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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  2001 kia sportage limited ex edition - 2001 Kia Sportage
  By Ruth DeBolt - January 5 - 2:00 am

  No engine problems so far. Found it to be excellent on snowy roads. Radio reception not very good. Dont like where the front cup holders are located since it covers up the h/ac dials and clock. Have had some electronic window problems with the back passenger window and the heater fan continues to blow after the heater has been turned off. had it fixed once but the problem returned and havent bothered getting it looked at again. The brake dust is a minor problem on the front wheels that my husband complains about. but all in all we have found it to be a good deal and will probably buy another kia

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  I hate this car - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By Foxfire - January 3 - 10:00 am

  After having it a few weeks, the car quit. Within several months, it had done this 3 times. Check engine light always comes on, dealers claim there is no problem. Driving it sucks, and it is noisy. What a waste of money. A deer hit my car, and the entire thing crumpled. I have taken it to the dealer about 10-15 times for various things which have never been fixed or explained. I hate it!

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  Sweet! - 2009 Kia Sportage
  By CGB - December 25 - 12:43 am

  The reviewer who said the Kia Sportage isnt so fun to drive has not spent the last 10 yrs dragging around in a big van! Ive only had it a couple weeks but so far I am super impressed! Plenty of get up & go, great handling, surprisingly smooth ride, excellent stereo, quiet engine. I got the whole pkg; nice leather seats, classy brushed metal trim, nav system...accoutrements I have not experienced in years & could never have afforded in another comparable vehicle. But really, it is the ride & handling that totally impresses me. The rest is just the big cherry on the sundae. Time will tell but this just feels like a quality vehicle. Cant wait for my next road trip!

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  09/Sportage - 2009 Kia Sportage
  By Gil - December 24 - 8:40 am

  This is our third Kia, and, as per the other Kias that we owned, the quality, and dependability is there.

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  Kia Sportage - 2007 Kia Sportage
  By Sara - December 22 - 6:56 pm

  I like my 07 Kia very much. It rides smooth and is comfy. The gas of course is a little problem. But it is a crossover suv so.. I got this for the safety.

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  Nice car, shame about the ride. - 2012 Kia Sportage
  By bbillyo - December 15 - 4:25 am

  I like the Sportage. It looks good, is well built and the engine seems good. Fuel economy is very good if you are light footed. I get 33mpg at 65mph on the free way and about 24mpg on the school run. I want to love it but its just too hard a ride especially on New Englands appalling roads. I come from a relatively poor European country and the roads were nothing like these. A pothole was a rarity that you would call the police about! You feel every bump and road seam. Road noise is also a problem - a lot louder than my old 2005 Sportage EX. Handling is very good for a SUV. Steering is a bit weird -the self centering is very biased to the center which causes a torque drag on the wheel.

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  Best of many vehicles I have owned - 2006 Kia Sportage
  By Ron - December 8 - 12:16 pm

  As a senior citizen who has owned many vehicles, I am hard to please. This vehicle has really impressed me though. Very utilitarian, comfortable, practical, dependable so far and fun to drive to boot. Would buy another in a minute. Only downside is gas mileage of 21 mpg, but we drive mostly in urban areas. Have taken a couple of short trips and the vehicle can hold its own on the interstates too.

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  I LOVE IT - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By Mike - December 2 - 11:03 pm

  I LOVE IT!! Kia has really showed what they can do....i had a 202 sportage and i loved it!! i was out growing it so when i seen an add for the NEW sportage i jushed over to my kia dealer and bought my self the new kia....sa far so good....i love the sound system!! clean crisp clear sound. It had plenty of power for the highway....there is just one thing i have to test........THE 4X4...i havent tested that out yet , im just wating for another snow storm to hit so i can really have some fun with my sportage....if your looking for a cheap good looking mini-ute i would look at the Sportage.

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  Be careful I love the sportage but not 2017 model - 2017 Kia Sportage
  By jerry - December 2 - 4:02 am

  Let me start by saying my wife and I have owned 2 kias and we have loved them. You cant beat the warranty and I think the build quality is good. There is only 2 dealers near where we live so we went to the closest one first to take the 2017 out for a test drive. When we first seen the car we loved the way it looked and the inside was even better (we looked at a Hyundai before we went to the kia dealer and they are almost the same) the problem I had was when I turned the key and heard the noise the engine made. It was HORRIBLE, I have a strong mechanical background and the tapping noise the car makes inside and out is unacceptable to me. What it is is the high pressure injection system (fuel pump and injectors) . Now if you know nothing about machinery you may not notice the noise this makes and if so buy the car it is a good car I am just giving my opinion about the fuel system. Now the dealer will try to tell you that this noise will stop after the car has warmed up but this is just not true, They may also say that this is new technology but this is also false. All I am asking is you research direct inject systems and educate yourself on the positives (and there are a bunch) and on the negatives. Sorry to be such a downer on this I love the car but they could have relocated the fuel pump and insulated the firewall better to quiet the tapping noise..

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  Little Quirks - 2012 Kia Sportage
  By mycar34 - November 5 - 10:28 am

  After reading several of the reviews I had to commit on several of your issues ... I am unable to clean the windshield/dash to stop the reflecting. On sunny days its dangerous. I have tried several high end windshield cleaners and nothing has helped. Unexplained noise ... Its been driving me nuts since I bought the vehicle. It rattles even the slightest bump in the road. I think, I figured it out. The glove box rattles. I used some heavy paper and jammed it in and it helps. The interior ... It scratches terrible. Anything leaves a mark! I dread the reduced trade in value due to scratches.