 12 - 10:00 am

  Horrible quality. Windows wouldnt go up, drivers seat not bolted securely, cup holder broke, dome light burnt out twice in 6 months. The scotch-guard on the seats didnt work, stains on them and there are parts already rusted! Cheap vehicle and now the dealer wont standy by it indicating I "only" bought a $20k vehicle and not to expect much. Getting rid of vehicle within 1st year and taking huge loss, worth only 1/2 of its value & will have to add remainder on new car loan.

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  DO NOT BUY! - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By Shelly - February 26 - 1:26 am

  This is the absolute worst vehicle I have ever owned. It needed new brakes after only 25,000 miles. The brakes squeal when they get wet. The tire on the back is the biggest pain - hard to see around while driving and hard to close after loading cargo. The fact that the seats dont fold flat really limit the cargo area. The electronics in the car leave a lot to be desired - the power door locks make locking noises when you are exiting the vehicle. The cup holder in the front is in the worst possible place. You cant see the clock or reach any of the climate controls when it is in use. The one in the back is in an even worse place. Who puts a cup holder on the floor?

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  Too many Problems!!! - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By Lou&Beth - December 9 - 10:00 am

  I was so excited when I first got my Kia...however, 2 wks later my battery died, it took Kia 2 days to replace it. Then my power steering went out (car had only 400 miles on it by then!). Now A/C makes rattling noises and transmission is going out - has 22,000miles and I really baby my car, do not drive it tough! Trying desperately to get rid of it - low resale value though. My dealership wont give out rentals while repairs are being done & the repair shop is ALWAYS packed! -- BE WARNED --

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  Avoid the Sportage - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By Robert Galbraith - September 3 - 2:00 am

  While mechanically the Sportage is fairly sound, youll run into all kinds of problems with the body paint, dashboard lights, windows, cup holders and just about everything on the vehicle, except the engine. You will also find almost no support from KIA dealerships. Youll also discover that KIA service people know little or nothing about this vehicle. Like other Sportage owners, my engine light has always stayed on. The service people have no idea why this is. (In my last trip to the garage, they did fix it, and the light went back on as I drove home!!!) The Sportage is also an unstable vehicle to drive in high winds. Tire quality is also very poor.