The original Kia Sportage launched all the way back in 1995 as a small sport utility vehicle with a traditional and rugged body-on-frame chassis and solid off-road capabilities. It later morphed into a car-based crossover and eventually into the modern, best-selling SUV it is today. The Sportage is mechanically related to the Hyundai Tucson and competes with some of the most popular compact crossovers on the market, including the Ford Bronco Sport and Escape, the Honda CR-V, the Nissan Rogue, and the best-selling Toyota RAV4.
The 2025 Kia Sportage is offered with three powertrains. The traditional gasoline-fueled crossover is powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder with 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. The Kia Sportage Hybrid features a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine and one electric motor, for a combined output of 227 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Finally, the Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid boasts (deep breath) a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine and a six-speed automatic transmission with a 66.9-kilowatt electric motor and a 13.8-kilowatt-hour lithium polymer battery pack. The PHEV’s powertrain spins out a combined 261 hp and 258 pound-feet of torque.
Kia Sportage Buying Guide: Cost, Reliability, and the Best Years to Buy
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Kia Sportage Pros and Cons
- Kia Sportage Generations
- Kia Sportage Fifth Generation (2023-Present)
- Kia Sportage Fourth Generation (2017-2022)
- Kia Sportage Third Generation (2011-2016)
- Kia Sportage Second Generation (2005-2010)
- Kia Sportage First Generation (1995-2002)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Kia Sportage years are the best?
The latest version of the Kia Sportage was introduced for the 2023 model year. According to CarComplaints, the 2023 Kia Sportage has had a few more complaints than the model it replaced, which makes sense considering it was redesigned and is therefore expected to go through some teething pains. We expect the 2024 and 2025 Sportage to have fewer problems than the 2023 edition.
The fourth-generation Kia Sportage, produced from 2017 through 2022, was quite reliable by the time it ended production, with the 2019 and 2021 Sportage models standing out as trouble-free.
Of the third-generation Kia Sportages, the 2015 model has the fewest complaints. Both the first- and second-generation Kia Sportage proved generally reliable, though they are much less common on today’s roads than their newer siblings.
Repairpal.com applies a rating of four out of five stars for the second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-generation Sportage, but as you’ll see in our next FAQ, that doesn’t mean there aren’t Sportage models to avoid.
What are the worst Kia Sportage years?
Although the 2017 Kia Sportage has the highest number of complaints, CarComplaints singles out the 2012 Sportage as one to avoid due to the severity of its problems. And we agree: “engine stopped working while driving” certainly qualifies as really awful. The 2013 Kia Sportage also had its fair share of engine failures.
The best bet is to avoid all 2012, 2013 and 2017 Kia Sportage models in their entirety. All three model years have had too many reports of engine failures to recommend.
Is a used Kia Sportage a good deal?
A used Kia Sportage from the fourth or fifth generation should cost buyers around $8,000 to $10,000 less than a comparable Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4. Considering that these Sportage models (excluding the 2017 version) have a solid reputation for reliability, they represent good deals for buyers. A lightly used 2024 Kia Sportage presents a strong value proposition, as the previous owner will already have taken the largest depreciation hit.
If you’re looking to spend as little as possible on a car with reasonably good reliability scores, a 2015 or 2016 Kia Sportage for around $13,000 might be the ticket.
Kia Sportage Pros and Cons
Pros
- Multiple powertrain options
- Stylish design
- Efficient hybrid in latest generation
Cons
- Underwhelming base engine
- Serious engine issues in some older models
- Interior materials feel cheap
Kia Sportage Generations
Kia Sportage Fifth Generation (2023-Present)
The fifth and current Kia Sportage generation debuted for the 2023 model year. There weren’t any major changes for the 2024 Kia Sportage and just a small number of packaging updates for 2025. The LX, EX, EX Premium, and SX trim levels carried over from the previous version, and Kia also added X-Line and X-Line Limited variants in Canada. The base Sportage LX gets cloth seats while SynTex seat trim, a leather alternative, comes in every other version. Upper trims receive upgraded SynTex seat trim with quilted stitching, and the Kia Sportage X-Line trims get their own unique versions.
In Canada, all-wheel drive is optional for the bae LX trim and standard on all other trim levels. The Kia Sportage X-Line features some additional upgrades designed to improve its off-road performance, such as all-terrain tires and a bit more ground clearance, as well as aggressive exterior appearance upgrades, roof rails and gloss black trim. Kia’s Multi-Terrain Drive Mode featured snow, mud, and sand settings.
Heated front seats are standard in Canada, while a heated steering wheel starts at the X-Line grade and ventilated front seats come in at EX Premium, along with heated rear outboard seats and memory functions for the driver’s seat and side mirrors. A panoramic sunroof starts at the EX trim on the gas-powered models and at EX Premium on electrified versions, and a heated windshield and dual-zone climate control are standard beginning at the EX trim.
A Smart Key keyless entry system with remote start and pushbutton start is standard. Lower trims come with an eight-inch screen and analog gauges, though a 12.3-inch touchscreen display running a modern infotainment system and a matching 12.3-inch digital instrument display are available and will become standard beginning in 2026.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard along with Kia Connect, a smart connectivity system for Apple and Google smartphones, speakers, and watches. One USB charging ports up front is standard, while rear USB ports integrated into the front seatbacks is available on higher trims. The Kia Sportage LX and Hybrid EX come standard with 17-inch alloy wheels. The gas EX and hybrid SX get 18-inch alloy wheels, while the gas EX Premium and the plug-in hybrid trims bump those to 19 inches. The X-Line gets its own unique 19-inch alloy wheels with black details.
Standard driver assistance and safety features include forward collision avoidance assist, auto emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, lane follow assist, and a rear occupant alert system. Blind-spot collision warning, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist, and rear parking sensors start at the X-Line grade. A surround view monitor, blind-spot view monitor, rear parking collision avoidance assist, junction turning collision avoidance assist, and an upgraded Harman Kardon audio system are available in upper trims.
Kia’s Highway Driving Assist technology is designed to keep a set distance behind the vehicle ahead and helps to centre the car in its lane. It’s included with the gas X-Line Limited trim and the hybrid and PHEV SX trims as of 2025.
In its most basic front-wheel drive guise, the 2025 Kia Sportage is estimated to burn 8.3 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, while all-wheel drive models use 9.4 L/100 km combined. The Sportage Hybrid averages fuel economy ratings of 6.2 L/100 km combined according to Natural Resources Canada. The 2025 Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid has up to 55 kilometres of electric range, after which it’s rated at 6.7 L/100 km combined.
The gas-powered 2025 Kia Sportage carries an MSRP of $33,540 in LX FWD trim, including fees, while all-wheel drive adds $2,000. The X-Line starts at $35,540 with fees, and pricing tops out with the 2025 Kia Sportage X-Line Limited at $46,340.
As for the Sportage Hybrid, the base EX trim carries an MSRP of $41,640, fees in, while the SX trim is priced at $47,340. The Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid starts at $50,435 for the EX Premium trim or $53,435 in SX trim. The Sportage Plug-in Hybrid features an advanced all-wheel drive system with a centre locking system that can evenly distribute power front to rear. While it’s the priciest Sportage, it’s also the most advanced and the most powerful.
This generation of Kia Sportage was just beginning to appear on the used car market as of this writing, so prices were still close to the new MSRP. Expect to pay $5,000 to $8,000 less than new vehicle prices on average.
Kia Sportage Fourth Generation (2017-2022)
Kia Sportage Fourth Generation (2017-2022) The fourth-generation Kia Sportage was in production from 2017 through 2022. For this generation, the core trim levels in Canada were LX, EX, EX Premium, and SX, with varying packages available in different model years. Front-wheel drive was offered only on the base trim, while all-wheel drive was standard on the rest of the line-up. Sportages of this generation featured either a naturally aspirated 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine with 181 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque or a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine with as much as 240 hp.
A seven-inch touchscreen infotainment screen was the largest available in 2017, but that was upgraded to an eight-inch unit when the Sportage was refreshed for the 2020 model year. That may seem small today, but it was competitive when this version of the Sportage was released. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included with either of these screens. Adaptive cruise control was added to the lineup in 2020, and only small changes were made to the Sportage after its 2020 update until the fifth-generation model was introduced in 2023.
One of the best qualities often cited by reviewers of the fourth-generation Sportage was its excellent ride quality. In our review of the 2022 Sportage, we wrote, “The ride is unexpectedly smooth and compliant, not unlike how the larger Kia Telluride feels as it glides over imperfect pavement. There is a hint of body roll and some lateral rocking over pavement undulations, but nothing excessive. The suspension tuning lends the Sportage a sophisticated driving character.”
Another positive attribute of this generation of Kia Sportage is its spacious passenger compartment. There’s plenty of room in both the front and rear seats for four adults. Cargo space, on the other hand, is on the small side when compared to competitors such as the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4.
Another knock against the fourth-generation Sportage is below-average fuel efficiency. In base front-wheel drive form, the 2022 Sportage received a combined Natural Resources Canada estimate of 9.0 litres per 100 kilometres, which is over one litre per 100 kilometres more than the CR-V and the RAV4. With the desirable turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive, the combined rating increases to 11.0 L/100 km.
As of this writing, fourth-generation Kia Sportages were plentiful on the Canadian used car market. Expect to pay between $12,000 for a low-trim, high-odometer unit and $27,000 for a late-model, low-kilometre example.
Kia Sportage Third Generation (2011-2016)
Over the five years that the third-generation Kia Sportage was offered in Canada, it was sold at various times in up to three trim levels—LX, EX and SX—with optional packages differing across model years. A 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine came standard and offered 176 horsepower, and a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine with 260 hp could be had in the top SX trim level. The base engine delivered between 9.4 and 11.3 L/100 km combined depending on model year, drivetrain, and transmission, while the high-power turbo was rated between 10.8 and 11.4 L/100 km combined.
Unlike the smooth-riding fourth-generation model that replaced it, the third-generation Kia Sportage’s suspension was on the stiff side. While that improved handing feel, it meant the 2011-2016 Sportage wasn’t as comfortable on broken pavement as its peers.
It’s also worth noting that the interior of the third-generation Sportage wasn’t very spacious. There was passable room for four average adults, but cargo space is down by around 425 litres compared to top rivals of the era, so those passengers had better pack lightly.
While there are still some third-gen Sportages kicking around in Canada, they’re thinning ou, and average prices range from $7,000 to $13,000.
Kia Sportage Second Generation (2005-2010)
The second-generation Kia Sportage was produced from 2005 through 2010. That meant there was no Sportage sold in North America in 2003 or 2004, which is partly because Kia was focusing on its larger Sorento SUV at the time. Unlike the first generation, the reborn Sportage was based on a car platform, in this case shared with the Hyundai Tucson and based on the Hyundai Elantra compact sedan. With up to 1,897 litres of space with the rear seat folded, the 2005-2010 Sportage offered an average amount of cargo-carrying capability for its class at the time.
A 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine came standard in the second-generation Kia Sportage LX, and the base engine’s 140 horsepower and 136 lb-ft of torque was adequate around town. Buyers who wanted more power could choose a 2.7-litre V6 that produced 173 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed manual transmission was standard with the four-cylinder, and the base engine’s optional four-speed automatic was standard with the V6. Front-wheel drive was standard and all-wheel drive was optional.
Canada’s harsh winters have taken their toll on this generation of Sportage, which is now a rare sight on the used car market. If you find one in your area, you should be able to pick it up for no more than $5,000.
Kia Sportage First Generation (1995-2002)
Kia was a fledgling manufacturer in 1995 when the first Sportage was released. First-generation Kia Sportage trim levels included a base version and an upgraded EX model. Much of the SUV’s chassis and powertrain were based on old Mazda designs, including the Sportage’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. With 130 horsepower and 127 lb-ft of torque, the Sportage wasn’t very quick. On the positive side, it proved reliable enough for Kia to gain a foothold in the North American market.
What the first-generation Kia Sportage lacked in refinement, it made up for with a ruggedly handsome appearance and legitimate off-road capability. Unfortunately, they haven’t survived Canadian winters, so you’re unlikely to find a used first-gen Sportage in Canada today.
