Kia Sportage road tests and consumer car reviews

Kia Sportage GSE 2012

I have the Sportage 3 (GSE in Ireland) for two weeks now. I find it excellent. Really smart looker. Gets lots of very positive comments. It handles really well, plenty of zip from 1.7 Diesel engine. Spec is excellent too. Previously had an X5 and spec is way ahead of it. Very economical at about 45 - 50mpg do far. Dealers here cannot keep them stocked due to huge demand.

Kia Sportage KX2 2011

We have just bought a new KX2 model Sportage, having had a Freelander for seven troublesome years. The Sportage is smooth and comfortable to drive and comes with an extensive standard kit including part leather, cruise control, electric windows and full panoramic sunroof. You would pay another £10,000 for a similar spec’d Freelander. But the icing on the cake has to be the 7 year warranty, something you would need with the Freelander. So far the car is economical at about 42 mpg on average and the engine isn’t even run in. The only criticism is that the seats are very low; the driver’s can be raised but not the passengers and the back seats are very low for our kids, although they don’t seem to mind as they love the large sunroof. The car has been admired by all with whom We have come into contact. Kia’s new ex-Audi designer is certainly doing the business in terms of looks. The Sportage is by far the smartest looking small 4x4 in this class. We would thoroughly recommend it and the dealer in Milton Keynes from where we bought it. Great people to deal with and they made it worth my while to travel from N.Ireland to buy one, rather than locally.

Kia Sportage 2.0 CRDi XS 2010

I have now clocked 13,000 miles and I love this car. Fuel consumption is consistant mid to high 30’s but dips to 25mpg when towing a caravan at 60 mph. Seats are comfortable and controlls are easy to use. It is sure footed in the snow and despite a severe winter I never got stuck. I have no tyre wear problems which other drivers have reported. Only critisism is it could use a 2.2 litre engine as it is a bit low on torque for towing.

Kia Sportage 1.7 2wd 2011

Bought this car new near end of March 2011 and I love it, although it’s been back to dealer to have the reversing sensors fixed twice in one week. some of the interior is a bit plasticy, steering is a bit light and rear door window quite high but you do get used to it, 7 year parts and labour warranty is a good selling point, lets hope I don’t need it, before this I had a LR Freelander 1 54 plate and that was a pile of rubbish, lived in the garage as it went wrong almost weekly. When I bought the Sportage it was a toss up whether to get that or a Ford Kuga but Kuga was dearer and had very slightly less spec so went for the Kia. Kia is owed by Hyundai and I’ve had 3 of them and really rated them so hopefully I won’t be disappointed. Also with fuel priced going through the roof this model you get 47 round town almost 60 on a run , combined nearly 55mpg so well cheap to run and only £110 per year road tax. Only bad point so far has been the dealership as the service dept seem rather inept but time will tell.

Kia Sportage 2009

Good value 4x4 except rear tyres wear from outside to in at only 15,000 miles and have become illegal at this mileage.

Responses to this review

I have the same problem with tyres wearing down. I’ve had it since new. Told dealer and got a lot of change front to back. "It’s not the car", that was the first thing that came out his mouth so what about the 7 year warranty? Anybody got the same problem? Please reply - Robert Jamieson from West Lothian (Linlithgowshire)

Kia Sportage 1.7CRDi 3 Eco Sat Nav 2WD 2010

In the current climate of utility it’s nice to leaven pure practicality with a punch of pleasure. So, as sports utility vehicles tend more towards utility and away from the ’sport’ it’s gratifying to discover a manufacturer that doesn’t baulk at giving sport its rightful place at the head of the queue. Have Kia sprung into the sporting utility arena with the new Sportage? Is it as the name suggests - both ’sporting’ and ’of its time’? Putting it through its paces is the only sure fire way of finding out. In appearance it has a pugnacious presence, has the height advantage buyers of this sort of vehicle crave and combines with this with the surefooted poise, which certainly conveys a sense of a vehicle that’s ready to pounce. Strikingly modern looking, the new Sportage certainly has a visual impact to equal the offerings from so-called ’premium marques’. With a bit of badge swapping you’d be hard pressed to rationalise why they cost twice as much as this Kia. It’s about time that the public were made aware that there is still value to be had in motoring if only they could see past the marketing ’blather’ and the facile criticisms levelled by some pseudo motoring programmes. A sensible marketing strategy is to pitch at both two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive markets and Kia have wisely done this. The Å�22,570 2WD 114bhp 1.7 CRDi 3 Sat Nav tested, which will run to a top speed of nearly 110mph and which offers an economy of about 52/53 mpg (Helped, no doubt, by the intelligent ’stop-start’ system) is ideally suited for most urban and suburban buyers, whereas the 2.0litre petrol or 2.0litre diesel variants with 4WD do everything that everyone expects from a multi-purpose, all traction vehicle. Attractively priced throughout the whole range (£16,645 to £25,195) the Sportage certainly seems to tick all the marketing boxes. Having driven the 2WD variant, if not up and down the entire length of our fair land, then long enough and far enough to form a firm opinion that everything is ’tickety boo’. It’s quiet at all speeds and cruises effortlessly with minimal road, wind and mechanical noise - and the lively, torquey and responsive diesel engine is a gem, making the Sportage a reasonably nippy point to point vehicle. It rides well too and handles responsively, with quick and positive steering, feeling like a much more expensive vehicle than it really is. For the driver there’s ample room, ample comfort, good visibility and plenty of those nice little touches which are like a mental pat on the back when driving. Air con is on tap at the touch of a button and lovely seats adjust to conform to every possible vagary of the anatomy. There’s plenty of foot room and plenty of elbow-room even for the generously proportioned. For the passengers there is comfort and space aplenty, bolstered by the confidence inspiring sense of being transported in a sturdy machine backed up by a seven-year warranty. Safer, one might say, than many of the hastily built houses that encroach upon our green space. And regarding green issues, there is no need to concern the conscience with emission figures, as the ones produced by this vehicle are just 143/g/km. Indeed, the only danger to the environment posed by this Kia is the heat given off by neighbours turning green with envy - because at the wheel of the Sportage you don’t feel aspirational: you feel as if you have arrived, which you have in more than one sense. I’m itching to try the 4x4 variant, but in all honesty, there was very little the 2WD couldn’t do with grace and confidence: everything seemed so comfortably within its compass. Would I like to own one myself? I have to say ’I certainly wouldn’t say no.’

Kia Sportage titan diesel 4WD 2008

Very pleased with the vehicle overall but the exception is the tyre wear on the rear wheels. They need replacing at 15K. Can’t understand why a front wheel drive (nominally) wears the back tyres out before the front! Most of the 15k has been on motorways with very little off road. Good fuel consumption though - a genuine 40+ mpg on a run at 70mph.

Responses to this review

Have just purchased one on 09 plate last weekend. Seems to be heavy on fuel, was filled up by the garage where I bought it on Saturday gone and I have done 173 miles and the tank is below the half full mark... You cannot fault the build quality and refinements - Andy from Dumfriesshire

Kia Sportage XS 2008

I can’t fault it. After 8000 miles there are no issues and no rattles. It has a good spec, inspires confidence in the worst of weather conditions and an unbelievable price.

Kia Sportage 2008

After one year of ownership and 7300 mile since new the two rear tyres show excessive wear. According to Parks of Hamilton, my main dealer they have checked the suspension, tracking, balance, and 4 wheel drive and all are in order. The tyres have never been over inflated . Has any one experienced this problem or know what the problem can be?

Responses to this review

My dielsel sportage was bought new 09, it completly ruined its back tyres at 11k miles. The front ones are hardly worn, bearing in mind that its 4wd smart system uses mainly its front wheels and I don’t go off road or drive furiously. It also jumps slightly when accelerating or coming to a stop. Its fuel consumption is poor i.e 31-34 mpg and the back axle now has developed a pleasant whine. My two local Kia main dealers did not know positively which were the principle drive wheels, i had to request this info from kia customer services. They did, however, adjust its rear wheel tracking at a high cost, which I paid for. All in all it’s a nice car and has many good features. The car is now booked in at the dealers where I bought it, but it is some distance away - George Simpson from Yorkshire

Similar problem with tyres - rear tyres had to be replaced at 13,000 miles. Told by tyre company that original tyres fitted by Kia were cheap tyres to bring cost down. New tyres have done 4,000 miles and show no wear so far - H Cunningham from Dumfriesshire

My rear tyres lasted 19k on my 09 XS 4x4. According to my local dealer this wear is ’a characteristic of the vehicle’ and requires no adjustment. They recommend rotating the tyres every 10k or so to get max life. 4x4 owners note: all 4 tyres must have the same lvel of tread or the ’intelligent’ system doesn’t work properly. This has been my only issue with this car, everything else is spot on. I rate it much higher than the Toyota RAV4 I traded for it! - Nellie from Cumberland

I was interested to read about the unusual excessive wear to the rear tyres. I too needed new rear tyres before new front, at around 15,000 miles too. I have used 4 WD very rarely, although find when it is engaged it crabbs a bit when turning. Never had the same problem with Land Rovers or Nissans for that matter. Apart from that the car is pretty good - Juliette Rymer Cooper from Devon

Kia Sportage XS 2006

Can’t fault this car, I smile when I drive it, lots of room and plenty of extras in the XS version. Lots of room for a family of 4 and dog and handles well on the town roads. I have the 2 litre petrol version and seems OK on MPG - about 35. Nice to drive and nice to look at with a nice price tag.

Kia Sportage 2.0 CRDi XE 5dr 2006

We needed a new car that had some off road capability but didn’t need to be able to takle the north face of the Eiger. I’ll admit it’s not the best looking car on the road but it’s decent to drive, has masses of space for three kids, two dogs and all the usual paraphernalia that goes with them. The big bonus with this car is the price, I think Kia have a done a good job to produce a car with a good level of performance and comfort for people on a budget. Not a car that you’ll fall in love with but one that you can rely on.

Responses to this review

I have owned my Sportage nearly 3 years and I agree with all the reports on it EXCEPT fuel consumtion, no matter what I do the best I can achive is 25 mpg. I have been back to the garage several times only to be told that nothing is wrong with it. The garage I deal with is excellent, nothing is to much trouble for them. Iwill buy KIA again but not the sportage - Kevin Westbury from Lincolnshire

Kia Sportage Kia Sportage 2.0 CRDi XS

This is an awful lot of car the money. I’ve only had my Sportage for two months but I am seriously impressed with the performance and running costs. Having considered Toyota and Nissan as well as Kia I am very pleased with the choice that I’ve made.