Kia Sportage (1995 - 2002) Reviews, Pricing & Specs

We bought this used and are in the process of correcting the neglect of the previous owner(s). Nice and compact, half-convertible, needs some work though. Wish it had cruise control but perhaps we have just been spoiled. It is quite hot as the a/c has a difficult time keeping it cool in direct sunlight but the convertible top is nice so you can't have the best of both.Jul 04, 2014

As an American your putting a big target on your back if you drive a flashy car. All the Asian automobile are here as well as Ford and GM. Driving a new car would bring undue attention to myself and family. At home we have a Securty Guard that costs less then the ADT Securty system I had back in Boston. So if I had to use it as a defensive weapon and crash out some attempted kidnappers I'd feel bad about losing the Kia but could go out and but another one the next day and not even think twice. Mar 20, 2014

I love my car. I have the 2.0 straight four in it. I have the auto, and that is the only thing I don't like, auto everthing. I like the standard tranny better, and the electric windows drive me nuts. I do not like the stock rims. I put 4.5" offset spoked rims on it painted black. I want to put HID lights on it, and paint the inside of the headlights black. Perfomance - Good. If you rev just a little bit before take off it will burn rubber till you let up on the gas. Braking is good. I like that the back brakes lock up befor the front ones. Handled realy crappy when I got it. On gravel/ off road it would drift real bad at any speed. I put wider rims on it, and it stopped. Build Quality - Kind of cheap. the bumpers are loose, and I had to rebuild the front end. Needs new shocks. Appearance - Crappy from the factery. i put the 4.5" offset rims on it, and it looks ok now, but really needs 6.5" offset rims. Cost Of Ownership - Gets crappy gas mileage considering the size of the engine. Parts are way expansive. Fun Facter - Car will go anywhere a four wheeler will go.Nov 07, 2010

Had engine problem with it. Check engine light kept lighting up because 2 cylinder stop working (has 4 cylinder totals!). With two cylinders off, the sportage doesn’t have enough power to move, so if you slow down too much or stop before reaching your destination, you were screwed!!! Went to 3 different garage, the last one was the KIA dealer, and they couldn’t find the problem. Told me everything was fine when I went to go get it and I stalled 28 km after that. KIA can’t even repair their own vehicle. Do not buy a KIA unless you are ready to repair it yourself. Might have been a lemon because you see many in the streets working today, but you also hear a lot of people who have problems with it...check online :sDec 13, 2009

One of the first SUV's. Good on the road en good off the road. Very good for cruising, but not for speeding. Wich is good because i won't get finend... Can take a lot of luggage or other stuff in the boot, esspecially when the backseats are folded down. Gas mileage could be beter, but if you realy drive good, it's ok. There are some interior inperfections but seen it's age the could be worse... I really like the extra ridehight compared to normal carsSep 28, 2009

I had my 97 kia from 98 to 2000 and 35,000 miles later I sold it. I was attracted to this vehicle from it's looks. The drive train seemed rough, the std trans shifted a little poorly and had to either bang through the gears or shift slowly and carefully. The dark green paint was beautiful when waxed but hard to keep the water spots off from it. the seats were firm yet comfortable even on long trips. Engine compartment seemed like it would be hard to work on so I am glad it had no troubles. The mpg's were fantastic, about 27 but other with 4wd at dealership was saying their hit 30+. I almost consider buying another one recently when I saw how cheap the used ones were going for, meaning they depreciate quick. So the book value on a low milage 97 is very low and probably worth it in my mind. I also thought they were by far the cutiest suv ever made but they are a bit cheesy. I would go with an auto trans if I ever got another one only due to the way a standard shifted. I am 45 y.o. man just trying to help others with my consumer opinions. Hope I could help.Oct 08, 2008

Uh, thats just the vibe this car sends out. 2.0L I4 produces 130hp which doesn't sound like a lot but can get you an improper lane usage warning by fish tailing in some rocks and totally destory the rear ring gear. About 21 or 22 mpg. Just feels cheaply made, which I think it was. A good partical car if you are the only one using it. Has a 10 year/100,000 mile warranty which you seem to use quite often. Just a car that screams "BUDGET!!!". Not fun to drive unless it has snowed. This is were i guess it excells is in bad weather. I have never gotten into a accident when the weather is bad so i give it props for that, but everything else on this car is dull, drab, and just so uhh. May 02, 2008

“Kia Performance” dealership in Nicholasville, KY had for a week sold some of their cars at the Wal-Mart parking lot in Danville, KY one October week of 1999, so that people in Danville could buy them. I decided to have fun and test-drive one of the Sportage trucks. I wanted to drive one with a manual clutch transmission and in 4WD. The only Sportage they had with a 5-speed was the very plain dark-green 2WD that was very stripped-down. So I drove it for a while and then returned it. I wasn't planning on buying it; I just wanted to see how it felt as at the time I had a '97 red Ford Aspire car. I liked it but knew it wouldn’t be right for me even if I could afford it.Mar 30, 2008