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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  great SUV for the money - 2006 Kia Sportage
  By ric - March 14 - 1:30 pm

  Hard to beat a really top flight SUV for the money. Only negative is the gas mileage of 20 MPG combined.

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  Fun & reliable ride; not a sports car - 2001 Kia Sportage
  By fhopp - March 6 - 8:03 am

  A list of fact/impressions with my 2001 Sportage: + Reliable + OEM tires sucked--go with yokahomas + Love the suspension--take road humps at 40 mph + Love the manueverability--turns on a dime + Styling inspired by 1950s cold war military--good or bad + Well designed seating--Im 64" and I have plenty of room; also, elevating the rear seats makes riding in back not- so-bad BUT... + Could Kia have found cheaper materials for the interior trim?! + Like the power windows and the base accessory set BUT... + need to redesign front cup holder and rear tailgate + affordable maintenance and easy to repair--both at body shop and at home

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  Reliable, comfortable SUV with a lot of extras!!! - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By Kent Larson - February 26 - 6:21 am

  When compared with other SUVs out there, you cant beat Kia for the value for the money. So many extras that come standard that you pay more for with other brands. They just keep making them better and seem to know exactly what the discerning car-buying public is looking for! This car drives as good as when we bought it almost 100,000 miles ago, with more miles to go!

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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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  Kia Converted - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By Tammy - February 23 - 4:33 pm

  The only thing I dont love about my new Sportage is the lack of pep. I test drove a RAV-4 4 cylinder with 53,000 miles on it before the Sportage. I liked both but I had a hard time letting go of the zippiness of the RAV-4. My dealer said Toyota had a much more advanced 4 cylinder motor than Kia. Well I wish Kia would figure out how to do it. BUT, the 4 cylinder is still peppy enough for me. I drive on the highway everyday back and forth to work and I dont have any trouble with passing if I want to. I absolutely LOVE the smooth ride, and lack of rattles. My mothers Explorer feels like a jalopy after riding in my Sportage. I dont like to ride in anyone elses cars now. Kia did a great job.

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  The Best - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By Gene - February 23 - 2:00 pm

  I thought this vehicle would be to small but am very pleased to Say it has pleanty of room. My wife and I are bigger and we have more than enough room. There is pleanty of leg room in the back seats so no one is crowded. The 4 cylinder engine has more power than I expected and have no problems going up and down the mountains of Colorado. I also like the nice long warranty.

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  Best Car I Have Ever Owned (for the $$$) - 2000 Kia Sportage
  By Will - February 20 - 6:53 pm

  We bought our Sportage used with about 18,000 miles on it. Were at 90,000 now. There have been no significant problems with this SUV. Its GREAT in snow. Weve driven coast to coast in it twice, and its never let us down. No, its not a Porsche Cayenne or something. Yes, it would be nice if it had a V-6 (hey, they make them that way now). But overall, when you consider how economical it is to buy and own, its a great value. Of the approximately 25 cars Ive owned over the years, this is my favorite, at least when you consider VALUE in the mix.

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  never ever buy a kia again - 2001 Kia Sportage
  By nevereverkiaagain - February 3 - 10:00 am

  its totally a cheap dirt.i wish i could go back on time and did not buy this junk ( 2002 kia sportage ). you pay more than $20k with taxes , etc and on the second year you can sell it only at $12-13k. all the materials used are cheap. you cant imagine, they corrected the power windows 3 times and its not working today again. over 65 mph , the car is so affected by the wind that the car starts sliding to right and left. it becomes really hard to keep it in the lane. not enough storage. the cd player is a stupid cheap one.

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  Lacks power - 2007 Kia Sportage
  By Alexa - January 22 - 11:50 am

  I thought I could love this small SUV but after trading in my 06 Trailblazer for it in an effort to get better gas mileage (was only getting 13 mpg in the Trailblazer), Im sorely disappointed that Im only getting 18-19 mpg (mostly city driver). Fairly comfortable for around town, horrible on hills... dont even think about taking it on mountain roads like we did - it was exhausting. Definitely lacks pickup and refinement.

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  My new Kia is better than the last - 2017 Kia Sportage
  By Lynne Pizette - January 22 - 9:51 am

  The 2017 Kia EX Sportage AWD is the sportiest SUV around. Really like the way it looks. Ive owned the car less than 2 weeks so Im still learning it, but so far its great! I owned the Sorento previously, never liked it and never thought Id get another Kia, but after researching and testing multiple vehicles I liked this best and the price was right.