Kia Sportage
Advice on buying the best of the popular small SUV.
Lifestyle vehicles, crossovers, small SUVS. Call them what you will, the market for these practical, stylish cars is booming and it’s hard to find a manufacturer that hasn’t got at least one in its range. Back in 1995, Kia dipped its toes into this burgeoning sector with the Sportage, with a second-generation model following in 2005. Both were practical and well-equipped, albeit slightly on the dull side.
In 2010, the company took a rather more style-led approach, with chief design officer Peter Schreyer telling the motoring press: “The allure of a Kia should extend well beyond the fact that it moves people from one place to the other.” Quite.
The third-generation Sportage certainly looked the part, combining sharp design with an all-new platform and a range of efficient engines. According to Kia’s official statement, it was targeted squarely at rivals such as the Nissan Qashqai, Peugeot 3008, Ford Kuga and VW Tiguan. Launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2010, the new model – built at Kia’s Zilina plant in Slovakia – reached UK shores on August 1 in the form of the First Edition, which was loaded with kit and limited to fewer than 1200 examples. The full, 16-model range went on sale on November 1 and would remain in production until 2016, when an all-new Sportage took over.
Trim & equipment
It’s worth taking a quick look at that First Edition to begin with. Based on a 2.0 CRDI with four-wheel drive and manual or auto transmissions, its rich specification included full leather trim, dual-zone climate control and a reversing camera with an LCD screen in the rearview mirror. Special colours included Techno Orange and it was priced from £20,777 for a manual model. It was discontinued when the full range went on sale and, at that point, things became agreeably straightforward, with Kia offering a choice of 1, 2 or 3 grades, with KX denoting a model with four-wheel drive.
Entry-level 1 models were hardly short of standard kit. Buyers parting with £16,645 for the 1.6 GDI or £18,145 for the 1.7 CRDI got niceties such as 16-inch alloy wheels, air-conditioning, electric windows all round, remote locking, Bluetooth connectivity and cruise control.
Upgrading to 2 trim added a panoramic roof, bigger wheels, part-leather seats and reversing sensors among other goodies. This was also the entry point for all-wheel drive, the KX-2 2.0 petrol being the cheapest at £20,800. The 3 and KX-3 models were even more lavish, offering full leather trim, xenon headlights, dual-zone climate control and heated seats front and rear.
If you wanted to really push the boat out you could have your 3 or KX-3 in the range-topping Sat Nav trim, which brought satellite-navigation controlled via a seven-inch touchscreen, a reversing camera and upgraded audio courtesy of an extra amplifier and separate sub-woofer. Prices for these topped out at £26,170 with the 2.0 CRDI engine, while opting for an automatic transmission added £1300 to the bill.
The first major change was the arrival of the KX-4 in July 2012, which was not only fitted with a more powerful 2.0-litre diesel engine but even more kit, including Parallel Park Assist, which used numerous sensors to locate a suitablysized parking space and steer the car into it. Prices for this new range-topper started at £27,195 in manual form.
By January 2014, Kia had shifted 47,000 Sportages in the UK, so it was time for a refresh. The revised models got tweaks to the grille, head/tail-lights and alloy wheels, along with a ‘shark fin’ antenna for higher trim levels, which also gained a heated steering wheel and powered driver’s seat adjustment. Some models also featured a TFT LCD display between the instrument dials, along with an Infinity audio system. Going on sale on February 14, prices ranged from £17,495-£29,495.
What goes wrong
Engine-wise, there’s not much to worry about if you’re tempted by the Sportage and the standard seven-year/100,000mile warranty certainly provided peace of mind for new buyers. It could also be argued that it may have kept them within the dealer network for longer, so don’t be surprised to find a wad of main dealer service receipts. And even if the earliest examples have now headed to independent garages for regular maintenance there’s little under the bonnet to cause concern. All engines are chain-driven, so there’s no bothersome cambelt to worry about, and regular changes of oil and filter will avoid any problems. Recommended service intervals were one year/20,000 miles for all models, with coolant changes every five years/100,000 miles.
Some cars may have had a service pack that might still be valid. Given that even the oldest are only just out of that lengthy warranty period, you should walk away from any without a sound maintenance history.
As for problems, it’s worth bearing in mind that town-bound diesels could have suffered from clogged particulate filters and you might want to ask yourself whether you really need an oil burner, especially in light of recent negative publicity and the potential for drivers to be penalised in the future (they made up the vast majority of UK sales, though, so there’s much more choice).
EGR issues on diesels are also possible, while a loss of power on 1.7 versions could be caused by a blocked fuel filter – Kia were aware of the issue and some were replaced under warranty, so check the history.
Some owners report erratic operation of the ISG stop/start system and may have switched it off altogether, but otherwise a well-maintained Sportage should be a trouble-free proposition.
Running gear
There was nothing complicated about the suspension, with Macpherson struts up front, a multi-link arrangement at the rear and gas dampers all-round. Kia engineers did finalise the tuning on UK roads, though, which explains the decent balance between ride and handling exhibited by the model – even opting for bigger wheels doesn’t have a particularly negative impact on comfort. It’s possible that older, high-mileage examples may be suffering from a bit of softness in dampers, springs and bushes, but there’s nothing else to worry about.
Brakes shouldn’t give any bother, either, and front disc/pad replacement isn’t costly – parts cost around £130. There have been occasional reports of owners suffering from cars pulling to one side, but a software tweak for the electricallyassisted steering is usually the cure.
You should confirm the condition of the alloy wheels, as early examples suffered from premature corrosion and they can be annoyingly easy to scrape on kerbs. Some wheels were replaced under warranty.
Last, it’s worth mentioning the numerous electronic safety systems that featured on the Sportage. There was the usual gamut of acronyms from DBC (downhill brake control), which maintained a speed of 5mph down steep slopes, to HAC (hill-start assist control), which made for less embarrassing hillstarts. Naturally, electronic stability control was standard, along with a roll-over sensor that deployed side and curtain airbags and belt tensioners in accidents. The January 2014 revisions introduced Flex Steer with three levels of power assistance to choose from, tyre pressure monitoring and TSA (trailer stability assist) for safer towing.
Body, trim & electrics
There was only one body style on offer and it was certainly stylish. Notably more eyecatching than its predecessor, it managed to blend a sportier profile and an appealing tiger-nose grille, with good cabin visibility and more passenger space. It was safe, too, boasting a fivestar EURONCAP rating.
Weighing around 90kg less than earlier models and with a more aerodynamic 0.37 Cd (down from 0.40), the new design was also 90mm longer, 15mm wider and 60mm lower, which not only improved interior space but also luggage capacity, with 564-1353 litres on offer, along with the practicality of splitfolding rear seats.
Good looking and useful, then, but also robust, with just the usual urban scrapes and dings to worry about and no chance of corrosion troubling the 12-year antiperforation warranty.
Some of the funkier colours, including Techno Orange, are a matter of personal taste, but they tend to suit the model’s sleek looks.
Inside, you’ll find things just as agreeable because Kia had worked hard to give their new crossover premium appeal. The plastic finish is workmanlike, but everything feels robust and long-lasting, and unless it’s been subjected to excessive levels of family abuse it should still be in good nick. Check for damaged leather on higher trim levels, and be aware
that some owners have complained of dashboard rattles that proved tricky to cure. Wind noise from the panoramic roof can be a further annoyance, but it’s not especially common.
And the electrics? You won’t be surprised to learn that they are rarely troublesome – occasional glitches with the sat-nav aside – so a check that everything is working will suffice.