Kia Sportage review

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. For a start, there’s a spacious interior and a wide range of trim levels to suit all budgets.

Plus, all the engines come with some form of hybrid assistance to improve efficiency and reduce emissions (you can have a mild hybrid, a regular hybrid or a plug-in hybrid).

Kia Sportage video review

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 close competition with the super-popular Nissan Qashqai, the fun-to-drive Seat Ateca and the impressively practical Skoda Karoq.

Read on to find out how the Kia Sportage ranks against the best family SUVs...

Our favourite engine for the Kia Sportage is the entry-level one, the 157bhp 1.6-litre T-GDi mild-hybrid (MHEV), which comes with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard. You can also have it with a seven-speed automatic gearbox.

The manual version takes 9.9 seconds to get from 0-62mph and there’s lots of punch for everyday driving, with enough mid-range muscle for overtaking or getting to motorway speed. The automatic cuts the sprint time to 9.4 seconds.

If you crave more power, it's worth looking at the 212bhp Sportage HEV, which is a regular hybrid and can drive for short distances on electricity alone. It accelerated from 0-60mph in 7.1 seconds in our tests, which is slightly slower than a Hyundai Tucson Hybrid but still punchy enough.

The only slight frustration is that the HEV's standard six-speed automatic gearbox can be quite slow to change down when you plant your foot to accelerate. Most versions of the HEV have front-wheel drive, but if you go for the AWD GT-Line S you get all-wheel drive.

The Sportage PHEV (plug-in hybrid) has an official electric-only range of up to 40 miles (depending on trim level), comes with all-wheel drive as standard and offers even more power – 248bhp – but its pace isn't that different to the HEV's. For maximum performance, you’ll need to twist the drive mode dial out of Eco and into Sport so the motor and engine work together.

The Sportage does a better job of rounding off potholes and ridges than the Hyundai Tucson and exhibits fractionally better body control than the Skoda Karoq.

It's not quite as comfy as a Volvo XC40 though – and that's most noticeable on models with big 19in alloy wheels fitted, and in the PHEV (which is heavier). The best-riding Sportage is the cheapest model: entry-level 2 trim comes with smaller 17in wheels and big, balloon-like tyres.

The Sportage is a great motorway companion – riding over undulations very well and feeling settled at speed – as is the well-controlled Honda ZR-V.

The Sportage has never been a contender for the best-driving family SUV but the current model’s cornering abilities are more than good enough. There's quite a bit of lean in corners but grip is plentiful and the precise steering helps you place the car exactly where you want it.

We reckon the Sportage’s balance of composure and comfort will be a well-judged compromise for most, and it's a little tidier to drive than the Hyundai Tucson. If you want something a little more rewarding, we’d recommend taking a look at the Ford Kuga and Seat Ateca.

Depending on which spec you go for, the Sportage has up to three driving settings: Eco, Normal and Sport. Eco is the most relaxed choice for everyday driving, with the lightest steering weight and a softer accelerator response to maximise fuel economy. The heavier steering weight in Sport mode helps you place the Sportage more accurately on the road.

Four-wheel-drive models come with an additional mode, called Terrain, to improve traction when driving on mud, snow or sand.

The quietest Sportage in the line-up is the PHEV: its ability to run on electricity makes it hushed on shorter commutes. The HEV is less impressive but can still whisper along over short distances in town and in stop-start traffic with hardly any electric motor whine.

The MHEVs are not as hushed because they can’t run on electricity alone, but the stop-start system is smooth and you barely hear or feel the engine firing up. On versions with a manual gearbox, the vague clutch pedal means setting off smoothly from stationary can initially take some time. Otherwise the gearbox is light and accurate to use.

There’s a fraction more wind noise on motorways in the Sportage than you get in a Volvo XC40 but it’s still relatively hushed and there’s a lot less road noise than you hear in the Honda ZR-V. You’re not punished with a harsh-sounding engine note when you’re pressing on either.

The brakes on HEV and PHEV 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 pedal response.

“I found the full-hybrid Kia Sportage has a tendency to fire up its petrol engine a little too eagerly compared with similar versions of the Honda ZR-V and Renault Austral.” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

The Kia Sportage's interior looks smart and uncluttered, with controls that are grouped together and easy to find.

Entry-level 2 and GT-Line models come with a slightly smaller 11in digital driver's display. It’s pretty basic and limited in terms of configurability, but still perfectly adequate, with sharp graphics clearly displaying your speed, fuel economy and driving assistance features.

Models in mid-spec 3 trim and above come with a larger 12.3in display with a variety of lay-outs to choose from. The animated graphics are smooth and clear with a high level of contrast. The screen sits in line with the infotainment touchscreen in a curved housing that stretches halfway across the dashboard.

It’s very easy to find a comfortable driving position in the Sportage, and there's enough adjustment to cater for most people. There’s also plenty of steering-wheel adjustment, and lumbar support for the driver is offered on all but the entry-level model, with electric adjustment on GT Line models and above.

The seat's firm bolstering is supportive for longer journeys, and GT-Line models have suede that helps grip you in place when cornering.

You get decent levels of forward visibility from the Sportage driving seat. The large side mirrors help with rear vision, but the slightly narrow rear screen with thick rear pillars can make it harder to judge the car's rear corners in a tight spot.

All versions come with a rear-view camera plus front and rear parking sensors. Top-spec GT-Line S models add a 360-degree camera, while the HEVs and PHEVs in that trim also include a remote parking system controlled by the key fob.

All models get automatic LED headlights, for improved visibility in the dark, and automatic windscreen wipers.

All versions of the Sportage get a 12.3in infotainment touchscreen with sat-nav, DAB radio, Bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple Carplay. The 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 dial controller, which makes it 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 set-up 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 port built in for rear passengers to use.

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.

All versions have a leather-trimmed steering wheel, with a flat-bottomed one on sportier GT-Line versions.

In terms of overall interior quality, the Sportage is on a par with the equivalent Hyundai Tucson but doesn't quite reach the premium heights of a Range Rover Evoque or Volvo XC40.

“I like the Kia Sportage's intelligently designed centre console, which has plenty of storage space, including a generously sized bin under the centre armrest.” – George Hill, Used Car Writer

The Kia Sportage feels quite airy for front-seat occupants, with a wide interior providing plenty of elbow room. The higher console between the seats creates a slightly cosier feel than in many rival family SUVs.

Leg and head room are impressive, and while the panoramic sunroof that comes as standard on GT-Line S trim reduces head room a little, there's still enough clearance for anyone over 6ft.

Storage is generous, with 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 gearlever. There's a good-sized glovebox.

There's a generous amount of space in the back of the Sportage compared with most family SUVs, with a touch more leg room than in a Hyundai Tucson and enough head and elbow room to make two tall adults comfortable.

There’s plenty of space to tuck your feet under the front seats, and the outer rear seats are heated on 3 trim and above. A middle passenger will have to sit with their legs straddling a hump on the floor, but that’s also the case in a Tucson.

The panoramic roof, if fitted, compromises head room in the back, and anyone taller than 6ft will brush their head against the roof unless they lean to the centre. Thankfully, it doesn’t come as standard on our preferred 3 trim.

All Sportages get pockets on the backs of the front seats, as well as two coat hooks and a fold-down centre rear armrest that houses two cupholders. The rear doors can hold a drinks bottle, but they open wide enough to create a large, almost square access area that is useful for loading children into their child seats.

The rear seats in the Sportage split in a 40/20/40 arrangement, giving you more flexibility than cars with 60/40 split seats. All versions have levers in the wall of the boot that you pull to make the seat backs drop down.

The rear seats can recline to allow passengers to lean back, but you can't slide them back and forth – as you can in the Audi Q3, the Ford Kuga and the Renault Austral – or remove them, like in a Skoda Karoq with the VarioFlex option.

The MHEV versions of the Sportage have 562 litres of boot space, which is more space than in the Ford Kuga, the Honda ZR-V and the Nissan Qashqai but less than in a non-hybrid Hyundai Tucson.

The HEV has 587 litres while the PHEV has 540. Those are still big numbers by class standards, and we managed to fit eight carry-on suitcases below the parcel shelf of a Sportage HEV, putting it well ahead of the ZR-V and Austral (six cases) and on a par with the Tucson.

All that means the Sportage should have no trouble handling your family's holiday luggage. The latest version of the HEV comes with a height-adjustable boot floor, which sits flush with the boot opening in its highest setting 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 Kia Sportage’s long, deep boot is usefully bigger than the Honda ZR-V and Renault Austral boots, 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

The Kia Sportage MHEV's price undercuts the Ford Kuga, the Honda ZR-V, the Hyundai Tucson, the Mazda CX-5 and the Renault Austral. Meanwhile, it's similarly priced to the Nissan Qashqai, the Seat Ateca and the Skoda Karoq.

The Sportage HEV costs more, but remains closely priced to an equivalent Hyundai Tucson. 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 PHEV costs slightly more than a Kuga PHEV and a similar amount to the Tucson PHEV.

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 but in the Sportage range the PHEV is the cheapest option. As with other plug-in hybrids, you’ll need to keep the 13.8kWh battery charged up as much as possible to maximise fuel economy.

The Sportage HEV is pretty frugal, achieving 44.6mpg on our real-world fuel economy test, which is almost identical to the Tucson Hybrid’s 44.4mpg figure achieved on the same day. The MHEV, meanwhile, is a bit thirstier, but close to 40mpg is easily achievable if the trip computer is to be believed.

The Sportage is not the cheapest family SUV of its size but at least all models are well equipped, with the entry-level 2 model coming with 17in alloy wheels, cruise control, dual-zone climate control and an electronic parking brake.

From there, the range moves up to the sportier GT-Line before working up to 3, Shadow (a limited edition model) and GT-Line S. Our favourite 3 trim is tempting because of its heated front and rear seats (they’re electrically adjustable up front), heated steering wheel, keyless ignition, rear privacy glass and, if you have the automatic gearbox, adaptive cruise control.

The GT-Line S combines sporty looks with all the kit but pushes the price up to the point where it’s far too high to recommend. What’s more, because it comes with a panoramic roof, it’s worth sitting in one just to check rear head room is adequate before you buy.

Kia as a brand finished 11th out of 31 manufacturers in our 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey. That’s one below Hyundai but just above Volvo and Skoda.

For added peace of mind, the Sportage comes with a seven-year Kia warranty. While Toyota gives you up to 10 years, you won’t get such a long warranty with the main rivals – the closest is Hyundai’s five years.

When it was tested for safety by Euro NCAP, the Sportage was awarded the full five stars and scored well in all areas.

The Tucson scored near identical scores in all safety categories but it’s hard to compare the two car’s scores directly because they were tested in different years and the tests become progressively more stringent.

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 blind-spot monitoring, which displays a live feed from cameras mounted on the door mirrors as you indicate, and parking collision avoidance to the standard equipment list.

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

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