Kia Sportage Reviews

Kia’s Sportage model tapped into a rich vein of buyer interest when it was launched here and, by the time the QL (Kia’s internal name for the model) range turned up, the Sportage was an established and popular franchise. Which is probably part of the reason Kia decided to make the Sportage line-up such a comprehensive one. There was only one body style; a five-door SUV wagon (which was what everybody wanted anyway) but beyond that there was lots of choice. Trim levels started with the base Si, then moved to SLi and finally to Platinum. The Platinum badge was dropped in 2017 and replaced with the GT-Line tag to bring the Sportage into line with the rest of the Kia range in Australia. At about the same time, a new variant called Si Premium was slotted in between the Si and SLi. The base version was available with a 2.0-litre petrol engine with 114kW or a turbo-diesel of the same size making 136kW but a lot more torque (400Nm played 192Nm). The Si Premium was a 2.0-litre petrol proposition only, but the SLi could be had with either engine as well as the option of a 2.4-litre petrol engine with 135kW. The Platinum and its replacement GT-Line, meanwhile, were available with either the 2.4-petrol or turbo-diesel engines. All variants were fitted with a six-speed automatic transmission and while the 2.0-litre versions were all front-wheel drive, the others featured an on-demand all-wheel drive system that engaged the rear axle when grip levels dictated. The Sportage of this vintage was popular for some good reasons. It was big inside compared with its competitors and overall build quality was better than average, too. The locally-tuned suspension and steering worked wonders in making the car more comfortable and agile than it might have been, and the turbo-diesel engine option made for very frugal, relaxed motoring. On the downside, the base 2.0-litre engine felt flat and gutless, and for cars built before July 2018, the ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) systems such as autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance and forward collision warning were only available if you ponied up for the Platinum or GT-Line models. Those features became available across the board after that 2018 facelift, but some ADAS functions such as blind-spot monitoring and rear-cross traffic alert were still restricted to the GT-Line variant.   Overall, this make and model seems pretty robust and many owners have had trouble-free runs. But there is one major thing to watch and that’s oil consumption and early engine wear on either of the petrol engines offered in the Sportage. The engine problems with petrol-powered Sportages concern what’s called piston-slap and bore scoring, both of which are symptoms of accelerated internal engine wear. There are several theories on what causes this, but debris left over from the machining process at the factory as well as poor engine design are just two of them. Either way, if your Kia Sportage engine is making a ticking or tapping noise or consuming lots of engine oil, chances are you have one of the dud engines. There was not a safety recall for this, but Kia Australia was looking at each case on its own merits. The bottom line is that a lot of petrol engines in Sportages (and other Kias) were replaced at Kia’s cost, so that’s the first thing you should check when assessing any second-hand Sportage; has the engine been replaced? If it has, great. If it hasn’t, then the engine probably wasn’t a 'bad' one in the first place. Kia’s own database (via a dealership) should be able to determine what cars were fitted with replacement engines. We’ve also heard of a lot of Kias of this vintage with peeling paint. White seems to be the most affected colour, and it seems as though a bad batch of paint from the supplier was the cause. Again, Kia was sorting this out on a case-by-case basis. The Sportage was recalled twice by Kia, the first to check the anti-lock braking module which could pose a fire threat. The second recall was also for a fire risk as the software that controlled the heater core’s temperature could allow the core to run too hot. You can check out the details at https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/ .   The first-gen cars were the ones that missed out on the ADAS active safety gear unless you paid for the flagship model. With that in mind, go for a later, second-gen car if you’re shopping for anything but the Platinum or GT-Line versions. On the basis of those engine problems, we’d probably give the petrol-engine Sportage a miss, too. Plenty of Sportages of this vintage have reached the 200,000km mark while still having plenty of life left in them. And if the engine problems haven’t occurred by then, it’s a pretty safe bet they aren’t going to surface now. The turbo-diesel, in particular, draws on Kia’s decades of engineering experience in designing and building small-capacity diesel engines, and should be a good long-term prospect provided it’s serviced correctly.   The absolute plum buy would be a post-facelift turbo-diesel GT-Line which got all the ADAS functionality as well as a new eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The diesel engine is far and away the best option in this car and the new automatic only made it better. If you can stretch to a very late example of this car, say from 2020 or 2021, you should find it still has a small amount of the factory seven-year warranty remaining, which is huge peace of mind in any second-hand car. Prices for QL Sportages start at between $7000 and $10,000, but for that you’ll be buying a 2.0-litre petrol example with as many as 200,000km on board. At the other end of the scale, prices can reach the low-$30K mark, but that should get you into a low-mileage, high-specification turbo-diesel car, even with some of that all-important factory warranty remaining.   Kia’s dealer network in Australia has something like 140 dealerships across the country, so parts and service should be no problem. Equally, there’s no shortage of independent workshops that know their way around a Kia Sportage and that will generally be a less expensive option. Parts supply is no problem and Kia’s status as a major global brand means service and repair parts are available form a wide range on online sellers.   The Sportage was a good sales performer for Kia and the brand sold upwards of 10,000 examples per year while the QL model was on sale. So, there are now plenty for sale as used-cars, and the bigger online sales sites often have literally hundreds to choose from via private sellers and licensed dealers.

As with its Hyundai Tucson cousin, the last two generations of Kia Sportage have long been good cars in search of better petrol powertrains. The old 2.0-litre atmo unit lacked spark and the 1.6-litre turbo was too highly strung for a family runabout. The petrol-electric hybrid vehicle (HEV) that usurps both, on the other hand, strikes the right chord, but wasn’t available in base guise – until now. The entry-level S Hybrid, from $44,490, drive-away, puts the base Sportage right in the Chinese electrified mid-sized SUV heartland. Inevitably, several plug-in hybrid (PHEV) rivals cost less and yet bring more equipment, like the BYD Sealion 5, Chery Tiggo 7, Geely Starray and Jaecoo J7. But cheapness is their main attraction and most suffer from some worrying deficiencies. Oddly, though, the S overlaps with some hybrid-only alternatives from China, like the GWM Haval H6 and MG HS, though again, both require more development. The Kia undercuts Japanese base-grade hybrid equivalents, such as the Nissan X-Trail e-Power, Honda CR-V e:HEV and, of course, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid that begins from about $6000 more. That said, the S isn’t scant on spec, with much of the expected convenience basics, like climate control, a reversing camera, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and alloy wheels. You’ll also find: A space-saver spare wheel – thank you, Kia Seven years of free Kia Connect remote app services access Keyless entry and start A 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto Adaptive cruise control Front and rear parking sensors In other words, all you need and a bit more besides. There’s no wireless phone charger or heated front seats at this price point, though. Now in its fifth generation since 1993, today’s Sportage has been an especially strong seller worldwide. Maybe that’s why last year’s facelift is subtle. An obvious difference is the removal of the fussy inverted ‘V’ LED lighting up front, connecting the mid-sized SUV to some of its younger SUV siblings. Similarly, the Sportage’s cabin presentation has also weathered well. At first glance, you’d be hard pressed to pick this as the entry-level Sportage. Yes, the seats are cloth instead of modish synthetic leather (though vinyl belongs in record sleeves not in SUVs) and the driver’s side lacks lumbar adjustment. But these are the only real concessions to cost cutting. Dominating things is Kia’s classy, curved dual-display dash, which remains visually contemporary and operates smartly, swiftly and smoothly, while a row of fixed virtual buttons below responds on the first touch and are paragons of clarity. China (and Mazda CX-5), please heed, since the Hyundai Motor Group knows how to balance dashboard design and ergonomics effectively. The front seats provide adequate comfort and support, the driving position is faultless, the ventilation works fine, there is an abundance of storage and the quality of execution stands out. As with the spacious front row, back-seat entry and egress is effortless. The Sportage’s roomy rear features cushions are fixed, but remain adequately comfy, aided by backrests that recline a little. Also present are air vents, cupholders, USB-C ports and a folding armrest. Not bad for a base bus. Further back, even with the spare wheel, VDA luggage capacity is a decent 586 litres, expanding to 1872L with the 60/40 split-fold backrests dropped. Electrification need not compromise practicality. The S Hybrid 2WD uses a 132kW/265Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol hybrid engine, paired to a 47.7kW/264Nm electric motor, driving the front wheels via a six-speed torque-converter automatic. Combined outputs are 173kW and 367Nm, while a 1.49kWh lithium-ion battery is located by the multi-link rear axle. The result is remarkably velvety performance, from stepping off the line in EV-first mode, to maintaining a strong and steady pace at speed once the internal-combustion engine seamlessly pipes in. A world away from the wheezy old 2.0L unit, the Sportage is especially adept at delivering immediate, muscular throttle response, especially in Sport mode, for satisfyingly instant overtaking, though it’s also refined enough to be licence-losingly rapid even before the driver notices. Beware. This fluid ease also describes the handling set-up, with engagingly linear steering for quick yet controlled cornering capabilities aided by finely calibrated brakes (not always a given in hybrids). While not as supple as, say, the latest CX-5’s, the S Hybrid's suspension tune remains acceptably firm. And, save for the tiring speed-sign warnings, the ADAS tech is sufficiently calibrated for Australian roads. Again, not a given nowadays. Fixes for the next model should include grippier tyres than what the Nexen Roadian rubber provide in the wet and a tighter turning circle. Still, the S Hybrid shows that the Sportage has evolved and matured remarkably. A far cry from the dynamic calamity of the earliest generations. Pump-to-pump, we averaged 5.8 litres per 100km over a week’s worth of often-spirited inner-urban, freeway and performance-testing driving, against 5.2L/100km on the trip computer and Kia’s claim of 4.9L/100km. In theory, the Hybrid 2WD is capable of 1060km between refills of (91 RON standard) petrol. Finally, tested back in 2022, the Sportage garnered a maximum five-star ANCAP rating, largely for “good” occupant protection. The long role call of ADAS tech includes multi-faceted autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and lane-support systems, blind-spot collision-avoidance assist and safe exit warning. Meanwhile, there’s a seven-year/unlimited kilometre warranty and up to eight years of roadside assistance if serviced at Kia. Intervals are every 12 months or 10,000km. Capped-price servicing is listed at $353, $561, $422, $880, $397, $703 and $716 over the first seven years, totalling $4032. That’s $1185 more than the albeit-$6K-costlier base RAV4 over the same period.

The GT-Line sits atop the Sportage tree, above the S, SX and SX+ grades, with the flagship grade getting the best of the comfort and safety equipment.

The SX+ might be the sweet spot in the Kia Sportage range, sitting below only the flagship GT-Line and above the S and SX.

The SX is the second rung on the Sportage ladder, sitting above the entry-level S and below the SX+ and GT-Line.

The S opens the four-model Kia Sportage line-up, and it’s available only with a 2.0-litre petrol or 2.0-litre diesel engine. There are turbo-petrol and hybrid powertrains offered elsewhere in the range, but the entry-level Sportage misses out.

The Sportage is Kia's best-selling model in Australia, where it battles heavyweights like the Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid in our biggest and most hotly contested segment. In other words, this mid-life update is crucial. So Kia has added more hybrid options, a new look, and new tech and safety in an effort to win over buyers. But is that enough? We put it to the test to find out.

Hybrids aren't a new thing but they are still relatively new for Kia. Following the Sorento, Kia has launched the Sportage Hybrid and CarsGuide has tested the entry-grade SX. It's quite a bit pricier than its petrol twin, so is it worth the fuel savings?

It's easy to see why the newly facelifted Kia Sportage SX petrol is a serious competitor for the medium SUV market. The biggest pull factor is the (very healthy) price tag. However, its restyle has pushed it from being 'just okay' in the looks department to downright stylish. Add the practicality of a spacious cabin and, while it might not take the win, it certainly gets on the podium.

The Kia Sportage is one of the most renowned names in the midsize SUV semgent, and this new-generation makes a mark of its own when it comes to its appearance and the fact it is bigger in every direction. But is the GT-Line petrol AWD model a good option for your family? Matt Campbell is living with it for a few months to find out.