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Buyers seeking value for money should have Kia towards the top of their shopping list.

Although once a niche brand in the UK, today Kia outsells many more established brands, helped by its market-leading seven-year warranty and a strong reputation for reliability; in fact, Kia regularly finishes towards the top of our reliability surveys.

There are plenty of models to choose from, too, ranging from the small Picanto city car to the Ceed family hatchback and the Sorento large SUV. The Picanto was the first Kia to win its class at the What Car? Car of the Year awards.

SPORTAGE

Not a bad car but the same money will buy a much better one

Used Kia Sportage 4x4 1995 - 2003

At any age, a Sportage is several thousand pounds cheaper than a Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 or even a Hyundai Santa Fe from the same year.

It also matches the Honda and Toyota for insurance costs, and routine servicing should only be a little more expensive, if at all. What's perhaps more critical is that the Sportage's fuel economy is disappointing. When a RAV4 or CR-V can return about 30mpg, the Sportage's 24mpg is not good at all.

On the other hand, if you need to have work done on a Sportage, there should be no nasty shocks coming your way. Warranty Direct says that, on average, labour rates at Kia dealers are among the lowest of any make. Mind you, that's just as well, as the company also says that general repair costs are above average.

Not a bad car but the same money will buy a much better one

There's no choice when it comes to engines: a single 2.0-litre petrol unit powered the Sportage through its entire life. To start with, a manual gearbox was the only option, and it was only after the face-lift in July 2000 that an automatic 'box became available. However, it struggles to decide which gear to be in, so you're better off with the manual.

You're also better off with one of these post-face-lift models, as not only are they sharper looking, they also come with more equipment. At any age, it's best to go for the trim that's one rung up from the most basic. On early cars, that means GLX, but from July 2000 onwards it's SX. The basic cars (SLX and, later, S) are just too basic, while the plusher trims (Executive and GSX) are still too dear.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Comfortable ride </li> <li>Feature-filled infotainment </li> <li>Space for child seats </li> <li>Robust build quality </li> <li>Practical storage spaces </li> <li>A boot fit for a family holiday </li> <li>Fuel-efficient engines</li></ul>

While we define a small SUV&nbsp;as something&nbsp;less than 4.3 metres long and a large SUV as measuring more than 4.5 metres, family SUVs tread the middle ground.

As the name suggests, the vast majority are&nbsp;designed for family duties rather than serious off-roading, so practicality is paramount. However, that&nbsp;shouldn't come at the expense of a decent drive; the best examples combine tidy handling with smooth engines&nbsp;and a ride that's comfortable&nbsp;enough to ensure the kids aren't left feeling queasy.

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Family SUV

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of space for all passengers</li> <li>Large boot with lots of clever storage solutions</li> <li>Good fuel economy and running costs</li> <li>All-round comfort</li> <li>High-quality interior finish</li></ul>

We define a large SUV as anything longer than 4.5 metres. These cars aren’t usually particularly cheap to buy or lease, so in return we expect a roomy cabin, a lengthy list of standard equipment and excellent cruising refinement.

A few models in this class are two-wheel drive, but the vast majority have four-wheel drive for at least a modicum of off-road ability.

Large SUV

Overall, the Sportage seems something of a oddity in the Kia range. At the same time as it was finishing bottom in recent JD Power surveys, the newer Sorento 4x4 was top of its class, and Warranty Direct tells us that claim rates on Kias are, in general, lower than average.

If you are buying a Sportage, check whether any potential purchase has been the subject of a recall. Cars built before the end of 1998 were recalled because of a possible fault with the front seat belt buckles, and cars built between November 2002 and April 2003 were recalled after concerns about the steering.

The Kia Sportage was aimed squarely at the leisure market, and particularly at so-called 'soft-roaders' such as the Honda HR-V and Toyota RAV4. However, it never really hit the mark as it wasn't spacious enough to be a genuine family car and certainly wasn't as exciting to drive as a RAV4.

That said, there's nothing massively wrong with it; it's just that too many other cars are better. It has a firm, but controlled ride, for example, which doesn't quite match the RAV4's, but which is well ahead of dedicated off-roaders. Likewise, the 2.0-litre petrol engine gives it a decent turn of speed, but refinement could be better.

With no height adjustment on the driver's seat, the driving position is only fair, and practicality is not great: there's room for only two in the back, and legroom is tight, but at least the boot is a decent size.

Used Kia Sportage 4x4 1995 - 2003 reliability

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Used Kia Sportage 4x4 1995 - 2003 review

Overall, the Sportage seems something of a oddity in the Kia range. At the same time as it was finishing bottom in recent JD Power surveys, the newer Sorento 4x4 was top of its class, and Warranty Direct tells us that claim rates on Kias are, in general, lower than average.,If you are buying a Sportage, check whether any potential purchase has been the subject of a recall. Cars built before the end of 1998 were recalled because of a possible fault with the front seat belt buckles, and cars built between November 2002 and April 2003 were recalled after concerns about the steering.,

What to look for when buying a Kia Sportage 1995 - 2003, covering common problems to check for and overall vehicle reliability.

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Used Kia Sportage 4x4 1995 - 2003 reliability

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