Used Kia Sportage 2022-present reliability
Category: Family SUV
The Kia Sportage is a spacious and practical family SUV with a smart interior that makes a lot of sense as a used buy.
What should I look for in a used Kia Sportage estate?
When viewing a used car, always follow our used car buying checklist.
Most Sportages will have been used as family cars, so it’s important to check through the interior for stained carpets, and scuffed or broken areas of plastic trim. A car that has been used and abused by a family might not have had the best attention paid to its upkeep elsewhere.
Check the car's extremities for any damage picked up in tight car parks or on school runs; any scuffs or dents should be obvious. Check the wheels, too, because alloy wheel repairs can be expensive. Plus, there could be suspension damage as well, if the car has hit a kerb particularly hard.
What are the most common problems with a used Kia Sportage estate?
At the time of writing, the Kia Sportage has two recalls listed. You can contact your local Kia dealer if you believe your vehicle is affected. You won't have to pay for anything involving the recall.
Reason for recall
A combination of the instrument cluster software and electrical noise while the vehicle is starting may result in cluster booting errors.
How the manufacturer will repair: The software of the digital instrument cluster of your vehicle must be upgraded.
Number of affected vehicles: 6996
Date of recall: 21/07/2023
Reason for recall
The vacuum pump drive gear may be damaged by a mechanical failure caused by high acceleration torque during the engine starting phase. If the pump fails, an increase of the brake pedal force may be experienced while driving.
How the manufacturer will repair: Complete a software update of the engine electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU upgrade reduces the initial load caused by the mild hybrid starter generator during engine startup (cranking acceleration).
Number of affected vehicles: 2922
Date of recall: 13/01/2025
Is a used Kia Sportage estate reliable?
The Kia Sportage is generally a reliable car. In our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, it ranked 13th out of 76 cars in the family SUV class. Its reliability score of 96.5% makes it more reliable than the Nissan Qashqai but less reliable than the Toyota RAV4.
As a car brand, Kia managed a strong eighth position out of 30 rivals, scoring 94.4% and ranking above Ford, VW and Skoda but below Lexus and Toyota.
Used Kia Sportage: owners' reliability data
In our latest Reliability Survey, owners said the 2021-present Kia Sportage has generally proved dependable across both petrol and hybrid versions.
Most owners reported no major mechanical faults, and praised the car’s ability to run without unexpected issues. However, there were isolated complaints about infotainment system glitches and occasional dashboard warning lights, particularly on hybrid models.
When problems did arise, readers spoke positively about Kia’s dealer network, often describing repairs as quick and hassle-free. Several owners highlighted the value of the brand’s long warranty, which helped resolve minor faults at no cost. That said, a few respondents mentioned dealer delays when sourcing parts for hybrid variants, although these incidents were the exception rather than the rule.
Overall, feedback points to a strong reliability record supported by helpful dealer service, helping cement the Sportage’s reputation as a dependable choice.
