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:

• 

  Eight for the moola - 2000 Kia Sportage
  By Boberto - September 12 - 11:23 am

  I use this puppy to haul the ole race car around and man does it do the job. The car weighs in at about 4500 lbs and this thing drives without even knowing its there. Even with the high mileage I was surprised to see it never hurt my fuel economy. I would recommend this little engine that definitely could for anyone towing light campers and needing that 4wd to help get to those out of the way places.

• 

  ALL things considered, Youll love it! - 2006 Kia Sportage
  By Rick C. - September 12 - 8:53 am

  We were in the market for a mid-SUV. We saw EVERYTHING on the market out there! Considering ALL THINGS when buying a vehicle, the KIA was a no-brainer for us. No, its not a BMW or a Mercedes but then thats not our market. We wanted bang-for-the-buck and the Sportage delivered big time. I own a Lexus and I have more fun with my wifes Sportage. We got the std 5-speed manual 4 cylinder, it wont win the Autobahn but then we had real expectations. If you need zero-to-60 in 5.2 then get something else. If you want a comfortable ride with ample features at a value price then off to the Kia dealership you go. FYI, good values usually get more expensive with time. The word will soon get out. Hurry!

• 

  Just plain fun to drive - 2012 Kia Sportage
  By bearow - September 11 - 7:41 pm

  It is just "plain fun" to drive my 2012 Kia Sportage. Ive had it for about 2 months and have enjoyed everything about it, including the gas mileage (avg = 26, interstate = 29). I will always love and keep my GMC Z71 for the heavy work, but at 13 mpg it had to move over for the Sportage for day-to-day driving. I like the way the Sportage holds the road, feels "in-control" & a little sporty. Ive tried the all-wheel-drive out on our Florida beach sand and it performed well (I dont recommend going 4-wheeling in the mud, but you can take it off the Hwy for normal activities without worry of getting stuck). Great value for the dollar - its a solid & fun ride!

• 

  Love It - 2007 Kia Sportage
  By Mike J. - September 6 - 2:10 am

  The ride is very smooth and the Sportage handles well. Im actually getting better gas milage than what the sticker said I would.

• 

  Excellent inside and out! - 2017 Kia Sportage
  By Dan K. - September 2 - 7:53 pm

  The first time I climbed in this car it reminded me of my early 2000s Audi A6 because of the layout of the dash, the shape and comfort of the seats, and the premium feel of the leather seats and steering wheel. However, when I fired it up and drove it around the block, it felt much more planted than said Audi. I have nothing but great things to say about this car! Peter Schreyer did an incredible job designing the interior of the car to make it feel like a much more expensive European SUV, and the exterior resembles the latest offerings in the category from Porsche and Audi, from the glossy black plastic fascia and foglight surroundings, to the excellent LED surrounded projectors and sexy body contours. The climate control is fantastic, and the screen is great. The front and rear seats are great, and the rears even recline for extra comfort. There are a million airbags, and nothing rattles at all. Acceleration is what is to be expected from a heavy 4-cylinder SUV, but the 6 speed auto keeps it in the rev range that maximizes torque and passing power when needed. My wife is 7 months pregnant, and I feel very comfortable knowing shes in this car when she has to go out. Fuel economy is what was to be expected, though it is probably the cars worst aspect. I average about 22MPG combined, but the car only has 2,100 miles on it, so itll work in a bit and probably increase, but it is what was advertised so I cant complain.

• 

  2005 Sportage - Love It! - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By J. Cannon - September 1 - 3:36 pm

  We bought this as our main family car & just happened to look at the Kias. We were also looking at Vues, RAV4s, and CR-Vs. The Kia provided the best interior space & features that we enjoyed. Our 2 kids have plenty of room. The drive is comfortable & the car feels almost indestructible ... try it, open the door and slam it! It sounds solid! The Sportage provides all the creature comforts we want but still feels a bit rigid (which we like). We currentlyget 27 mpg on highway & 23 on city, not too bad. For a small SUV it does fine in mpg. We definitely do not regret getting the Sportage. The price was great & the quality was better than the others. The standard features are perfect.

• 

  Love it so far. - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By Huskerwilk - August 28 - 12:20 pm

  Recently purchased but am very satisfied so far. A lot of thought went in to the building of this vehicle.

• 

  Mpg nightmare - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By Josh - August 13 - 2:16 pm

  I can only drive 8 mikes before the needle is almost on the first line before a half, I get about 230 mile range and about 14 city no where near 20.

• 

  Nice compact SUV - 2016 Kia Sportage
  By CLYDE NOPHIL - August 9 - 2:17 am

  The 4cyl. is slugfest going up hill, and road noise/ wind noise is very noticeable, but overall nice Vehicle

• 

  Love This Car - 2000 Kia Sportage
  By Grandpappybear - August 8 - 10:26 am

  All used cars have their bugs, so far mine have been small problems, dealer service is expensive, but I still love this car. Most comfortable seats I have ever sat in! Im a big guy, 300 lbs, so thats great for 61". I have a few little noises going on, havent quite figured out what they are, but so far they have caused no problems. I bought it used also.