Skip advert
Advertisement

Kia Sportage (2016-2021) review

The outgoing Kia Sportage is well-equipped, stylish and practical, making it a solid all-rounder for family buyers

Overall Auto Express rating

3.5

How we review cars
RRP
£29,890 £39,290
Avg. savings
£2,233 off RRP*
Pros
  • Well-equipped
  • Great infotainment system
  • Seven-year warranty
Cons
  • Not the most fun to drive
  • Thirsty petrol engines
  • Bland interior
Find your Kia Sportage
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

The Kia Sportage is a great all-round family SUV with a combination of good engines, strong build quality, a keen driving experience and plenty of interior space. Now in its fourth generation, the Sportage also boasts a unique look, up-to-date infotainment and decent value. Standard equipment is generous and Kia’s famous seven-year warranty only adds to the appeal.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Rivals like the Mazda CX-5 and Peugeot 3008 are better to drive and offer a more premium feeling package, but both carry much larger price tags; the Sportage stands as a good-value family SUV with much to recommend it.

About the Kia Sportage

The fourth generation Kia Sportage was launched in 2016, into a marketplace packed with more high quality rivals than any of its predecessors were ever forced to contend with. The seemingly unstoppable rise of the SUV/crossover class means Kia now pitches the Sportage against models as varied as the Hyundai Tucson, Nissan Qashqai, Ford Kuga, Renault Kadjar, Suzuki Vitara, Mazda CX-5 and SEAT Ateca.

Kia offers the Sportage for sale in two- and four-wheel drive guise as before. The engine lineup for the model range has been realigned, with a 1.6-litre petrol available in two power outputs and a same capacity diesel unit with mild-hybrid technology.

Visually, the latest Sportage has what it takes to turn heads in a fashionable sector, especially if you can afford a higher-spec model with the classier trim finishes. Trim levels have been streamlined to include 2, 3, GT-Line and GT-Line S variants and all are well equipped.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Sportage

2021 KIA

Sportage

36,020 milesManualPetrol1.6L

Cash £15,103
View Sportage
Sportage

2017 KIA

Sportage

47,590 milesAutomaticDiesel1.7L

Cash £13,403
View Sportage
Sportage

2023 KIA

Sportage

55,809 milesAutomaticPetrol1.6L

Cash £20,600
View Sportage
Sportage

2023 KIA

Sportage

15,092 milesManualPetrol1.6L

Cash £22,600
View Sportage

The now entry-level 2 equipment level brings 17-inch alloy wheels, heated leather seats, cruise control, dual-zone air-conditioning, and an eight-inch touchscreen with sat nav, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a reversing camera.

Paying extra for the 3 trim level nets you 19-inch alloys, a panoramic sunroof, electric adjustment for the front seats, a heated steering wheel and black exterior trim. GT-Line and GT-Line S variants add fancy extras like 19-inch alloy wheels, a power tailgate and an enhanced audio system.

Former Audi designer, Peter Schreyer, remains in charge of design at Kia and is responsible for the second-generation Sportage’s stylish look. In our opinion, there are hints of premium SUVs like the BMW X1, Volkswagen Tiguan and even – from some angles – the Porsche Cayenne in this design.

However, very few of the Sportage's rivals can get close to this Kia’s seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty that also applies to all models in the Kia line-up. Only the SsangYong Korando (seven years and 150,000 miles) and Toyota RAV4 (up to 10 years or 100,000 miles) beat Kia's generous offering.

If you're looking to buy a Kia Sportage, why not visit our Find a Car service for the latest deals...

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

KIA Sportage

KIA Sportage

RRP £28,065Avg. savings £2,233 off RRP*Used from £12,420
Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,415Avg. savings £5,568 off RRP*Used from £12,295
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,019 off RRP*Used from £13,895
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £1,831 off RRP*Used from £15,519
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New Volkswagen ID.3 Match 2025 review: attractive price boosts EV’s appeal
Volkswagen ID.3 Pure Match - front

New Volkswagen ID.3 Match 2025 review: attractive price boosts EV’s appeal

The value-focused Volkswagen ID.3 Match performs well and is easy to live with
Road tests
28 Apr 2025