Kia Sportage 2010-2016 used car review
The Kia Sportage is a stylish, small SUV that drives like a car. It is very popular, which keeps prices high.
The Kia Sportage is a stylish, small SUV that drives like a car. It is very popular, which keeps prices high.
Although it shares engines, transmissions and platform with the Hyundai Sportage, the Kia’s sporty looks have won it many fans. Kia acknowledged this kind of car’s city focus by producing two-wheel drive versions without much off-road ability at all, and called the model the “Urban”.
Inside and out
The Sportage has a very sporty look for a mainstream SUV. The nose is rounded, with a broad Kia grille, large headlights and substantial fog lights. The cabin has a raked, sporty look and the back corners have thick, chunky, wrap-around pillars - there are no windows behind the rear doors. The side panels have a sculpted look to them and the large tail lights wrap around the car’s corners.
Inside, the Sportage feels spacious, yet dark and closed in. The dashboard has a sculpted shape and a shiny grey strip runs from one side to the other. The dash features a large central speedometer and a red-lit trip computer. A built-in CD player stereo sits in the middle of the dash with the air-conditioning below it. Buttons for the stereo, cruise control and Bluetooth system are on the steering wheel. A small cubby forward of the gearshift houses two 12-volt charger points and a USB port.
The seats are covered in a durable-looking fabric with contrast stitching. They have a lot of side bolster support and are quite firm, which some passengers might not enjoy. The driver’s seat can be manually adjusted for height. The rear seat offers good leg and headroom and enough width to fit three smaller adults - though the centre passenger could find the backrest shape uncomfortable.
The boot is a reasonable size, with good depth. We think the shape of the car’s rear makes it a little shallow. Four medium-size suitcases should fit.
On the road
Three engines are available in the Sportage: a 2-litre four-cylinder petrol, a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol and a 2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder diesel. Transmission choices are a six-speed manual or automatic - the latter by far the most common. All-wheel drive is an option and the two-wheel drive models, like our review vehicle, are called “Urban”. The 2-litre engine in our car produces 122kW and 205Nm. Acceleration and performance are good, helped by the smooth and smart six-speed automatic, which can be shifted manually. If you want more power, turbocharged diesel is an excellent choice.
The Sportage is nice to drive for this type of vehicle, with well-weighted, responsive steering and a firm, comfortable ride. It corners and brakes like a small-to-medium size hatchback and does not show its extra height. Without all-wheel drive, we would not take the Urban off the road - even versions with it are best kept to gravel tracks and ski field car parks.
The shortage of rear windows and the chunky rear corners makes parking the Sportage tricky. Luckily, reversing cameras and sensors are standard, with the camera appearing in the rear-vision mirror. It disappears when not in use.
The Sportage has a reasonable tow rating for its size. It can pull 750kg unbraked (a medium-size garden trailer), and 1,600kg braked (a small to medium-size trailer boat).
Safety
The Sportage carries a full five-star ANCAP safety rating (2010-onwards). Safety features include driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags, electronic brake-force distribution, emergency brake assist, roll stability system and electronic stability control. LED daytime running lights are also standard and improve the car’s visibility.
There are no ISOFIX child seat mounts although there are three tether points on the back of the rear seat. All three rear belts are the full-shoulder type, which offer more protection than lap-only belts.
Reliability
There’s little to report as yet in terms of issues with this generation Sportage. The engine uses a timing chain which will not require regular replacement.
There was a major recall to fix the cables that held the seat belt pretensioners so get the dealer to check this has been done the next time you have the vehicle serviced.
Cost of ownership
The Sportage should be serviced every 12 months or 15,000km whichever comes first. Services vary in price from $488 to around $700 for the 60,000km service.
RightCar says the Sportage Urban will cost $2,460 a year to fuel over 14,000km. In normal operation, the two-wheel drive versions will use less fuel than the all-wheel drive model. The 55-litre fuel tank will cost $110 to fill at $2 per litre and should take you 570km before the fuel light comes on.
A vehicle licence for the Sportage costs $76.92 a year, with the car in the cheapest ACC levy group.
Trade Me Insurance estimates insurance for a Sportage valued at $15,480 will cost $51.60* per month, the same as a Hyundai iX35 from the same year.
Buyers' guide
This generation Sportage is available on Trade Me priced from $15,000 to $30,000. The Sportage is very popular as a used car and holds its value well. High-mileage cars and early Urban models are worth the least. If you find one you like, secure it quickly as they don't tend to sit on dealer yards for long.
Variants
- LX - Features 16-inch alloy wheels, fabric seats, manual air-conditioning, reversing sensors and camera, CD player stereo with USB plug for phone music streaming, remote central locking and hill descent control.
- EX - Adds 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, chrome door handles, heated mirrors and rear spoiler.
- LTD - Adds electric driver’s seat, leather upholstery, heated front seats and rain-sensing wipers.
Timeline
- 2010 Launched in New Zealand
- 2011 Bluetooth phone function added
- 2014 Facelift introduced, with slight changes to specifications, including a Limited Urban option
- 2016 Replaced by new model
Details
2011 Kia Sportage EX Urban
$15,000 to $25,000 for models which have travelled 70,000 to 120,000km
2-litre four-cylinder, 122kW and 205Nm
Six-speed automatic, all-wheel drive
Five-star ANCAP
15,000km or 12 months
Full size tyre
8.8-litres per 100km (claimed)
Regular
4445mm
1855mm
1645mm
750kg (unbraked), 1600kg (braked)
10.6m
This review covers the Kia Sportage for model years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Review vehicle supplied by Turners Cars.
*Our insurance estimates are based on a 35-year-old male with no accidents in the last two years, garaging the car in Mission Bay, Auckland. The car is not used for business and will cover 10,000km to 20,000km a year. We estimate with no option add-ons and $500 excess. Customise your estimate at Trade Me Insurance.
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