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 Car - 2012 Kia Sportage
  By rykdo - May 26 - 4:44 am

  Good basic car with excellent syling. Real 25 MPG on the highway. Has everything you want and lots less expensive than non-Kia. The not-so wonderful is that two adults with golf clubs, luggage for 10 days, and a dog in a crate was crowded. Also the steering is very quick which is nice around town but wears on you after the first 500-1000 miles on a trip. I do not relax on the highway. This is not a road racer. The 4 cylinder works fine and has enough to get you on the freeway without issue but the whine of the engine lets you know it.

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  Vehicle is Passable, Service Stinks on Ice - 2008 Kia Sportage
  By wschlagel - May 14 - 5:14 pm

  Vehicle had defect issues with respect to door handles. Within one week, three of the four door handles broke off in my hand. Dealership claimed there was a recall, but used a recent ice storm to slither out of replacing the door handles. Wanted to charge me $500 per door. When asked about the fairness of doing such a thing, dealership shrugged me off and told me "you shouldnt have bought a used car". Vehicle performance is marginal. Acceleration isnt that great, almost no power. Vehicle doesnt seem to handle speeds above 75 very well. Mileage is terrible, but probably good for SUV. Vehicle is roomy, and interior laid out well.

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  Kia Sportage – Joy to Drive but Low on Gas Mileage - 2017 Kia Sportage
  By Chris - April 12 - 2:49 am

  I agree with a lot of the other reviewers on the overall happiness with the 2017 Kia Sportage. However, I get no where near the gas mileage that others have reported, even on the base model front wheel drive. Am I missing something? Driving in Eco mode, I am lucky to get 21mpg overall in city driving. I expected a little better in Eco Mode. If I dare to change to standard or sport mode, it takes half a tank to get back up to 20mpg in Eco Mode. I dont drive much, so its not a huge deal, just wondering what I might be doing wrong. Despite the gas mileage, I really love my 2017 Kia Sportage. I bought the front wheel drive LX back in August and it has just the right amount of torque and acceleration that I need for urban driving. Even in Eco mode, I noticed that it performed better than the Nissan Rogue, RAV4 and Honda CRV. However, what really stood out to me was the amount of features I got with the base model LX compared to Toyota, Nissan, Mazda and Honda. I also appreciated the long warranty, reliability ratings and the IIHS top safety report. I really like the overall design of the car (especially the tiger nose grill) and the spacious back seats sealed the deal for me. I used to drive a 2000 Volkswagen Beetle, so pretty much any new car was amazing to me. The first car I test drove was the Mazda CX3 and it was a lot of fun to drive but too compact. I then tried the Nissan Rogue which had a lot of nice features for the price but not much acceleration and it rolled too much. The Honda CRV was a total letdown and a completely boring car. The Toyota RAV4 felt like a very solid and well built car. The quality was very apparent but so was the high price. After testing the 2017 Kia Sportage, seeing all the features and finally the reasonable price, I was sold. Now, Im not a fan of the gas mileage but I drive so little that it never mattered to me. At the end of the day, the Sportage is a lot of fun to drive and provides a comfortable ride with enough acceleration that I can get around the city without any problems.

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  Great SUV for the price. - 2009 Kia Sportage
  By br2000nc - March 30 - 1:43 pm

  We bought the Sportage because it was thousands cheaper than the rest of the compact SUVs and has a better warranty. Kia was also offering a $2000 rebate at the time. Have about 27k on it and so far it has been great. posted fuel economy is 20/25/23, we live in the country and average about 26 mpg, not bad. The only disappointment so far is the tires. They already need to be replaced. The 2.0 I4 is ok at highway speeds but acceleration is a little slow. Get the V6 if you want the 4WD model. Other than that its a great SUV at a great value.

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  Johns Review - 2007 Kia Sportage
  By John Stiene - March 14 - 3:13 pm

  What amazes me most is how quiet the interior is and how well the Sportage rides on rough roads. I am 6 ft tall and have ample legroom. When you slam the doors they sound solid. There is definitely quality put into this low cost vehicle not to mention the security or the great warranty.

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  Excellent! No problems! 60,000 miles! - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By Krp321 - February 13 - 2:00 am

  2000 Sportage 2-dr. Convertible 4x4. Almost 3 years old, almost 60,000 miles, and i have not had a single problem with anything important. Driven hard on-road, off-road, and in-between, the only thing wrong at all was the drivers side power window switch failed. I read a lot of complaints about other Sportages, i know some people received a Lemon. That happens with every make and model. Your cupholder broke, so you rate the vehicle as "Poor"? Realize you get what you pay for...this is one of the least expensive SUVs you can buy, not a Mercedes! Besides, the THOUSANDS of happy owners dont complain here. Only the people who have a complaint post here!

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  Great car for the money - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By LXFwd4drSUV(2.0L4cyl - February 2 - 4:36 pm

  Very inexpensive "Volvo" looking car that comes with comfortable seats and plenty of room for driver and guests.

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  Bargain car, Bargain performance - 2000 Kia Sportage
  By FDE - Savio - January 8 - 11:36 pm

  Going on one year with my 2000 Kia Sportage EX 4WD and I must say Im really pleased. Acceleration from 0 to 60 is slow (13.0 seconds), but once up to speed it handles well (thanks in part to the Lotus tuned suspension). If your Sportage lacks a limited slip rear differential you might lose grip in rain or snow, depending on the type of tires you have. I plan on installing a Phantom Grip LSD conversion in the front and rear differentials to help increase traction. Front hubs and bearings had to be replaced (common Sportage problem due to design); all repaired under warranty. Ive read other peoples "horror" stories, but glad to say I am 100% HAPPY with my Kia Sportage.

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  Air Condition Problem - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By Sgt Ard - October 28 - 8:00 am

  Dealership let me take it home for a few days to try it on for size, The 2nd day the engine check lite came on while on interstate Hwy. took it to dealership the 3rd day to have someone look at it for me. But service was busy eating lunch was told to come back the next day. Went to GM told him of problem; lunch was over in 30seconds. it took a GM and 5 minutes to cure problem. 4th day A/C had foul odor. 5th day wife took it to work; on the way home A/C went out went back to dealership around 0700hrs/ Kia Rep at dealership could not find problem and it is now 1300hrs. dealership is now freaking out trying to locate me another Sportage EX Lux Pkg very hard to find in the bayou state with hot temps.

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  Great Little SUV - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By sportage - October 12 - 8:46 pm

  This is the second Sportage that I have purchased and have enjoyed everything about both cars. The first was a 2000 model and was very happily surprised when the 2005 model came out. Purchased in a hurry and have not been disappointed. Would recommend this car to anyone.