Overview & Reviews

The Kia Sportage has never been one for small evolutionary changes. Originally a cheap, poorly made penalty box followed by a solid, yet utterly forgettable bargain-price SUV, today's Sportage is now a stylish and well-rounded compact crossover SUV. In human terms, the Kia Sportage has gone from a baboon to a Neanderthal and then George Clooney in the span of 15 years.

While the second-generation Sportage might be a cost-effective but rather uninspired used car choice, the current version stands out from the crowd in more ways than just looks. Thanks to its excellent build quality, stronger performance and generous array of features, it's far and away the most appealing Sportage yet. This third-generation Kia model remains on the small side among compact crossovers, however, and as such is a better choice for singles or those with small families.

Current Kia Sportage
The Kia Sportage is available in LX, EX and SX trim levels. The LX and EX have a 2.4-liter making 182 horsepower, while the SX gets a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine making an impressive 260 hp. All Sportages come with a six-speed automatic. Front-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel drive offered as an option.

Standard equipment for the Sportage LX includes alloy wheels, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, air-conditioning, a height-adjustable driver seat, cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and a sound system with satellite radio, a CD player and an iPod/USB audio interface. Stepping up to the upper trims gets you bigger wheels, LED running lights, keyless entry, a telescoping wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated and ventilated seats, leather upholstery, a rearview camera, a navigation system and Kia's Uvo voice activation system. Optional features include power-folding sideview mirrors, a panoramic sunroof, a navigation system, leather upholstery, ventilated front seats and keyless ignition and entry.

The Sportage's interior features attractive styling. And though there is quite a bit of hard plastic, it's well-textured and build quality is good. Passengers and driver alike benefit from well-contoured seats and adequate head- and legroom. The rear seat comfortably accommodates two average-size adults, and the seatback reclines but doesn't slide. In terms of cargo capacity, the Sportage comes up a bit short in cargo space, too, offering a maximum of 26.1 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 54.6 cubes with the 60/40-split-folding seats laid flat. Bigger competitors boast as many as 73 cubes.

On the road, the Kia Sportage lives up to its name with its sharp steering and athletic handling that make it more engaging than most other compact crossovers. The downside is that taut suspension tuning means a bit of a stiff-legged ride over rough pavement and washboard highways. Power from the four-cylinder engine is simply adequate, but at least the automatic transmission shifts smoothly and quickly. The SX's engine delivers a healthy dose of acceleration and is a worthy alternative to the V6s and four-cylinder turbos found in competing crossovers.

Used Kia Sportage Models
The current Kia Sportage debuted in the 2011 model year and represents the third generation in the model's history. Trim levels and powertrains mirrored the current version with a few exceptions. Up through 2013 there was a base model that came only with a six-speed manual gearbox. Tweaks for 2012 brought improved handling, additional sound insulation (for a quieter cabin) and the introduction of the Uvo voice activation system. Also, these Sportages lack the newest version's updates, which include refreshed styling, a more powerful (182 hp versus 176 hp) 2.4-liter engine, improved navigation and sound systems, rear-seat air vents and updated Uvo telematics services.

The previous, second-generation Kia Sportage was launched for 2005 and ran until 2010. Considerably different from the previous generation, this Sportage featured a new unibody platform shared with the Hyundai Tucson (just as the current model does). Compared to the current Sportage, though, this generation was a bit bigger in interior size but far plainer both in design and interior material quality. There were no significant changes made during this generation.

There were two trim levels: LX and EX. Both trims are equipped with a healthy list of standard amenities, such as alloy wheels, air-conditioning, full power accessories, tinted glass and a six-speaker CD stereo. Satellite radio as well as auxiliary and USB audio jacks were added for 2009.

The LX was powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine capable of 140 hp. It came standard with a five-speed manual transmission, and a four-speed automatic was available as an option. Most Sportages with this engine were front-wheel drive, though Kia did offer all-wheel drive on manual transmission-equipped models. As an upgrade for the Sportage LX and standard on the EX, Kia offered a 173-hp 2.7-liter V6. It came standard with the automatic transmission and could be had with front-drive or all-wheel drive.

This Sportage might not have looked too big from the outside, but the interior had plenty of headroom and legroom, both in the front and the back. The rear seats split and folded flat for a level cargo floor and a maximum of 67 cubic feet of storage. Fit and finish was OK and materials quality was on the cheap side. Safety was a strong suit for this Sportage, with strong crash scores and a full complement of airbags, stability control and four-wheel antilock disc brakes.

In reviews, our editors found that this Sportage did few things poorly, but it failed to stand out in a segment where its competitors did things exceptionally well. Its dull styling and drab cabin did it no favors, while both its engines were unimpressive from both a power and fuel economy standpoint.

The Kia Sportage started life in 1995 as a body-on-frame compact SUV. Though it was one of the first such vehicles of its kind, it was too small and underpowered to compete with the roomier, more carlike mini-utes that Honda, Subaru and Toyota rolled out shortly thereafter. The base Sportage came with a meager 94-hp, 2.0-liter SOHC four-cylinder. Rear-wheel drive and a five-speed manual transmission were standard. Kia also offered a part-time 4WD version of the base trim. The 4x4 Sportage came with a twincam 2.0-liter four-cylinder good for 139 hp. A better-equipped EX trim came standard with 4WD and the more powerful engine. A four-speed automatic transmission was an option on all 4WD models.

Kia eliminated the single-cam engine in 1997, leaving all trims equipped with the twincam engine, now rated for 130 hp. That same year, Kia began offering the four-speed automatic on 2WD models.

In 1998, Kia added a two-door convertible to the Sportage lineup. It was available with both drivetrains (2WD and 4WD). After that, there were no more significant changes to the Kia Sportage, only minor face-lifts and interior modifications. The final year of production was 2002. Buyers should generally avoid these early models, as they weren't able to match the levels of comfort, performance and fit and finish offered by competing models of the same time period.

User Reviews:

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  Good catch - 2009 Kia Sportage
  By me - December 5 - 7:40 am

  I was looking for an affordable SUV that was not a gas guzzler. The mileage is not as good as the Jeep Patriot, but for this price the Sportage is a real bargain. If your foot isnt heavy all the time, you can easily get 22-24 MPG. Kia product has dramatically improved since Hyundai bought them out.

• 

  Good car - 2006 Kia Sportage
  By Stillalive - November 19 - 10:00 am

  This was a great mid$ car. Was totaled in crash, and all crumple zones and air bags saved me! Never had any issues with this car. Owned it from 47k to 74k miles. Btw, I paid $9500, and after 14 months, ins paid $8300. Book value went UP even with 27k more miles on it. Avg. 24 mpg mostly freeway. For you gear heads, there is about a 1400 rpm drop between gears. 3800 rpm in 5th gets you about 72 mph on flats. Youll need to drop 1 on hills. Great car for the $.

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  Used 2005 Kia Sportage - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By angel_machine - November 11 - 7:29 am

  My husband and I just purchased a 2005 Kia Sportage, pre-owned, with 135k miles, due to our limited budget. The Carfax didnt list any maintenance, and the test-drive and subsequent independent pre-purchase inspection confirmed that there were problems. The timing belt system had not been replaced at 100k miles, the battery was original (and died right after purchase), and the A/C was non-functional. We were able to knock off a lot from the price due to all the work that needed to be done (most of it simply maintenance that was put off, not true issues). A/C problem due to climate control module and is being replaced. Hoping we dont regret this purchase.

• 

  Loved It, Sorta Love It Still - 2009 Kia Sportage
  By Jess - November 8 - 7:56 am

  Spent a PA winter driving circles around other ppl and going up hills passing everyone. FUN. Its cute, way more economical than my Jeep was and super reliable in terms of the engine. After a year, however, the left rear side is creaking like an old house & like another reviewer said, my back hinge is rusting off and I have to get another. The hinges were on back order so this is a common problem apparently. The interior is cheap, you cant go in there without scratching it. Great engine, love the look and simplicity of it, but the rest is not holding up to my expectations at the moment. I dont think a car should have ANY problems after a year, just saying. Overall I still love it.

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  Great buy - 2006 Kia Sportage
  By D.Davis - October 31 - 2:50 am

  Best bang for the buck. Smooth, quiet ride. Dealer installed running board really adds a classy look. Compliments on the looks of the car everywhere I go. My car color is black with body-color side cladding/fender flares and Sports Package.

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  Never Again - 2011 Kia Sportage
  By Ruth - October 24 - 5:45 pm

  I had bought this vehicle coming from a Saturn SUV. In comparison the KIA rides like a truck, feeling the road & hearing the road--not very sound proof. The radio speakers are poor quality and cant let you adjust the bass. The acceleration is poor. When starting from a stop light the car needs extra gas and then it is too much. You cant hear the horn, no sense in having it. Very unhappy. I still owe on it and will never get out of it what I had bought it for. I will be downgrading to get rid of it.

• 

  never again - 2001 Kia Sportage
  By kiajunk - October 22 - 10:16 am

  I have had this car in 12 times. Both back window motors, oxygen sensor, radiator, valve cover gaskets and brakes all had to be replaced, tailpipe rusted off -- all before 28,000 miles.

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  Vehicle = OK, KIA Service = BUST - 2017 Kia Sportage
  By Andrew - October 18 - 1:29 am

  EDIT: Kia wants my unbiased review? Well, lets just say Kias customer service wont support you at all. I had an issue with a faulty gas tank latch. It is a new design where you push in on the fuel door and it locks into place, and to open it you also push in, and a spring pops the door out - dont know of a better way to describe it. I dont get why other designs needed to be replaced with this, or the fact that since it doesnt lock anymore anyway, why does it need a latch in the first place...but on to the story. Incidentally I also had a problem with the A/C completely freezing up and the vehicle needing to be reprogrammed, which of course ALSO happened while I was on the road but back to the point at hand. 6AM. Cold, dark fall morning. Getting fuel to go to an appointment out of town - medical specialist appointment. I pull in and try to open the fuel door. Wont budge. Repeated attempts - wont budge. Pushing on it much harder - nothing. It is not frozen because I have a temp.-controlled garage. I am now stranded at this station because no one can get the door open to fuel the vehicle and I do not have enough fuel to reach my destination. If I cancel this appointment I am still billed several hundred $ and the medical condition is not trivial. I have to get there. The cheap design and cheap little plastic spring mechanism in the fuel door latch has broken and jammed the door shut. After a few more minutes, I remember that it is plastic and decide I can get the door open and replace the little plastic part later. I eventually get the jammed/defective plastic part to snap, which allows me to open the fuel door but in doing so, I put a small scratch in the paint around the fuel door. No big deal, I am sure Kia will help me with this. Total cost estimate for the scratch = $125. My appointment would have been much more expensive to cancel. Later that morning I call Kia, because of course they are not open at 6AM. Why did I not call Kia Roadside? 2 reasons. 1) The service station mechanic who helped me with the latch tells me they are going to have to pry it open anyway and 2) I would have had to wait for them to show up, which means I would have missed the appointment regardless. Everyone there agrees with just getting it open and it makes sense to deal with it later. I call Kia. Kia tells me that since I didnt let them handle it, they wouldnt assist me at all with the claim and basically refused to talk to me. They accused me of deliberately damaging my new car. I ask them if their part could have had anything to do with it and they of course refused to even send someone to look. I have taken it to both a body shop and the local Kia dealer. Both places, I was told "Why is Kia not taking care of this for you?" I could only shrug. Heres the thing - I dont even want the fuel latch replaced. I want it left "broken" because now the door actually works as it should. I dont want another cheap plastic part put in there just so it can jam shut on me again. So all we are talking about is the scratch. I asked more than one Kia rep. what the procedure is for opening a stuck fuel door, knowing full well there isnt one and everyone knows they were going to have to pry the fuel door open. They would have had no other choice and they know it. The dealer pretty much confirmed that too. The rep. on the phone didnt want to answer. Of course they know their part failed but wont pony up $125 to help out a customer with their brand new vehicle. How cheap can you be, Kia? My experience with this vehicle has been overall fairly good until this point but now I will never buy another Kia. So guess what, Kia? I am paying $125 for this repair. You are losing my future business. We were thinking of replacing my wifes Escape with another Kia but now that wont be happening, either. A friend of mine who is replacing her vehicle asked me how I like my Kia and that she might get one. Not anymore. I wonder how many people I can convince to change their minds. I hope the $125 was worth the several thousand $ this will cost your company.

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  Nice sport SUV with sunroof/leather seats - 2006 Kia Sportage
  By munguia - October 8 - 1:00 am

  Easy to drive and park in tight spots, Powerful air conditioning and heat system, looks more expensive than it is. I feel very safe with the 6 airbags and other safely features. Nice cargo space for a sport suv with the front passenger seat folding down.

• 

  Worst New Car ever owned! - 2017 Kia Sportage
  By Stacey - September 5 - 7:40 am

  Do not buy a Kia, I have had problems since I drove car off show room floor. Check engine light on day 3. 3 different Kia dueler ships before fixing camshaft. Came off production line damaged. Day 3 air conditioner freezes when on longer than 4 hours. Still having problem. Before first oil change. Gas flap will not open at gas stations. So cant always fill with gas. It opens when it wants to. Horrible customer support from Kia. Kia service dept isnt sure how to fix things cause car is to new.