Skip advert
Advertisement

Kia Sportage (2016-2021) review - Reliability and safety

The Sportage offers good safety kit, while the seven-year warranty is generous

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 Sportage is well stocked when it comes to safety features. All versions come equipped with ABS, stability control, a tyre pressure monitoring system, lane keeping assist and a speed limit detection system. Top spec versions add the likes of blind spot collision warning and autonomous emergency braking.

All Sportages are equipped with a reversing camera which should reduce the change of parking bumps, and front parking sensors are standard on all but the 2 trim level. Cruise control is also standard across the range, while the GT-Line S gets an adaptive system which can maintain a safe distance from the car ahead.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Euro NCAP has tested the Sportage and gave it a five-star safety rating when it was tested in 2015. The car was praised for its ability to protect passengers of all sizes in all seats and its side-on collision protection. It scored 71 per cent for its active safety assist technologies.

The Sportage achieved an impressive 13th-place finish out of 100 cars in our 2020 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, while 2021's 9th spot was even better. Kia itself finished 2nd out of 29 manufacturers in the Best brands poll - a repeat of its previous year's ranking.

Warranty

Just like all Kia models, the Sportage range is covered by one of the longest-lasting warranties available, lasting seven years or 100,000 miles (whichever comes first). You can also pass it on if you choose to sell your vehicle within the warranty terms.

Servicing

The service schedule for every Sportage variant is 12 months or 20,000 miles, which means bills shouldn’t be too high. You can fix the cost of servicing thanks to a package that Kia offers for the Sportage: the first three services are covered for £329 including VAT (with a maximum mileage limit of 11,000 per year), or the first five services for £609. This represents very good value for money and is definitely worth taking up.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

KIA Sportage

KIA Sportage

RRP £28,065Avg. savings £4,599 off RRP*Used from £12,495
MG MG4

MG MG4

RRP £27,005Avg. savings £10,454 off RRP*Used from £12,791
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £2,542 off RRP*Used from £11,795
Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £15,255Avg. savings £2,073 off RRP*Used from £8,450
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

AA and BSM driving schools under investigation over £3 booking fee

AA and BSM driving schools under investigation over £3 booking fee

The Competition and Markets Authority is looking at how the companies present mandatory fees to customers
News
18 Nov 2025
New Renault Trafic E-Tech van gets sci-fi looks and 280-mile range
Renault Trafic - front

New Renault Trafic E-Tech van gets sci-fi looks and 280-mile range

The production version of the new mid-sized Renault Trafic van has been revealed and it will hit showrooms later in 2026
News
18 Nov 2025
Mitsubishi is back! Japanese brand to return to the UK in 2026
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross cornering

Mitsubishi is back! Japanese brand to return to the UK in 2026

Five years after quitting the UK market, Japanese giant Mitsubishi Motors will be returning, thanks to IM Ltd
News
17 Nov 2025