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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  dont ever get one!!! - 2001 Kia Sportage
  By md4dmse - October 14 - 10:00 am

  This is by far the absolute WORST vehicle I have ever owned!!! Has spent more time in the shop than it has in the driveway in the last three months, and wasnt much better before that. Things that broke were window motors, signal light, back seat latch, cup holder, three catalytic converters, and had to install a new motor at 36000 miles!!! 36,000!!! To top it all off, it still broke down within 400 miles of the new engine install. Do yourself a favor and steer WAY clear of this one.

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  Better off with a pedal bike - 2001 Kia Sportage
  By Bruceryan - October 11 - 8:40 am

  At 49,000 miles the engine is still running (barely) but none of the 4 windows work, A/C has gone warm, cup holder broken, engine makes a lot of noise, and just about everything plastic on the interior is on the verge of breaking. This car is built too cheaply, its not even worth the cheap price tag. Ive only had the thing for two years and I take care of my vehicles. I would have been better off buying a pedal bike.

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  Waste of Time - 2008 Kia Sportage
  By Natalie - September 15 - 6:29 pm

  This car is not worth the money. Kias are not mad to last.

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  A Bad Choice - 2000 Kia Sportage
  By audio - July 15 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle are a sad excuse for a SUV. It is not reliable nor does it have a resale value. The vehicle repair costs are as high as my Land Rover. Have had overheating problems... it eats brakes...has no power... and the cupholder is a bad joke. The 4WD kicks out when needed...the fuel economy is poor given it is such a small motor. The rear hatch is hard to open... takes 2 hands. The body dings easily.

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  DO NOT BUY! - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By Shelly - February 26 - 1:26 am

  This is the absolute worst vehicle I have ever owned. It needed new brakes after only 25,000 miles. The brakes squeal when they get wet. The tire on the back is the biggest pain - hard to see around while driving and hard to close after loading cargo. The fact that the seats dont fold flat really limit the cargo area. The electronics in the car leave a lot to be desired - the power door locks make locking noises when you are exiting the vehicle. The cup holder in the front is in the worst possible place. You cant see the clock or reach any of the climate controls when it is in use. The one in the back is in an even worse place. Who puts a cup holder on the floor?

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  Bad deal - 2006 Kia Sportage
  By Greg - January 10 - 3:13 am

  Hate to say, I dislike my car. Its nice when its standing on parking lot. No fun to drive at all.

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  Many problems with my Kia - 2000 Kia Sportage
  By purpledog - December 23 - 10:00 am

  Have had many problems with my Sportage. Have 32,000 miles on it and already had the exhaust system replaced, new brakes and tires. They just had to replace the 4 wheel drive system and now it needs a whole new fuel system including gas tank and fuel injectors. The ride is loud, noisy engine even when idling. Luckily almost everything has been covered under the warranty.

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  Bad, bad car! - 2000 Kia Sportage
  By Big G - September 29 - 10:00 am

  Do not by it. Lease it only.

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  Dont buy a Kia Sportage LX 2008 - 2008 Kia Sportage
  By lanursa1 - August 26 - 3:26 am

  Dont buy one at all! I have asthma, and the airflow system is so bad, that every time I pass a vehicle with a bad exhaust system, all that polluted air comes into my vehicle, and I get an attack. Whenever it rains or there is an ice-storm, the elements pile up inside the rim of the door jamb, and this increases the possibility of the vehicle rusting. It is a spacious vehicle, but I would never recommend anyone buy this model. The ABS system is horrible. Dont even think about braking! It was my first experience with such a system, and I had to go to the dealership about 3 times, before I realized that this is what I have to deal with until I sell this vehicle.

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  Very Expensive Maintenance Costs!!! - 2000 Kia Sportage
  By SMDJM - August 18 - 2:00 am

  The 4WD went out and the check engine light was always on. I had to have the brakes replaced at 15,000 miles and AGAIN at 30,000 miles. They charge $470 to replace the brakes. For my 30,000 mile maintenace costs they wanted to charge me $665 PLUS the $470 to replace the brakes. With this so called great warranty I thought I was going to save a little money when something goes wrong but this is how they get their money back...MAINTENANCE COSTS!! Remember the warranty is not valid unless you pay all this money for maintenance! Trade in value is bad! You will have huge negative equity.