Kia Sportage review

Interior

Dashboard & tech

Inside the Sportage, the dashboard is logically laid out, though perhaps not as flashy as some competitors. Every model from this generation comes with a 7-inch touchscreen as standard (upgraded to 8 inches on higher trims), which includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This means you can easily connect your phone to use your favourite navigation and music apps.

All versions also get air conditioning, cruise control, a reversing camera, and a leather-trimmed steering wheel, which are great features to have on any car. As you move up the range, you can find luxuries like a premium JBL sound system, heated seats, and a wireless phone charging pad.

Comfort

The Sportage is designed with comfort in mind. The seats are supportive, making long journeys feel less tiring, and there’s plenty of adjustment for the driver to find the perfect position. Refinement is another strong point; the cabin is quiet at motorway speeds, and the suspension does a good job of soaking up bumps in the road.

While the standard models offer a cushioned ride, it’s worth noting that top-spec versions with large 19-inch alloy wheels can feel a bit firmer over potholes. Overall, though, it’s a relaxing car to travel in, whether you’re on the school run or heading off on a family holiday.

Quality

Kia has made huge strides in quality over the years, and the Sportage feels solid and well-assembled. The materials used throughout the cabin are generally of a high standard, especially on the main touchpoints like the steering wheel and gearstick.

While you might find some harder plastics lower down in the cabin, they feel durable and built to withstand the demands of family life. Higher-spec models add luxurious touches like leather upholstery and a panoramic sunroof, giving the interior a more premium feel.

Practicality & boot space

Interior space

For a mid-size SUV, the Kia Sportage is impressively spacious. There’s plenty of head and legroom for those in the front, and passengers in the back are well catered for too. Three adults can sit in the rear with a reasonable amount of comfort, which isn't always the case in this class.

There are two sets of Isofix points on the outer rear seats for securely fitting child seats. You’ll also find plenty of useful storage spots, including door bins, cupholders, and a decent-sized glovebox for all your bits and pieces.

Boot space

The Sportage offers a generous boot that’s more than capable of handling family life. With the rear seats in place, you get 491 litres of space, which is enough for the weekly shop, a couple of large suitcases, or a pushchair. If you need more room, the rear seats fold down in a 60/40 split, expanding the load area to 1,480 litres.

It’s worth noting that the mild-hybrid diesel model has a slightly smaller boot (439 litres) because the battery is stored under the boot floor. Even so, it remains a very practical car for its size.

Versatility

The Sportage is a versatile companion for daily life. Its high driving position gives you a great view of the road, and features like the standard reversing camera make parking much less of a chore. The decent ground clearance also provides a bit of extra confidence when dealing with speed bumps or rougher country lanes. While it might not have a clever 'Megabox' like the Ford Puma, the boot is a good, usable shape, and the split-folding rear seats provide the flexibility you need for carrying larger items.

Driving

Driving experience

The Sportage prioritises comfort and ease of use over sporty handling. It’s a very relaxing car to drive, with light steering that makes town driving and parking a breeze. On the motorway, it feels stable and composed, cruising quietly and comfortably for miles on end.

While it handles corners neatly with plenty of grip, it’s not as engaging or fun to drive as rivals like the SEAT Ateca. However, for most buyers in the market for a family SUV, its smooth ride and effortless nature will be exactly what they’re looking for.

Performance

The engine lineup for the 2018-2022 Sportage offers a good mix of petrol and diesel options. The most popular petrol is a 1.6-litre unit available in two forms: a 130bhp non-turbo version and a more powerful 174bhp turbocharged one. The non-turbo engine is fine for town driving, but the turbo feels much more capable on faster roads.

The diesels are a better choice for high-mileage drivers. A 1.6-litre diesel comes with either 114bhp or 134bhp and offers excellent fuel economy. The range-topper is a 2.0-litre diesel with a mild-hybrid system, producing 182bhp. This engine provides strong performance but is only available with an automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive. Both manual and dual-clutch automatic gearboxes are available on other engines.

Running costs

Fuel economy & CO2 emissions

Running costs for the Sportage are competitive, especially if you choose one of the diesel engines. The 1.6-litre diesel is the most efficient, capable of returning up to 57.6mpg on official figures, with CO2 emissions from 128g/km. The 2.0-litre mild-hybrid diesel offers around 48.7mpg.

The petrol engines are a bit thirstier. The 1.6-litre non-turbo engine manages around 39mpg, while the powerful 174bhp turbo version returns about 36.7mpg. Your annual Vehicle Excise Duty (car tax) will be a standard rate for most models.

Value for money

The Sportage represents excellent value. It’s competitively priced against its rivals, but what really makes it stand out is the amount of equipment you get as standard. Even the entry-level models are well-specified. Kia’s reputation for reliability and its industry-leading seven-year warranty from new also means that even used examples offer great peace of mind.

Reliability & Warranty

Kia has a brilliant reputation for reliability, and this is backed up by its seven-year/100,000-mile warranty on all new cars. This is transferable to subsequent owners, so a three-year-old Sportage could still have four years of manufacturer warranty left, which is more than many brand-new cars. This makes it a very reassuring used purchase.

Safety

Safety features

The Kia Sportage was awarded a full five-star safety rating by Euro NCAP when it was tested in 2015. It scored well for both adult and child passenger protection. However, it's disappointing that some of the more advanced safety aids weren't fitted as standard across the entire range on these 2018-2022 models.

All trims from ‘2’ upwards get lane-keep assist, high-beam assist, and a driver attention warning. You have to move up to higher specifications like 'Edition 25' or '4' to get autonomous emergency braking, which is a key safety feature. These top-tier models also come with blind-spot monitoring and a 360-degree camera.

Trims & Engines

Trim levels

The 2018-2022 Sportage was available in a wide range of trims, so there’s plenty of choice. The range kicks off with '1', which is impressively equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels, a 7-inch touchscreen, a reversing camera, and cruise control.

'2' trim adds 17-inch wheels, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, sat-nav, and some extra safety features. 'Edition 25' was a special model that offered fantastic value, adding kit like a JBL sound system and autonomous emergency braking.

The '4' trim level adds luxuries like leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, and 19-inch alloys. For a sportier look, there’s GT-Line, which gets unique 19-inch wheels, gloss black styling, and LED headlights. The top-of-the-range GT-Line S is packed with every feature you can think of, including ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, and an electric boot.

Engines

You have a choice of petrol and diesel engines in the Sportage. The petrol range consists of a 1.6-litre GDi (130bhp) and a punchier 1.6-litre T-GDi turbo (174bhp). The non-turbo is fine for everyday driving, while the turbo is better for those who regularly travel on motorways or with a full car.

For diesel, there’s a 1.6-litre CRDi engine in two power outputs (114bhp or 134bhp), which is a great choice for long-distance drivers thanks to its efficiency. The most powerful engine is the 2.0-litre CRDi mild-hybrid diesel (182bhp), which offers strong performance and comes with an automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive. You can find both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions, along with manual or automatic transmissions, depending on the engine and trim.

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