Updated April 25, 2022
Why Is This Important?
This is the most important page of information that you will find about this vehicle. At SUV Power Rankings we don’t just review a car ourselves and put our own spin and opinion on it; instead we take every review, preview, first look, etc. pull the important data points from those informative “views” and place them into our own algorithm to come up with the most unbiased scoring system available anywhere.
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The Kia Sportage is a compact SUV (classified as a compact crossover SUV since 2004) manufactured by the South Korean manufacturer Kia since 1993. The Sportage slots between the Seltos or XCeed and the three-row Sorento in Kia’s SUV lineup.
Sales
The Sportage was Kia’s best selling model worldwide in 2016, overtaking the Rio.
| Calendar year | United States | South Korea | China | Europe | Global | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sportage | Sportage R | KX5 | |||||
| 1998 | 28,582 | 5,830 | |||||
| 1999 | 52,383 | 13,133 | |||||
| 2000 | 62,350 | 2,506 | 18,320 | ||||
| 2001 | 52,369 | 2,922 | 13,508 | ||||
| 2002 | 39,436 | 1,399 | 5,820 | ||||
| 2003 | 5,616 | 0 | 2,913 | ||||
| 2004 | 121 | 27,559 | 1,394 | ||||
| 2005 | 29,009 | 57,031 | 38,631 | ||||
| 2006 | 37,071 | 35,867 | 32,147 | ||||
| 2007 | 49,393 | 32,563 | 5,713 | 32,076 | |||
| 2008 | 32,754 | 23,974 | 32,500 | 26,372 | |||
| 2009 | 42,509 | 27,874 | 43,828 | 22,687 | |||
| 2010 | 23,873 | 44,770 | 67,740 | 11,713 | 29,219 | ||
| 2011 | 47,463 | 52,018 | 44,754 | 64,341 | 67,623 | ||
| 2012 | 36,357 | 43,993 | 41,182 | 75,969 | 83,023 | 359,742 | |
| 2013 | 32,965 | 29,168 | 44,952 | 88,285 | 90,342 | ||
| 2014 | 42,945 | 47,729 | 40,474 | 96,472 | 96,556 | ||
| 2015 | 53,739 | 52,748 | 29,461 | 81,522 | 104,984 | 399,969 | |
| 2016 | 81,066 | 49,877 | 9,302 | 78,176 | 62,254 | 138,218 | 515,067 |
| 2017 | 72,824 | 42,232 | 32,514 | 20,641 | 129,595 | ||
| 2018 | 82,823 | 37,373 | 13,873 | 75,180 | 5,951 | 121,197 | 501,367 |
| 2019 | 89,278 | 28,271 | 85,708 | 8,703 | 110,514 | ||
| 2020 | 84,343 | 18,425 | 68,750 | 11,285 | 69,016 | 366,929 | |
— Source Wikipedia
- Official Page – KIA Sportage
- Price: Starts at $27,760 CAD
- Comparable to: Volvo XC40, BMW X1
- Reliability: Consumer: This vehicle has a JD Power reliability rating of 88/100 which is considered GREAT.
- Maintenance costs: Approximately $7,873 over 10 years.
REVIEWS AND IMPRESSIONS
We have put together as many reviews and impressions as we could find. Each finds a way to touch upon something that the others missed. If you are serious about this vehicle then these videos are worth the time.
- Car and Driver
- Gold Pony Review
- CarMagazine.co.uk Review
- Kelley Blue Book Review
- Car and Driver Review
- Edmunds Review
- USNews Review
- JD Power Review
- Motortrend Review
- AutoCar Review
OUR SCORE
You can view the overall Compact SUV Rankings here and the Luxury Compact SUV Rankings here.
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SCORES BY PUBLICATION:
Kelley Blue Book: 3.9 / 5
USNews: 8.4 / 10
Edmunds: 7.2 / 10
J.D. Power: 84 / 100
Car and Driver: 7.5 / 10
Motortrend: 7.7 / 10
What the critics have to say…
The 2021 Kia Sportage is a small SUV that slots between the three-row Sorento and the compact Seltos. The Sportage shares more than a little with its corporate sibling, the Hyundai Tucson. The Sportage packs tons of features into an affordable package, with available all-wheel drive and a striking design that helps it stand out from the crowd. But in a very crowded segment, it rated lower on our list than all-stars such as the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Forester.
Edmunds
HOW DOES IT DRIVE?
The Sportage performs best around town, where its ample low-end torque, smooth braking and nicely weighted steering can shine. But when taken out of its comfort zone, the Kia largely disappoints. Our Sportage test vehicle had the optional turbocharged 2.0-liter engine. With it we managed a 0-60 mph sprint of 9 seconds, which is a poor showing for a small SUV with an upgraded engine. The brake pedal is a little soft, but it’s easy to gauge the amount of pressure needed to bring the Sportage to an easy stop.
Edmunds
IS IT RELIABLE AND HIGH QUALITY?
Is the Kia Sportage Reliable?
The 2022 Kia Sportage has a predicted reliability score of 88 out of 100. A J.D. Power predicted reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, 81-90 is Great, 70-80 is Average, and 0-69 is Fair and considered below average.
Kia Sportage Warranty
Kia covers the Sportage with a five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
HOW COMFORTABLE IS IT?
We like the supportive front seats that have plenty of adjustment and above-average heating and cooling capabilities. The climate control system quickly adjusts cabin temperatures too. The interior is well isolated from traffic noise and from road noise over bumps, but tire noise is noticeable at freeway speeds.
Edmunds
WHAT IS THE INTERIOR LIKE?
Some editors have compared this Kia’s interior to those of Audi products, which means that Kia is doing something right. The Sportage’s cabin is well executed and filled with a pleasing mix of quality materials and nifty, functional features.
Car and Driver
WHAT IS THE TECHNOLOGY LIKE?
With few exceptions, the Sportage’s tech features are top-notch. The logical and approachable touchscreen is user-friendly, and we appreciate the standard smartphone integration and charging options for front and rear passengers. The available upgraded stereo is among the best in the class. Navigation graphics are clean and crisp. But voice commands are disappointing — the system is easily confused, especially when you’re trying to control navigation — and can’t be accessed while using smartphone projection. A subscription to Kia’s Uvo services, which our tester lacked, is said to improve voice recognition.
Edmunds
WHAT IS THE CARGO SPACE LIKE?
It’s a spacious enough environment for passengers but not cargo. The rear-seat accommodations will fit adults, but you might hear some complaining about the low placement of the seat cushion. Cargo space is limited for the class and storage room for smaller items is lacking, but its seats-down carry-on-luggage capacity and adjustable load floor make up for some of that.
Car and Driver
IS THIS VEHICLE A GOOD VALUE?
Where the Sportage was once a standout, it’s now caught up in the mix as automakers hone their value propositions. The Kia has a slight price advantage, especially if you place more priority on comfort and tech features than performance or practicality. But the real value proposition is Kia’s warranty: The five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty are matched only by Hyundai.
Edmunds
IS THE Sportage A GOOD SUV?
Yes, the Sportage is a good compact SUV. It offers two rows of adult-friendly seating, and the cabin is awash in quality materials. A straightforward infotainment system, a comfortable ride, and secure handling round out what is a solid overall package.
USNews
SHOULD I BUY THE Sportage?
The Sportage has one of the lowest base prices in the class, and it comes with a long list of standard features, making the base model a great value. Still, the Sportage isn’t the most engaging or fun crossover, and you may be tempted by a rival SUV with a larger cargo hold or better fuel economy numbers, such as the completely redesigned Hyundai Tucson or the fuel-efficient Nissan Rogue.
USNews
THE FINAL WORD
The Sportage doesn’t excite in any way shape or form. It’s an efficient, value-driven vehicle that would suit anyone who shares those priorities.
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