The original Kia Sportage launched all the way back in 1995 as a small sport utility vehicle with a traditional and rugged body-on-frame chassis and solid off-road capabilities. It later morphed into a car-based crossover and eventually into the modern, best-selling SUV it is today. The Sportage is mechanically related to the Hyundai Tucson and competes with some of the most popular compact crossovers on the market, including the Ford Bronco Sport and Escape, the Honda CR-V, the Nissan Rogue, and the best-selling Toyota RAV4.
The 2025 Kia Sportage is offered with three powertrains. The traditional gasoline-fueled crossover is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. The Kia Sportage Hybrid features a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and one electric motor, for a combined output of 227 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Finally, the Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid boasts (deep breath) a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and a six-speed automatic transmission with a 66.9-kilowatt electric motor and a 13.8-kilowatt-hour lithium polymer battery pack. The PHEV’s powertrain spins out a combined 261 hp and 258 pound-feet of torque.
Kia Sportage Buying Guide: Cost, Reliability, and the Best Years to Buy
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Kia Sportage Pros and Cons
- Kia Sportage Generations
- Kia Sportage Fifth Generation (2023-Present)
- Kia Sportage Fourth Generation (2017-2022)
- Kia Sportage Third Generation (2011-2016)
- Kia Sportage Second Generation (2005-2010)
- Kia Sportage First Generation (1995-2002)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Kia Sportage years are the best?
The latest version of the Kia Sportage was introduced for the 2023 model year. According to CarComplaints, the 2023 Kia Sportage has had a few more complaints than the model it replaced, which makes sense considering it was redesigned and is therefore expected to go through some teething pains. We expect the 2024 and 2025 Sportage to have fewer problems than the 2023 edition.
The fourth-generation Kia Sportage produced from 2017 through 2022 was quite reliable by the time it ended production, with the 2019 and 2021 Sportage models standing out as trouble-free.
Of the third-generation Kia Sportages, the 2015 model has the fewest complaints. Both the first- and second-generation Kia Sportage proved generally reliable, though they are much less common on today’s roads than their newer siblings.
Repairpal.com applies a rating of four out of five stars for the second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-generation Sportage, but, as you’ll see in our next FAQ, that doesn’t mean there aren’t Sportage models to avoid.
What are the worst Kia Sportage years?
Although the 2017 Kia Sportage has the highest number of complaints, CarComplaints singles out the 2012 Sportage as one to avoid due to the severity of its problems. And we agree—“engine stopped working while driving” certainly qualifies as “really awful”. The 2013 Kia Sportage also had its fair share of engine failures.
The best bet is to avoid all 2012, 2013 and 2017 Kia Sportage models in their entirety. All three model years have had too many reports of engine failures to recommend.
Is a used Kia Sportage a good deal?
A used Kia Sportage from the fourth or fifth generation should cost buyers around $5,000 less than a comparable Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4. Considering that these Sportage models (excluding the 2017 version) have a solid reputation for reliability, they represent good deals for buyers. A lightly used 2024 Kia Sportage presents a strong value proposition, as the previous owner will already have taken the largest depreciation hit.
If you’re looking to spend as little as possible on a car with reasonably good reliability scores, a 2015 or 2016 Kia Sportage for around $10,000 might be the ticket.
Kia Sportage Pros and Cons
Pros
- Multiple powertrain options
- Stylish design
- Efficient hybrid in latest generation
Cons
- Underwhelming base engine
- Serious engine issues in some older models
- Interior materials feel cheap
Kia Sportage Generations
Kia Sportage Fifth Generation (2023-Present)
The fifth and current Kia Sportage generation debuted for the 2023 model year. There weren’t any major changes for the 2024 Kia Sportage and just a small number of packaging updates for 2025. The LX, EX, SX, and SX Prestige trim levels carried over from the previous version, and Kia added three new versions: X-Line, X-Pro, and X-Pro Prestige. The base Sportage LX gets cloth seats while SynTex seat trim, a leather alternative, comes in every other version. The Kia Sportage SX Prestige gets upgraded SynTex seat trim and the Kia Sportage X-Line and X-Pro get their own unique versions.
All-wheel drive was optional for the LX, EX and SX Prestige trim levels and came standard with the X-Line and X-Pro Prestige. Confusingly, AWD wasn’t available with the Kia Sportage SX. The Kia Sportage X-Line AWD featured some additional upgrades designed to improve its off-road performance, such as all-terrain tires and a bit more ground clearance. The X-Line AWD also included aggressive exterior appearance upgrades, roof rails and gloss black trim. Kia’s Multi-Terrain Drive Mode featured snow, mud, and sand settings.
All but the Sportage LX got heated front seats as standard, and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel came on the top two Prestige trim levels, along with memory functions for the driver’s seat and side mirrors. A panoramic sunroof was optional with EX and X-Line models, and standard with SX, SX Prestige and X-Pro Prestige. The X-Pro Prestige also got a heated windshield. The LX lacked dual-zone automatic Climate Control but all other Sportage models included it.
Standard equipment included Smart Key keyless entry with remote start and pushbutton start, a 12.3-inch touchscreen display running a modern infotainment system, and a matching 12.3-inch digital instrument display. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard along with Kia Connect, a smart connectivity system for Apple and Google smartphones, speakers, and watches. Digital Key 2.0, which allows compatible devices to be used as virtual keys, was standard with Kia Sportage SX Prestige and X-Pro Prestige models. Standard USB charging ports included one up front and two in the rear part of the center console, and all but the LX had additional charging ports for rear passengers.
The Kia Sportage LX came standard with 17-inch alloy wheels. The EX and SX get 18-inch alloy wheels while the Kia Sportage SX Prestige bumped those to 19 inches. The X-Line got its own unique 19-inch alloy wheels with black details and the X-Pro Prestige had matte black 17-inch wheels wearing all-terrain tires.
Standard driver assistance and safety features included Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian, Cyclist and Junction Turning Detection, Auto Emergency Braking Technology with Pedestrian Detection, Cyclist and Junction Turning Detection, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go, Driver Attention Warning with Leading Vehicle Departure Alert, and a Rear Occupant Alert system. Blind-Spot Collision Warning and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist were optional with the base LX but standard with all other trim levels. A Surround View Monitor, Blind-Spot View Monitor, Kia’s Rear Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist, and an upgraded Harman Kardon audio system were standard with Kia Sportage SX Prestige and X-Pro Prestige models and optional with the X-Line.
Kia’s Highway Driving Assist technology is designed to keep a set distance behind the vehicle ahead, and helps to center the car in its lane. It’s optional with X-Line models and standard on the SX, SX Prestige, and X-Pro Prestige trim levels.
In its most basic front-wheel drive guise, the 2026 Kia Sportage was estimated to get 25 miles per gallon in the city, 32 mpg on the highway and 28 mpg combined. All-wheel drive models got 23 mpg city, 27 mpg highway and 25 mpg combined. The Sportage Hybrid in base LX FWD trim got EPA fuel-economy ratings of 43 mpg combined (42 mpg city, 44 mpg highway), while AWD models were rated at 38 mpg across the board. The 2026 Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid got 34 miles of electric range, after which it was rated at 35 mpg combined.
The 2026 Kia Sportage carried an MSRP of $28,690 in LX trim (buyers paid $30,085 for the cheapest Sportage including a reasonable $1,395 destination fee), while all-wheel drive added $1,800. The X-Line started at $34,385 (including destination) and included AWD. The top-of-the-line 2026 Kia Sportage X-Pro Prestige costs $40,985.
As for the Sportage Hybrid, the base LX trim carried an MSRP of $30,290 (or $31,685 after destination). The Sportage Hybrid has a unique S trim level that added all-wheel drive and 18-inch alloy wheels for $33,985 (including destination), an EX trim level for $34,985 with SynTex seat trim and a smart power liftgate, an aggressive X-Line for $36,885 and a top-spec SX Prestige for $41,785.
The Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid started at $41,285 in X-Line trim or $45,785 in X-Line Prestige trim (there is no Sportage Plug-in Hybrid X-Pro Prestige). The Sportage Plug-in Hybrid features a standard advanced all-wheel drive system with a center locking system that can evenly distribute power front to rear. While it was the priciest Sportage, it was also the most advanced and the most powerful.
Kia Sportage Fourth Generation (2017-2022)
The fourth-generation Kia Sportage was in production from 2017 through 2022. For this generation, trim levels included LX, EX and SX, with front- or all-wheel drive and with either a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 181 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque or a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with as much as 240hp.
Standard specs included a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment screen in 2017, but that was upgraded to an eight-inch unit when the Sportage was refreshed for the 2020 model year. That may seem small today, but it was competitive when this version of the Sportage was released in 2017. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included with either size screen. Adaptive cruise control was added to the lineup in 2020, and only small changes were made to the Sportage after its 2020 update until the fifth-generation model was introduced in 2023.
One of the best qualities often cited by reviewers of the fourth-generation Sportage was its excellent ride quality. In our review of the 2022 Sportage, we wrote, “The ride is unexpectedly smooth and compliant, not unlike how the larger Kia Telluride feels as it glides over imperfect pavement. There is a hint of body roll and some lateral rocking over pavement undulations, but nothing excessive. The suspension tuning lends the Sportage a sophisticated driving character.”
Another positive attribute of this generation Kia Sportage is its spacious passenger compartment. There’s plenty of room in both the front and rear seats for four adults. Cargo space, on the other hand, is on the small side when compared to competitors such as the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4.
Another knock against the fourth-generation Sportage is below-average fuel efficiency. In base front-wheel drive form, the 2022 Sportage received a combined EPA estimate of 26 miles per gallon, which is four mpg worse than the CR-V and the RAV4. With the desirable turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive, the combined rating drops to 21 mpg.
Kia Sportage Third Generation (2011-2016)
Over the five years that the third-generation Kia Sportage was offered in America, it was sold at various times in four trim levels: Base, LX, EX and SX. A 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine came standard and offered 176 horsepower, and a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 260hp could be had in the top SX trim level. The base engine delivered up to 25 mpg combined (or 23 with AWD) while the high-power turbo was rated at up to 24 mpg combined (or 22 with AWD).
Unlike the smooth-riding fourth-generation model that replaced it, the third-generation Kia Sportage’s suspension was on the stiff side. While that improved handing feel, it meant the 2011-2016 Sportage wasn’t as comfortable on broken pavement as its peers.
It’s also worth noting that the interior of the third-generation Sportage wasn’t very spacious. There was passable room for four average adults, but cargo space is down by around 15 cubic feet compared to top rivals of the era, so those passengers better pack lightly.
Kia Sportage Second Generation (2005-2010)
The second-generation Kia Sportage was produced from 2005 through 2010. That meant there was no Sportage sold in the United States in 2003 or 2004, which is partly because Kia was focusing on its larger Sorento SUV at the time. Unlike the first generation, the reborn Sportage was based on a car platform, in this case shared with the Hyundai Tucson and based on the Hyundai Elantra compact sedan. With up to 67 cubic feet of space with the rear seat folded, the 2005-2010 Sportage offered an average amount of cargo-carrying capability for its class at the time.
A 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine came standard in the second-generation Kia Sportage LX, and the base engine’s 140 horsepower and 136 lb-ft of torque was adequate around town. Buyers who wanted more power could choose a 2.7-liter V6 that produced 173hp and 178 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed manual transmission was standard with the four-cylinder, and the base engine’s optional four-speed automatic was standard with the V6. Front-wheel drive was standard and all-wheel drive was optional.
By this time, Kia was becoming a well-known brand in the United States, and its generous 10-year powertrain warranty attracted plenty of attention.
Kia Sportage First Generation (1995-2002)
Kia was a fledgling manufacturer in 1995 when the first Sportage was released. First-generation Kia Sportage trim levels included a base version and an upgraded EX model. Much of the SUV’s chassis and powertrain were based on old Mazda designs, including the Sportage’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. With 130 horsepower and 127 lb-ft of torque, the Sportage wasn’t very quick. On the positive side, it proved reliable enough for Kia to gain a foothold in the American market.
A two-door soft top joined the four-door hardtop SUV in Kia showrooms, and both were offered in rear- or four-wheel drive form. What the first-generation Kia Sportage lacked in refinement, it made up for with a ruggedly handsome appearance and legitimate off-road capability.
