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Kia Sportage Review | VIP Gateway

Posted by: VIP Gateway, 15th Aug 2023

Kia Sportage Review

The third generation of this mid-sized family SUV brought it to a new level of recognition in the UK and the fourth generation built on this reputation. Now, the fifth generation has taken another step forward. Its innovative and impactful design captures the imagination. The most recent iteration of the Sportage is also more efficient and has a better drive.

With competitors like the Hyundai Tucson, Nissan Qashqai and Suzuki S Cross, the Kia Sportage has a lot of mid-range SUVs to compete with.

If you’re looking to buy or lease a Kia Sportage, you should know what to expect. Read our review for insights into the design, tech, running costs, safety, and reliability to help you decide if the Sportage is the right choice for you.

Kia Sportage overview

The spec details for the Kia Sportage are listed in the table below. This table is an overview and exact details depend on the individual trim.

RRP across the range	£28,360 - £45,600
Available trim choices	10
Engine options	6
Fuel types available	Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid
Doors	5
MPG across the range	40.4 – 54.3
Body colour choices	Infra Red as standard Other options at additional cost (depending on trim): Yuka Steel Grey Fusion White Dark Penta Metal Phantom Black Blue Flame Lunar Silver Experience Green Lunar Silver with Black Roof Fusion White with Black Roof Experience Green with Black Roof

The Kia Sportage – your questions answered

We know how important it is for you to have the right information to make good buying and leasing decisions. So, we’ve collated some of the most asked questions about the Kia Sportage and provided the answers below.

Is Kia Sportage a good reliable car?

The fifth-generation Kia Sportage is a better drive than previous generations, and it’s more efficient. There are a number of powertrain options, and you have the choice of petrol, diesel, mild hybrid, and plug-in hybrid engines.

This version of the Sportage is a reliable rival for other mid-sized family SUVs such as the Volkswagen Tiguan, Nissan Qashqai, and Hyundai Tucson.

Does the Kia Sportage come in Electric?

The Kia Sportage doesn’t have a pure electric version. You have plug-in and hybrid options to choose from. If you prefer a pure electric vehicle, look at alternatives such as the Kia Niro.

Are there any problems with the Kia Sportage?

The Sportage is a well-made and reliable vehicle that has few reported faults in its fifth generation. The only main issues that have arisen are with non-engine electrics such as the sat-nav system, and the vehicle start up process.

Is it worth it to buy a Kia Sportage?

The Kia Sportage is a good-value purchase option. Prices start at £28,000 which compares favourably with rivals like the Ford Kuga. Although, you should be prepared for a significant hike in the price for the top-spec plug-in, at a starting price of £45,600.

Is the Kia Sportage good on fuel?

The miles per gallon (mpg)) for the Kia Sportage are respectable as you can see from the data in the table below.

Fuel type	Fuel efficiency
Petrol	40.4-44.1mpg
Diesel	51.4-54.3mpg
Hybrid	44.1-50.4mpg
PHEV	252mpg

Which Sportage has the best mpg?

The full hybrid model is the best option in terms of efficiency at 252mpg. However, it comes with a heavy purchase cost. Of your remaining options, you’ll get a slightly better mpg from diesel at 51.4-54.3.

Kia Sportage design, technology and running costs

We’ll make it easier for you to decide whether leasing or buying a Sportage is a good decision for you by reviewing the performance and driving experience for the vehicle. Keep reading to find out what to expect.

Performance and driving experience

The entry level engine for the Kia Sportage is a 148bhp 1.6-litre T-GDi, and it’s a good choice. You can choose the six-speed manual gearbox unless you want mild hybrid technology. If this is what you’re looking for, it’s available with a seven-speed automatic gearbox. In addition, you have the option of four-wheel drive (AWD).

Taking a look at what’s available higher up the range, the full self-charging hybrid has a 1.6-litre petrol engine with an electric motor. The result is a combined 226bhp to the front wheels with AWD available in the top-spec GT-Line S.

Digging deeper into what to expect when driving:

Trips around town are no problem and you can get around 40mph in electric mode for short periods of time.
Picking up speed when entering a motorway is smooth with the hybrid Sportage, although there’s significant engine drone as you’d expect from a hybrid vehicle.
Bumps and less than optimal surfaces can make for an unsteady ride for passengers.
This isn’t a sports car, despite the name, so don’t expect too much when cornering on twisty roads, although the grip isn’t too bad.

If you’re searching for a car that gets you to work and back, and is a good ride for daily life, the Kia Sportage meets expectations.

Running costs

This isn’t the super affordable ride it used to be, but the Kia Sportage is still a good option in terms of purchase cost, especially at Sportage '2' level. The purchase costs for the different trims and respective engines are outlined in the following table.

Trim	Engine	Cost
Sportage '2'	1.6 Turbocharged Petrol Manual	£28,360
Sportage 'GT-Line'	1.6 Turbocharged Petrol Manual	£31,560
Sportage 'GT-Line'	1.6 Turbocharged Petrol 48V Mild Hybrid DCT Automatic	£33,225
Sportage 'GT-Line Hybrid'	1.6 Turbocharged Petrol Hybrid Automatic	£35,270
Sportage 'GT-Line Plug-in Hybrid'	1.6 Turbocharged Petrol Plug-In Hybrid Automatic AWD	£40,400
Sportage '3'	1.6 Turbocharged Petrol Manual	£32,560
Sportage '3'	1.6 Turbocharged Petrol 48V Mild Hybrid DCT Automatic	£34,225
Sportage '3 Hybrid'	1.6 Turbocharged Petrol Hybrid Automatic	£36,270
Sportage 'GT-Line S'	1.6 Turbocharged Petrol 48V Mild Hybrid DCT Automatic	£38,425
Sportage 'GT-Line S'	1.6 Turbocharged Petrol 48V Mild Hybrid DCT Automatic AWD	£40,060
Sportage 'GT-Line S Hybrid'	1.6 Turbocharged Petrol Hybrid Automatic	£40,475
Sportage 'GT-Line S Hybrid'	1.6 Turbocharged Petrol Hybrid Automatic AWD	£42,075
Sportage 'GT-Line S Plug-in Hybrid'	1.6 Turbocharged Petrol Plug-In Hybrid Automatic AWD	£45,600

You also have affordable lease options such as our Kia Sportage Estate 1.6T GDi HEV GT-Line 5dr Auto deal. In addition, you need to factor in running costs which you can get an idea of from the fuel efficiency data in this table, as well as betting a better understanding of emissions.

	Economy	CO2 emissions
Petrol	40.4-44.1mpg	152g/km
Diesel	51.4-54.3mpg	138g/km
Hybrid	44.1-50.4mpg	129g/km
PHEV	252mpg	25g/km

You can see that plug-in hybrids are the cheapest to run, but they’re also the most expensive buying option. However, you get the benefit of low emissions if you want a company car. These reduced emissions get you a Benefit-in-Kind tax rating of 8%.

Maintenance is another significant cost to consider whether you buy or lease a Sportage. Each vehicle comes with a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty as standard. You can also invest in a Kia service plan with costs based on the details of your vehicle. To give you an idea of costs without this plan, you can expect to pay an average of around £1,600 for four services and four tyres over four years.

You’ll also need to consider insurance for your Kia Sportage. Be aware that trims fall within the 15-26 insurance groups.

Interior and tech

The interior is where the latest generation Sportage really comes into its own. You get a good look, practicality, and useful tech all in one place. The exact spec depends on which trim you opt for. Here are some standout facts across the range:

The basic spec Sportage 2 has a 4.2-inch dial display and an 8.0-inch central touchscreen.
You get the same driver display with the GT-Line, but the touchscreen is upgraded to 12.3”.
Higher specs include a dial display that’s the same size as the touchscreen.
There’s a separate climate control panel that can be a little tricky to operate on the move.
The steering assistance system is fussy and can be frustrating.
With mid and higher spec vehicles you get USB charge points for back seat passengers.

Space and comfort

The front seat storage in the Sportage has good points and not so good. The door bins and glovebox are average and the pockets on the doors are a bit too snug. However, you get more space in the centre console and there’s more storage under the armrest.

Moving to the back of the vehicle, there’s more than enough legroom and the headroom is sufficient too. You can easily fit three people in the back, but foot space is compromised by the seat runners for the front seats and the transmission hump.

If you want a car where’s there’s plenty of room for luggage, shopping bags, or pushchairs, the boot space will meet your needs. You get up to 587 litres or 1,780 litres if you fold the seats down. The figures are slightly less, at 540 litres and 1,715 litres for the PHEV.

Safety features and reliability

Every Sportage trim comes with safety assistance including:

Six airbags
Automatic emergency braking (AEB)
Lane keeping assistance
Trailer stability assist

Choose the top-spec GT-Line S trim and you get additional features including:

Blind spot monitoring
Parking collision avoidance

So, you’ll have no issues with safety of you and your family with any vehicle in the range.

Kia Sportage pros and cons

To give you an honest overview of what you can expect from the Kia Sportage, we’ve provided a list of the pro and cons below.

Pros	Cons
Cabin that looks smart and is well equipped	Steering is on the light side
Practical and spacious interior	PHEV option is pricey
Range of onboard tech	Climate controls are fiddly
Smooth hybrid system	Exterior styling divides the audience

The verdict

The fifth generation Sportage combines style with practicality. The styling of the exterior isn’t for everyone but it’s certainly bold, and you can’t fault the tech and safety features of the interior. You also get the space you’re looking for in a mid-sized family SUV.

If you’re willing to up the spec, you get additional features but even the base trim is a good choice in what is a crowded five-seat family crossover market. If you like the sound of the Kia Sportage, look at our leasing options throughout the range. You can also contact us if you need any more information or have any questions.

Compare the Kia Sportage against all of our special offer leasing deals and in stock special leasing deals.