Is the Kia Sportage a good car?

Chances are, if you’ve been looking for a reliable and practical family SUV, you’ll have stumbled upon the Kia Sportage.

Either that or you will have seen one on the roads and wondered whether it would be a good fit for you.

In fact, the Sportage regularly makes an appearance in the UK’s monthly, quarterly and annual lists of the most popular cars, and for good reason.

With so many of these finding themselves at home on driveways up and down the country, what exactly is the appeal of the Kia Sportage?

Are Kia Sportage good cars?

‘Good’ is a very subjective way of describing a vehicle, but we think the Kia Sportage should wear that title with pride as it's one of the best Kia cars on the market.

Many buyers will be attracted to its warranty, which covers the vehicle for seven years or 100,000 miles – whichever comes first.

Only Toyota and Lexus offer more than this after they launched their 10-year warranties in 2021.

Kia is also the maker of some of the most reliable cars you can buy today, with other popular models including the larger Sorento SUV and Ceed family hatchback.

All versions of the Sportage available on cinch have been awarded a full five-star rating by Euro NCAP, with strong performance in the child protection category – further testament to this car’s family-oriented nature.

Is Kia Sportage a good SUV to buy?

The Sportage is one of the best Kia SUVs to buy for many different reasons.

Typically, buyers of SUVs value the large car dimensions, such as the rear legroom that makes them good for getting children in and out. The Sportage’s rear doors also open nice and wide, so fitting bulky child seats shouldn’t be too much hassle.

The raised ride height is another plus, offering a good view of the road ahead and those pesky kerbs around your favourite drive-through.

The Sportage is also renowned as an SUV with a big boot, with 2021-onwards models measuring up to 591 litres and pre-2021 models having 491 litres of space. For reference, a typical family hatchback like a Volkswagen Golf might have around 350-400 litres of space.

The Kia Sportage also serves well as a multi-purpose vehicle. It’s just as happy doing the school run as it is trundling across a muddy field or towing a caravan – so long as you choose the right engine and setup.

Kia Sportage 2016-2021

This version, also known as the fourth-generation Sportage, was a pretty eye-catching offering when it went on sale. Back when it was launched, most SUVs were pretty bland and practical, but the Sportage added real flair to the segment.

Regardless of trim level, every Kia Sportage is well equipped, with top models getting some really luxurious car tech like heated and cooled seats, an electrically-operated boot, and a 360-degree parking camera.

There are endless configurations available beyond trim levels, including front- and four-wheel-drive versions with both manuals and smooth-shifting automatics available.

Drivers keen to turn their backs on diesel power can pick from a choice of 1.6-litre petrol engines with different power outputs, but unfortunately there were no hybrid options for this generation.

Diesel power came from 2.0-litre engines good for towing heavy loads or a 1.7-litre unit geared towards ultimate economy – this was replaced by a 1.6-litre mild hybrid diesel in its later years.

Kia Sportage 2021-present

Another interesting-looking SUV, the fifth-generation Sportage is actually Kia’s best-selling car in its current lineup.

This generation is also covered by an admirable seven-year/100,000-mile warranty, and continues to perform well in reliability tests.

Engine choice is a lot simpler, because all models use a 1.6-litre engine.

With this generation, buyers can choose from petrol, diesel, regular hybrid, or plug-in hybrid drivetrains.

The hybrids are pretty punchy, but you’ll have to drive more cautiously in order to get anywhere near the maximum 252mpg figure for the PHEV.

Take a look at our Kia Sportage review to get all the details on this fan-favourite SUV.

Kia Sportage vs. rivals

If your heart is set on a Kia, you may also want to consider the Sorento SUV.

It’s a large, seven-seat model that has, for a long time, been available with a punchy 2.2-litre diesel engine.

More recently, buyers have been able to choose the same 1.6-litre hybrids as the Sportage, but don’t expect sky-high mpg figures – the Sorento is a heavy beast.

If you prefer the smaller size of the Sportage, the Hyundai Tucson is well worth looking at.

Because Hyundai owns Kia, the Tucson and Sorento share many of the same mechanical parts.

All that really sets them apart are their distinctive looks and Hyundai’s five-year, unlimited mileage warranty – is duration or distance more important to you when buying a car?

You might also want to look at the Ford Kuga, which takes a similar approach by offering petrol, diesel, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid options.

We think it’s just as stylish, but it only gets a three-year/60,000-mile warranty.

If you want to stick to a small Kia model, there are plenty of options that will float your boat, from the Rio to the Picanto.