2023 Kia Sportage review: Full range detailed

The Kia Sportage has come a long way in the 30 years since the debut of the first-generation model, which was based on the Mazda Bongo van.

Launched in late 2021, the fifth-generation Sportage is one of the sharpest-looking medium SUVs in its class and comes with an excellent range of standard features, including top-spec variants that share technology with pricier European models.

The Sportage is available in four specification grades and a choice of front-wheel drive 2.0-litre petrol, an all-wheel drive 2.0-litre turbo-diesel (available across the range), and an AWD 1.6-litre turbo-petrol, which joined the range in early 2023. 

April, 2024: Sportage Hybrid on sale in sale

Kia has finally introduced a petrol-electric version of its Sportage midsized SUV to compete with the all-conquering Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.

STORY CONTINUES

JUMP AHEAD

• Pricing
• Body styles
• Standard features
• Upgrades
• Comfort
• Boot space
• Driving enjoyment
• Fuel efficiency
• Towing capacity
• Warranty & servicing
• Recommended version
• Key rivals

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Kia Sportage GT-Line. Read our long-term review here.

2023 Kia Sportage Pricing

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What body styles are available for the Kia Sportage?

Five-door, five-seat SUV only.

The Sportage drives either its front wheels or all four wheels, depending on the version. It competes in Australia's sub-$60K medium SUV segment.

What features are standard in every Kia Sportage?

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Kia Sportage S

What key features do I get if I spend more?

The Sportage is one of the few SUVs, or any model for that matter, that has a manual transmission option, which is coupled with the 2.0-litre petrol engine.

A manual Sportage S variant is the most affordable Sportage. Spending an additional $2000 brings a six-speed automatic transmission and a few other extras including:

Spending around $5400 more brings the diesel engine and eight-speed automatic transmission with all-wheel drive traction.

Upholstery in the Sportage S is cloth, with the driver’s seat having six-way manual adjustment including for height.

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Kia Sportage S manual

It rolls on 17-inch alloy wheels shod with chunky 235/65 R17 tyres.

The Sportage S is the only variant to come with the small 8.0-inch touchscreen, but, for complex reasons, is the only variant to come with handy wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Stepping up to the Sportage SX brings the same petrol and diesel powertrains as the S, with the automatic version adding the same tech extras.

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Kia Sportage SX

While the SX loses the wireless smartphone mirroring, it does gain:

The Sportage SX+ loses the manual gearbox option but gains the choice of a punchy 1.6-litre turbocharged engine with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive. It is the only Sportage variant to feature all three engine options.

Spending around $4500 over the equivalent SX variant brings:

The range-topping Sportage GT-Line comes with a range of extras that you'd expect to see in luxury SUVs, including:

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Kia Sportage GT-Line. Click the above photo to see more in our gallery.

Optional extras

Accessories aside, the only extra cost option you'll be faced with at the Kia dealer will be choosing metallic paint over the standard Clear White, which will set you back around $520.

Metallic options include:

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How safe is the Kia Sportage?

The Kia Sportage is covered by a five-star rating from ANCAP, based on testing conducted in 2022.

It achieved an 87 per cent score for adult occupant protection, 87 per cent for children, 66 per cent for vulnerable road users, and 74 per cent for safety assist.

All Sportage variants come with seven airbags (dual front, side head, curtain and front centre).

If you need to install child seats there are three top tether anchors and two lots of ISOFIX attachments.

Active safety features include:

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How comfortable and practical is the Kia Sportage?

Even in the lower-spec models, we found the Sportage's front seats to be very comfortable and supportive.

Long-distance driving is aided by good shoulder space and headroom, as well as good under-thigh support.

The cloth seats in the S and SX feel homely and while the “leather-appointed” upholstery in the SX+ and GT-Line lacks any sense of luxury, it doesn't feel cheap, particularly in the range-topper with the suede-like seat uppers.

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Kia Sportage cloth seats

If you're driving anything but the entry-level S spec, you'll likely appreciate the big 12.3-inch touchscreen

Front-seat occupants get accoutrements such as USB-A and USB-C sockets, two cup holders (with little buttons that pop out a semi-circular restraint to hold a cup in place), bottle holders in the doors, space for your phone under the screen and a generous console bin.

Unfortunately, there is a lot of grainy, scratchy plastic where it matters. The door cards, the lower dash and parts of the console all have it and it’s a bit horrid.

If you're driving anything but the entry-level S spec, you'll likely appreciate the big 12.3-inch touchscreen, featuring the Hyundai Group's intuitive infotainment system with a crisp display that's easy on the eye. It should be noted, however, that models with the larger screen revert to wired-only Apple Carplay and Android Auto.

Also cool is how the physical buttons beneath alternate between the infotainment menu and climate control.

The GT-Line's big curved display, with the 12.3-inch touchscreen and equally sized digital gauge cluster, provides some wow factor as well as neat features such as the blind-spot video feed and different coloured driving modes.

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Rear space and comfort

Rear seats in the Sportage are also comfortable and even in the base-spec S, you get rear air vents to help keep occupants cool.

The transmission tunnel isn’t too big, but it will still be a struggle for three adults across the back without clashing feet. Headroom is expansive, as is space for feet and knees.

If you want to avoid any grief from the back seats, make sure the kids (big or small) have USB-C charger cables as neither of the two sockets back there accommodate USB-A.

Storage includes handy coat/bag/mobile device hooks behind the front headrests, two cup holders in the centre armrest, map pockets and bottle holders in the doors, and map pockets behind the front seats.

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How much boot space does the Kia Sportage offer?

The current Sportage measures 4660mm long overall, compared to 4485mm for its predecessor – adding 77 litres more boot space to provide a very handy 543 litres even with the full-size spare wheel under the floor.

Folding the rear seats down expands the cargo area to an impressive 1829 litres.

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I like driving, will I enjoy the Sportage?

The Sportage's steering is nicely weighted and if you fancy a bit of enthusiastic driving, the Sportage does its best to stay controlled and planted.

It rides really well and ably shrugs off the bumps and potholes, and has excellent composure and road manners on gravel, helped by Kia Australia's local ride and handling tune.

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Overall, this is a very relaxed car and it’s really about being a nice place to be while stuck in traffic.

How much driver enjoyment you ultimately get from the Sportage will depend on which engine you have under the bonnet.

2.0-litre petrol

The naturally aspirated 115kW/192Nm 2.0-litre petrol engine and six-speed auto combo is adequate in the sense that most people aren’t looking for startling performance in their medium SUV.

If most of your driving is around town, you'll appreciate its smooth and silent operation. But on the open road with some bodies in the seats and bags in the boot, it will struggle a little when you put the foot down, which is to be expected from a 1500kg SUV.

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Kia Sport 2.0-litre petrol engine

1.6-turbo petrol

The 132kW/265Nm 1.6-litre turbo-petrol seems good on paper, but while all that extra torque is useful, it's a powertrain better suited to something like the Cerato hatch than a heavier SUV.

Shifting the Sportage's extra weight results in an unpleasant coarse engine note when revved and upshifting, not helped by the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic being a tad slow to downshift when you put your foot down.

2.0-litre turbo diesel

The Sportage feels most eager with the 137kW/416Nm 2.0-litre turbo diesel and eight-speed automatic transmission.

In this guise, the Sportage is responsive, to the point it can sometimes surprise at how quickly it leaps off the line. And it achieves this without feeling unpleasant while delivering progressive pull.

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Kia Sportage 2.0-litre turbo diesel

Which engine uses the least fuel?

On paper at least, 137kW/416Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel is the least greedy of the trio, delivering an official combined fuel economy of 7.7L/100km.

This compares to the 115kW/192Nm 2.0-litre petrol, whose combined fuel economy is 7.7L/100km and 8.1L/100km for the manual and automatic versions respectively, and the 1.6-litre turbo-petrol, which drinks regular unleaded at a rate of 7.2L/100km.

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What is the Kia Sportage's towing capacity?

The Sportage's towing capacity varies depending on the powertrain.

Both the 2.0-litre petrol manual and 2.0-litre turbo-diesel offer 750kg unbraked/1900kg braked towing capacity with a maximum 100kg tow ball download.

The automatic 2.0-litre petrol and 1.6-litre turbo-petrol differ by having a lesser braked towing capacity of 1650kg.

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How long is the warranty and what are the Sportage's servicing costs?

The Sportage is covered by Kia's seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, along with a complimentary one-year roadside assistance program that can be extended to eight years through annual servicing at a Kia dealership.

Capped-price servicing is available for seven years, with costs dependent on the powertrain and service interval.

Both the 2.0-litre petrol and diesel variants require servicing every 12 months or 15,000 kilometres, whichever occurs first.

The 1.6-litre turbo has a shorter 12-month/10,000km interval.

Prices vary depending on which service is being carried out, but over seven years the fixed price servicing works out to:

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Kia Sportage SX turbo diesel

Which version of the Kia Sportage does Wheels recommend?

Kia Sportage pricing ranges from about $32,000 to $52,000 and there are a couple of variants that sit around the $42K sweet spot.

Overall we really like the Sportage SX with the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine, which has all the important kit and comes with the best-performing and most efficient powertrain.

But, if you're after a few more creature comforts such as the faux leather and power-adjustable heated front seats, electric tailgate and premium audio, and you'll mostly drive around town, the Sportage SX+ represents good value.

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What are the Kia Sportage's key rivals?

• Hyundai Tucson
• Mazda CX-5
• Mitsubishi Outlander
• Nissan X-Trail
• Peugeot 3008
• Subaru Forester
• Toyota RAV4
• Volkswagen Tiguan