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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  I Love My Kia Sportage! - 2007 Kia Sportage
  By Jerry - August 2 - 11:36 am

  My aging Blazer needed replacement. I did a lot of research before buying a small SUV. Initially, Kia was not on my list. My perceptions were based on the 90s cheap built Kia that mechanics discouraged buying. A happenstance visit to a Kia dealer changed all that. One week later I returned to purchase my Silver EX Luxury Edition Sportage. Why? Styling, bang for my $$, fuel economy and standard features found only as options on similar vehicles. Im not disappointed. The interior is plush and the exterior is eye-catching. The engine/transmission is what I expected and want - a nice balance between power and fuel economy. Summary - you wont be sorry. Believe me, Im particular!

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  Happy owner - 2017 Kia Sportage
  By Rich Surface - July 29 - 12:10 pm

  Great car , bought 1 st one sold by Hurst Tx dealer on Friday and love car .

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  I love my new KIA Sportage! - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By Stephanie Smith - June 21 - 8:20 am

  I love my new 2005 KIA Sportage!!! It drives like a dream! It turns tightly and doesnt ever feel like it is leaning when you turn. It has great pick-up and smooth shifting. I love all the storage and the upholstery and carpeting. The standard alarm and keyless entry and sunroof were great bonuses! Best of all is the 10 year 100,000 mile drivetrain warranty and the 5 year 60,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty! How can you beat that?

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  Best buy out there in this class - 2006 Kia Sportage
  By Rene - June 8 - 4:30 am

  Love this car! Great head and leg room tons of versatility in the folding seats and cargo space. Very good visuals while driving, it sits higher up than my Taurus. Handles and rides well. Gas mileage could be better. The car isnt completely watertight in a constant downpour. Found moisture on all the inside framing. Fantastic warranty. I bought the added extended 10 year bumper to bumper. I went prepared with safety info and price quotes from larger dealers. got a great deal on a great car.

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  Great Value - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By KiaOwner - May 12 - 2:00 am

  I am surprised that no one on this web site had anything nice to say about this vehicle. Several of my friends are Sportage owners and they all love it. It seems that only those who have something to complain about are doing the rating. Therefore, I am here to say that I love my Sportage and I am proud to be an owner of one. The appearance is far better than the CRV or RAV-4 and it has been reliable thus far.

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  Well Kept Secret - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By EGR - May 11 - 12:03 am

  I feel like Ive discovered one of the best kept secrets of the automotive world in the Kia Sportage EX. I bought this vehicle in 2WD with the luxury package and couldnt be happier with it. OK, it could use a little more horsepower, but what it has is certainly adequate. What has really surprised me, though, is the overall fit and finish of the vehicle. I own three Honda Accords and the Kia is right up there with the Hondas. The Kia is well laid out; driver and passenger ergonomics are excellent; driving position is very comfortable; and the vehicle is plenty roomy on the inside, while relatively small on the outside. I like this more than the 2001 Pathfinder I owned for one year.

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  Love my Kia - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By Charlie & Amy - April 27 - 1:23 am

  We looked at many GM SUVs. The prices with a limited warranty was outrageous. This is our first non GM vehicle. So far we love it. The 100,000 warranty sold me. Hopefully we will continue to love it and we will have a long relationship with Kia. The prices are $4000-$10,000 less than GM.

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  Great car - 2010 Kia Sportage
  By ram - April 23 - 10:00 am

  Well, it is my first kia. Family of 4, one working, so on a budget. And it is affordable. Overall good quality car. No majr complains. Except cargo space is very limited. When we go on a long trip we take my CR-V, since a stroller and luggage case simply dont fit in it.

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  The SUV Comeback - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By Brian Engel - April 17 - 12:00 pm

  My experience was that when I first test drove the Sportage, it was a lot whole lot different than the 2002 predecessor. The exterior was a little bit more taller than the 2002 version. The interior was even nicer than the old one too! Below the front passenger airbag was some kind of handle bar just to hold on to.

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  What a sexy little beast! - 2017 Kia Sportage
  By Trisha Vilhauer - March 30 - 6:21 am

  This is actually my 5th Kia. I have owned a 2003 Kia Spectra, 2013 Kia Optima, 2016 Kia Optima, 2016 Kia Sorento, and not this beautiful 2017 Kia Sportage. I got the Sportage to replace the Sorento. I owned the Sorento for only 2 months before things started to break. It only had 1000 miles on it before the sun roof broke, and the trim pieces around the door started falling off. I never could get the UVO system to work properly. When I went to the dealership the Sportage was what I wanted, but they didnt have it in the trim level that I wanted and when they did get one in I wasnt impressed. When I took my Sorento in for repairs thats when I saw the 2017 Sportage and decided that this was a huge upgrade from the 2016. So I went all in. So far Im really impressed with this car. The look is sexy and sporty, and fun. The interior feels expensive (in most places), the tech package and all of the upgrades are awesome. This car has it all. It drives and handles great, and I love that the turbo engine give me all of the power I need to pass easily, and move in and through traffic without worrying about having the get up to make it into tight spaces. I can see myself driving this car for 10+ years. Pros: Excellent technology package, TONS of features like autonomous breaking, front collision warning, ventilated and heated seats, beautiful styling and I LOVE the dark brown leather seats. Lots of power and speed when its needed, comfortable ride, and the car feels spacious. Placement of all of the controls is perfect, everything is easy to find and easy to use. Android Auto is AWESOME!!! Cons: Some of the finishes feel a little cheap. I would have been willing to pay a little more for visors that dont feel like they are made of cheap plastic, The lack of the memory seat function, and the lack of the easy entry seat also gives the car a little bit of a cheap feeling. These things are very noticeable because the rest of the finishes are better quality. It would be nice if this car had the same luxury feel that the Sorento has. UVO system is still troublesome. I can only get the eServices portion to sync to my phone sporadically, and its a bummer that you need to have the phone plugged in to use it. Same with Android Auto there seem to be a few glitches like after taking a call the Google Play Music wont restart. I believe some of these things will be fixed throughout the year as updates are released. Still it would be nice to be able to use these functions via Bluetooth instead of needing to plug the phone in. More road noise than the Sorento, and the Optima. Bottom line this is a GREAT car, and I look forward to many years of enjoyment from it.