Kia Sportage review

Introduction

Some buyers think they’ll get a better car by choosing a premium brand, but in the family SUV class the Kia Sportage makes it really difficult to justify the extra outlay.

That’s because there's plenty of substance behind the Sportage's boomerang-shaped headlights and chunky body.

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1.6 h T-GDi Pure SUV 5dr Petrol Hybrid Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (235 bhp)

Expected annual mileage	5000
Term months	36
Deposit months	12
Monthly payment	£307.02
Initial payment	£3,684.24

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• Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
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• Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end

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• Full manufacturer’s warranty
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£3,684 initial payment, 36 month contract, 5000 miles p/a. Subject to status and conditions.

• Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
• No balloon payments
• Road tax included

For a start, there’s a spacious interior and a range of trim levels to suit all budgets. As well as a regular turbocharged petrol engine there are regular hybrid and plug-in hybrid offerings.

New Kia Sportage video review

Plus, Kia has given the Sportage a competitive starting price too, with the cheapest version undercutting the closely related Hyundai Tucson and other rivals, including the Ford Kuga and Renault Austral. That puts it in competition with the super-popular Nissan Qashqai, the fun-to-drive Seat Ateca and the impressively practical Skoda Karoq.

To keep it competitive, Kia has delivered a mid-life update to the Sportage, tweaking the exterior styling and updating the interior. Read on to find out how the Kia Sportage now ranks against the best family SUVs...

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Overview

With a generous amount of space, a large boot and one of the best interiors in its class, the Kia Sportage is still a fantastic family SUV. It’s also comfortable on the road and comes with a fantastic warranty. The Hybrid (HEV) engine paired with entry-level Pure trim is our pick of the range.

Pros

• Lower-spec models are great value
• Smart interior
• Generous rear leg room and boot space

Cons

• Rear head room compromised with panoramic roof
• No clever rear seat functions
• Auto gearbox feels frustratingly slow with non-hybrid engine

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Performance & drive

What it's like to drive, and how quiet it is

How fast is it and which engine is best?

Strangely, Kia has opted to remove the mild-hybrid engine options in the Sportage’s latest facelift, so now the line-up starts with the 147bhp 1.6 T-GDi turbocharged petrol engine. It has more than enough punch for everyday driving, with the standard six-speed manual version managing a 0-60mph time of 9.0sec in our tests.

The manual gearbox, with its vague clutch pedal response, may be far from perfect, but we’d stick with that rather than opting for the seven-speed automatic gearbox available on GT-line or GT-line S trim. You see, while it changes gears smoothly enough when you’re on the move, it feels really slow to get you off the line and is hesitant to drop down a gear when you need a sudden burst of power.

Our preferred version is the 235bhp Sportage HEV, which has had a boost in power and can officially manage 0-62mph in 7.9sec. As you might expect, it feels far quicker than the non-hybrid version, so you’ll have no issues getting up to speed regardless of whether you’re in town or on the motorway. It can even drive short distances on electricity alone, too.

There’s no manual HEV option, but its improved six-speed auto ‘box is much quicker than the entry-level engine’s and suffers none of the same issues. Indeed, the electric motor helps to fill in any of the hesitations.

Most versions of the HEV have front-wheel drive, but you can add all-wheel drive with the GT-Line S trim.

An updated version of the Sportage PHEV (plug-in hybrid) will join the line-up later on. Before this update, it had an official electric-only range of up to 40 miles (depending on trim), and since the battery is set to be unchanged, we’d expect that to remain the same. Featuring all-wheel drive as standard, this setup will offer more power than before, but we don’t have numbers yet.

Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?

The updated Sportage has not had any major changes to its suspension setup so it's just as comfortable as the pre-facelift car. That means it does a great job of rounding off potholes and ridges at low speeds, and exhibits fractionally better body control than the Hyundai Tucson over speed bumps.

It's not quite as comfy as a Volvo XC40 though – and that will be most noticeable on versions of the Sportage with big 19in alloy wheels fitted, and likely in the PHEV (which is heavier). The best-riding Sportage is the cheapest model: entry-level Pure trim, which comes with smaller 17in wheels.

As comfortable as the Sportage is, it’s never been a contender for best-driving family SUV, but its cornering abilities are more than good enough, with plenty of grip and reasonably precise steering that allows you to place the car where you want it.

There’s a fair amount of body lean, but we reckon the balance of composure and comfort will be a well-judged compromise for most. Plus, it's a little tidier to drive than the Hyundai Tucson. If you want something a bit more rewarding to drive, we’d recommend taking a look at the Ford Kuga or smaller Seat Ateca.

Is it quiet and how easy is it to drive smoothly?

We expect the quietest model in the line-up to still be the upcoming PHEV: its ability to run on electricity makes the outgoing Sportage PHEV hushed on shorter commutes. The HEV can also whisper along over short distances in town, and neither version makes much electric motor whine.

Once their engines kick in, no version is particularly loud and engine noise is only noticeable when you have your foot down. Better still, while there’s a fraction more wind noise on motorways than in a Volvo XC40, it’s still really hushed and there’s much less road noise than you’ll encounter in a Honda ZR-V.

The brakes on HEV Sportages can be a little grabby due to the regenerative braking system. That said, it’s still easier to come to a smooth stop than in the Hyundai Tucson thanks to more immediate brake-pedal response. Plus, you can use paddles on the steering wheel to adjust the level of regenerative braking when you’re in Eco mode.

“If you engage Sport mode in the hybrid Sportage, the paddles on the steering wheel change gears rather than adjust the regenerative braking, which is clever.” – Doug Revolta, Head of Video

Interior

The interior layout, fit and finish

What does the interior look like and is it well made?

While the interior of the facelifted Kia Sportage is very similar to the previous version, you will notice a few differences as you look around. Most obvious is the new two-spoke steering wheel, which bulges towards the middle and feels a little odd to hold.

Entry-level Pure models come with black cloth seats, while GT-Line and above swap those out for nicer seats with vegan leather and suede upholstery. Those two top trims also get different interior styling to the entry-level version, adding leather to various places, including on the door armrests.

The Sportage's interior feels solidly put together, with well-damped switches, a good range of materials, plenty of squishy plastics and metallic-effect finishes at eye level. Some of the plastics lower down are less pleasing but they’re generally out of sight and have a higher chance of being scuffed anyway.

In terms of overall interior quality, the Sportage is better than a Ford Kuga and on a par with the equivalent Hyundai Tucson. However, it doesn't quite reach the premium heights of a Volvo XC40.

Is the driving position comfortable and is it easy to see out?

The driving position is very comfortable and there’s plenty of steering wheel and seat adjustment, including electric lumbar support as standard, so you’ll have no problems tailoring it to your preferences.

GT-Line S makes it even easier, thanks to it getting electrically-adjustable seats and a handy memory function, ensuring that you can easily get back to your driving position should anyone move your seat.

On the whole, both kinds of seats are comfortable on a long drive, but the really soft seats in the Pure might not be to everyone’s liking. Meanwhile, the seats fitted to GT-Line and GT-Line S have a slightly firmer side bolster, adding some much needed side support through corners.

A low dashboard and relatively slim front pillars means you get a clear view ahead, although a narrow rear window and thick rear pillars means the view out the back is a bit more obstructed. Thankfully, all models come with parking sensors (front and rear) and a rear view camera as standard to help out with manoeuvres.

Is the dashboard and infotainment system easy to use?

All versions of the Sportage get a 12.3in touchscreen with built-in sat-nav and wireless Android Auto/ Apple Carplay smartphone mirroring. The screen's graphics are sharp and it responds to inputs quickly enough.

That said, some of the text and icons are on the small side, making them a little tricky to read at a glance or aim for when you're driving. The infotainment system in the Mazda CX-5 has a rotary controller, which is less distracting to use.

There’s a touch-sensitive panel below the touchscreen with shortcuts for the climate-control system and other commonly used functions. It’s more fiddly to adjust the temperature when driving than using the dials in a Honda ZR-V or Hyundai Tucson but it’s still much easier to use than a system that integrates the temperature controls into the touchscreen, as the Ford Kuga does.

In GT Line S trim, the Sportage has a wireless phone-charging tray ahead of the gear selector, an upgraded Harman Kardon stereo and ambient lighting. There are two types of USB port up front and each front seat has a USB-C slot built in for rear passengers to use in everything apart from entry-level Pure trim.

“I find it a little disappointing that only the top-spec Sportage comes with wireless phone charging, not least because every Hyundai Tucson gets it as standard.” – Lawrence Cheung, New cars editor

Passenger & boot space

How it copes with people and clutter

How much space does it have for people?

The Kia Sportage feels quite airy for front-seat occupants, with loads of head, leg and shoulder room. Indeed, even with the GT-Line S’ standard-fit panoramic sunroof fitted, which reduces head room a little, there’s still enough space for six-footers to get comfortable.

You have plenty of space for all your odds and ends in the front of the Sportage, including a generous glovebox, door pockets that are large enough to take a bottle of water, a decent lidded centre cubby box, plus trays for a phone and keys, and two cupholders behind the gear lever.

Compared with most family SUVs, there’s a generous amount of space in the rear of the Sportage, too. There’s a touch more leg room than in the Hyundai Tucson and enough head and elbow room to make two tall adults comfortable. It’s worth noting that the panoramic roof fitted to the GT-Line S reduces head room, causing tall adults to brush their head against the roof lining, unless they lean to the centre.

There’s enough shoulder room for three adults sitting abreast to have space to get comfortable. There’s space to fit your feet underneath the front seats, but the person sitting in the middle seat will need to straddle a hump in the floor. In fairness, that’s similar to the Ford Kuga and Tucson.

To give rear seat passengers a little extra head room, the rear seats in the Sportage can be reclined slightly.

How much room does it have for luggage?

The regular petrol version of the Sportage gets 591 litres of boot space, which is more than you’ll find in the Ford Kuga, Honda ZR-V and Nissan Qashqai but less than in a non-hybrid Hyundai Tucson.

The HEV has 587 litres, which is still big by class standards – we managed to fit eight carry-on suitcases below the parcel shelf in both versions. That’s well ahead of the ZR-V and Renault Austral (six cases) and on a par with the Tucson.

A height-adjustable boot floor comes as standard with every Sportage. In its highest setting, it sits flush with the boot opening so it's easy to slide bulkier items in and out without a load lip to contend with. In its lowest position, there’s a small lip to lift items over and the floor slopes upwards towards the seats.

The rear seats split and fold in a 40/20/40 configuration, which is far more versatile than the 60/40 setup that you’ll find in rivals including the Kuga and makes it easier to load long items through from the boot without losing the outer rear seats. Handily, you get levers in the boot that allow you to fold the seats from there.

You can’t, however, slide the rear seats fore and aft, as you can in the Audi Q3, Ford Kuga and Renault Austral. Alternatively, the Skoda Karoq may be smaller, but its Varioflex option is even better, allowing you to remove the rear seats altogether.

“The Kia Sportage’s long, deep boot is usefully bigger than what you’ll find in the Honda ZR-V or Renault Austral, and has more underfloor space too. I found that its ability to carry eight carry-on suitcases made it perfect for an airport run.” – Stuart Milne, Digital Editor

Buying & owning

Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is

How much does it cost and what equipment do you get?

In Pure trim and with the regular petrol engine, the Kia Sportage undercuts the Honda ZR-V, Hyundai Tucson and Renault Austral, and costs around the same as the Mazda CX-5 and Nissan Qashqai. A Dacia Bigster or MG HS is even cheaper, though.

Going for the Hybrid HEV engine pushes the price up a little, but at least it’s no longer limited to higher trim levels - the HEV is now available on entry-level trim as part of its update. The Sportage still remains closely priced to an equivalent Hyundai Tucson and the gap is even narrower if you decide to opt for a PCP finance deal and pay monthly. Better still, the Sportage is predicted to have stronger resale values than the Tucson.

The Sportage shouldn’t cost more than its rivals to run. With the petrol engine achieving a real-world economy figure of 38.5mpg, it was only slightly less than the Seat Ateca 1.5 TSI 150’s 39.6mpg figure we tested on the same day. The hybrid (HEV) should fare better, achieving around 45mpg.

Pure might be the entry-level trim, but it comes with everything you could need, including 17in alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, automatic air conditioning and all the bits that we’ve already mentioned. It’s the version that we’d go for.

GT-Line adds heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, but aside from that, there aren't any real luxuries that seem worth the jump in price. Range-topping GT-Line S does add a lot of kit, such as an upgraded Harman Kardon sound system, ventilated front seats and heated rear seats – but then it pushes the price up a lot too.

If you're looking for a company car and want the lowest possible BIK tax rating you'll be better off with an electric SUV, such as the Kia EV5. However, in the Sportage range, the PHEV will be the cheapest option. As with other plug-in hybrids, you’ll need to keep the battery charged up as much as possible to maximise fuel economy.

Is it reliable, and how long is the warranty?

Kia as a brand finished 8th out of 30 manufacturers in the latest What Car? Reliability Survey. That’s below Honda (which topped the table) but above Ford, Hyundai, Skoda and Volvo. The petrol and HEV versions of the pre-facelift Sportage came 13th out of 76 family SUV models in the same survey. The PHEV version didn’t do so well, however, ranking in 56th place.

For added peace of mind, the Sportage comes with a very good seven-year or 100,000-mile Kia warranty. While Toyota gives you up to 10 years if you service your car at an approved dealer, you won’t get such a long warranty with the main rivals – the closest is Hyundai’s five years.

How safe is it, and is it easy to steal?

When it was tested for safety by Euro NCAP in 2022, the Sportage was awarded the full five stars and scored well in all areas. The Tucson scored near-identically in all safety categories, but it’s hard to directly compare the two car’s scores because the Hyundai was tested in 2021, and the tests become more stringent every year.

Every Sportage comes with lots of safety kit, including six airbags, automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assistance and trailer stability assist.

Top-spec GT-Line S trim adds parking collision avoidance and blind-spot monitoring. The latter is more sophisticated than other systems that simply illuminate a light on the door mirror. Here, it displays a live feed from cameras mounted on the door mirrors onto the digital driver’s display as you indicate.

“The Kia Sportage hybrids are satisfyingly economical, but in this price range, it's also worth considering the fully electric Kia EV5.” – Steve Huntingford, Editor

Buy it if...

- You’d like a family SUV that has lots of interior space

- You’re after a car that’s easy to drive and rides comfortably

- You like getting great value for money

Don’t buy it if…

- You’re after a family SUV with really agile handling

- You’d like a fully electric family SUV

- You value being able to move the rear seats around for extra storage space

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