Kia Sportage review

It’s easy to get lost in the crowded world of family SUVs but the Kia Sportage looks equipped to stand out at the front of the pack.

The Sportage has dramatic styling in line with the firm’s fully electric Kia EV6 – a previous What Car? Car of the Year winner – and there's plenty of substance behind those boomerang-shaped headlights.

Let's start with the engines. They're all petrols and come with some form of hybrid assistance to improve efficiency and reduce emissions. There’s a regular hybrid and a plug-in hybrid, and all entry-level engines now get mild-hybrid tech (before a 2024 update it was limited to automatic versions).

Kia Sportage video review

Kia has given the Sportage a competitive starting price too. The cheapest version undercuts the Hyundai Tucson as well as the Ford Kuga, Honda ZR-V, Mazda CX-5 and Renault Austral. That puts it in close competition with the Nissan Qashqai, Seat Ateca and Skoda Karoq – all of which are seriously compelling cars.

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

Our favourite engine for the Kia Sportage is the entry-level one, the 157bhp 1.6-litre T-GDi, which comes with a six-speed manual gearbox. You can also have the same engine with a seven-speed automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive (AWD).

Both mild-hybrids (MHEVs) take 9.8 seconds to get from 0-60mph and there’s lots of punch for everyday driving, with enough mid-range muscle for overtaking or getting up to motorway speed.

However, it might be worth looking at the regular hybrid (HEV) if you crave more power, as it benefits from an additional electric motor, resulting in a combined output of 212bhp. Unless you choose the top-spec AWD GT-Line S, the power is directed to the front wheels, for a 0-60mph time of 8.4 seconds. The AWD takes a touch longer, at 8.7 seconds.

The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) comes with AWD 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 closely related 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 version 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 the 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. If you want something a little more rewarding to drive, 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 Terrain mode to boost traction when driving in mud, snow or sand.

The quietest Sportage in the line-up is the PHEV: its ability to run on electricity alone makes it hushed on shorter commutes. The HEV isn’t as impressive but can still whisper along over short distances in town and in stop-start traffic.

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

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

However, the brakes on regular and plug-in hybrid Sportages can be a little grabby due to the regenerative braking system. That said, we’ve driven hybrids with more abrupt brakes.

“I found the full hybrid version of the 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 it’s perfectly adequate, with sharp graphics clearly displaying info such as range, economy and driving assistance features.

Models in mid-spec 3 trim and above come with a larger 12.3in display with a variety of layouts to choose from. The animated graphics are smooth and clear with a high level of contrast and the screen itself sits in line with the main infotainment touchscreen with a long, 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 as standard on 3 models and above. The 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.

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

All models get automatic LED headlights and auto wipers to improve visibility in poor conditions.

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 systems in the BMW X1 and Mazda CX-5 have rotary dial controllers, which make them less distracting to use.

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

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 interior feels solidly put together, with well-damped switches, a good range of materials used, 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. It's a step above the equivalent Hyundai Tucson but doesn't quite reach the premium heights of the BMW X1 and Volvo XC40.

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

“I like the intelligently designed centre console, which has plenty of storage space including a generously sized bin under the centre armrest – perfect for keeping a bag of sweets for longer journeys.” – George Hill, Staff Writer

The Kia Sportage feels quite airy for front-seat occupants, with a wide interior providing plenty of elbow room.

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

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.

The Sportage has a generous amount of space in the back compared with most family SUV rivals, with enough leg, head and elbow room to make two tall adults comfortable. There’s also plenty of space to tuck your feet under the front seats, and the outer rear seats are heated on 3 and GT-Line S models.

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

All models 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 (rather than the usual 60/40 arrangement) for added flexibility. All models have handy 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, Ford Kuga and 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, Honda ZR-V and Nissan Qashqai but behind 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 HEV’s flat floor lies flush with the boot opening, so it's easy to slide bulkier items in and out without a load lip to contend with. If you need to access the shallow storage area underneath, the floor can be flipped up and latched on to the base of the parcel shelf to keep it in place.

“Long and deep, the Sportage’s boot is usefully bigger than rivals such as the Honda ZR-V and Renault Austral – and it has more underfloor space than those, too. Its ability to carry eight carry-on suitcases made it perfect for a recent early-morning airport run.” – Stuart Milne, Digital Editor

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

The MHEV and HEV versions cost more, but remain competitive, priced just above the Tucson but below an equivalent Peugeot 3008. Better still, the Sportage is predicted to have stronger resale values than the Tucson. The PHEV places itself between the slightly above the Kuga PHEV and alongside the Tucson PHEV.

If you're looking for the lowest possible company car tax rate, the PHEV is your best choice of Sportage. With its CO2 output of 25g/km and 43 mile electric-only range, the PHEV sits in the lowest benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax band out of all the versions of the Sportage. As with other plug-in hybrids, you’ll need to keep the 13.8kWh battery charged up as often as possible to maximise fuel economy.

The 1.6 T-GDi 230 HEV is pretty frugal, clocking up to 51.4mpg in official testing, dipping to 45.6 with the four-wheel-drive (AWD) version. 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 and GT-Line S. Our favourite 3 trim is tempting because of its heated front and rear seats (they’re electrically adjustable up front), a 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 came an impressive eighth out of 32 manufacturers in our 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey. That’s above Seat and Volvo but below Hyundai, which took seventh place. 

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 directly compare the two car’s scores 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.

If that’s not enough, going for 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 Sportage, in mild hybrid, full hybrid and plug-in hybrid guises, is satisfyingly economical, but I'd recommend taking a look at the Kia Niro EV, EV6 or EV9 if you want a fully-electric Kia.” – Steve Huntingford, Editor

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