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 for the money - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By Runner - November 30 - 2:00 am

  Small with a good Mazda engine goes off road with a 4x4 chassis

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  Bought it used - very happy with it! - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By Luvitt - November 24 - 2:00 am

  Came home tonight in a virtual white-out with 50 mph winds and 1-2 ft drifts!! This is my 1st 4x4, so obviously, I was very impressed after seeing no less than a dozen other vehicles off the shoulder. Yes.....MOVE THE CUP-HOLDER! Otherwise, I cant say enough about this SUV. Very quiet & smooth riding - turns on a dime! No rattles, tight construction, and lots of room (unless youre Arnold...) Cant figure out why everybody wants an Escalade at a Kia price! 2.0L Engine (made in Japan) is nimble & responsive (5-spd manual), better gas mileage than the Geo Metro I came from. Guess I just got a good one.....wife bought a Hyundai Elantra same day!

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  Love my Kia - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By Valerie - November 21 - 8:50 pm

  Compared to the other car in its class I was highly impressed with the features and price of the Sportage. I have had it for a couple of weeks now and I LOVE IT. The ride is comfortable, there is barely any road noise and I am getting good fuel economy. For all the standard features that you get it is well worth the investment. I also like the fact that my insurance went down.

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  My first Kia - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By C.Knill - November 14 - 7:03 pm

  I wanted a 4x4 bought it used then it cost me $1800 to get the front wheels to work properly.Serviced at the dealship and was treated like royalty. I LOVE the fact its full frame and not a unibody!!! ABS and brake warning light come on stay on till shut down and restart for no reason. Low power but hey 4cyl and 4x4 dont mix LOL. Made its way through 4 feet of snow last winter and numerous flooded streets this spring!!Rugged little beasty...Im happy with it.

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  Great Buy! - 2006 Kia Sportage
  By Cjacks - November 13 - 10:23 am

  I did my research before purchasing the KIA; you have always here how KIA is cheap. I find nothing about my Sportage cheap, compared with the Escape, Sorento, and Tribute. The sleek design, great price, and KIA warranty sold me on the Sportage. I have enjoyed how it handles and the room in a small SUV. Gas mileage around town; I am getting around 19mpg. On a trip we get 25mpg. Not bad for SUV.

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  Great Value - 2007 Kia Sportage
  By Kia In The Gorge - November 12 - 10:30 pm

  Bought the EX 4wd with every available option Feels safe when driving, heated leather seats feel good on cool days, power sunroof is nice. Takes corners good, mileage better that some 4wd, but always could be better, we average 22 hwy/city driving. Love the rubber tray in cargo area, easy to clean, reclining rear seats are a hit, grocery bag net in back is sweet, leather nice but not the finest grade. The cost is about what you would pay for a used SUV but you get the 10 year 100,000 mile warranty. Good stuff. Back seat has lots of leg room, Im 63" and dont mind sitting there.

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  too many things gone wrong - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By Kim - November 9 - 6:13 pm

  I purchased this little suv because of price. I wanted a 4x4 and this was one that seemed reasonable. Well let me just say that I glad its under warranty. The transmission went at 40,000 miles. The cooling fan busted damaging the radiator & washer reservoir. I need front brakes already and just put on 4 new tires just before this winter. Then this winter I had problems with putting fuel in my tank; kept flowing back out at me. Accelerator sensor replaced 3 times. The service has been great & warranty has covered all except tires and brakes of course. I will be trading it in before the warranty is up thats for sure! Other than that, its not a bad little suv to drive around.

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  Great car! - 2006 Kia Sportage
  By kia owner - October 31 - 4:23 pm

  I really love my Sportage. We bought it back in January and have not been disappointed. We had an opportunity to buy the 4wd and air conditioning, but choose to stick with the base model. I wouldnt mind having those extras, but I really dont need them. I would rather save a few thousand dollars. The only thing that is a little strange is the air vent; in the summer it is quite warm, even warmer than the outside air. I think it must travel past the engine and get warmed up that way.

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  KIA Sportage: The best reason to walk. - 2000 Kia Sportage
  By Coderifous - October 31 - 10:00 am

  In the shop 3 times within the first 33,000 miles - I missed my lemon law by 2 months. Twice for the transmission, once for the clutch. Id love to take credit for being a poor driver and damaging it myself, but its just not true. I drive it like a granny car and it still died on me. The transmission is dead right now and needs to be replaced. Covered under warranty? Nope. KIAs one slick customer. They could have found a worse place for the cupholder, like on the windshield. Its fine when its not holding a cup, but you pop it out and it blocks some of the interior controls, and also the AC vents. This comes in real handy on a hot day.

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  5 Stars out of 5 Stars - 05 Sportage glows - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By JR - October 29 - 11:30 am

  I really couldnt believe I was looking at the new Sportage when I was in the dealer showroom. After test driving the Sorento and the Sportage, I went with the Sportage because: 1 - the Sportage had no hesitation and seemed more powerful upon acceleration. 2 - I thought the Sportage handled beautifully; and 3 - better fuel consumption then its big sister. I am really glad I choose the Sportage. I love the dual exhausts, the safety features at no additional cost which includes the ABS, ESP, side curtain front and rear airbags and the 100,000 mile warranty. The interior room is awesome, and the interior silver trim is sharp. Overall I give this vehicle 5 stars out of 5 stars!