KiaSportage

　　

2024 Kia Sportage Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　When Kia redesigned the Sportage in 2023, it made sure the small crossover SUV had plenty of room for people and cargo, a stylishly distinctive design, the latest technology, and a version that could travel a little farther off-road than a visit to a roadside fruit stand. It even introduced hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants offering plenty of power and efficiency. (zzdcar reviews these models separately.) Add Kia's impressive warranty coverage and reasonable prices, and on paper the fifth-generation Sportage looks like it should be a class leader.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2024 Kia Sportage LX 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$134/mo  for Sportage LX

　　Sportage LX

　　LX 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $27,090 MSRPLX 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $28,890 MSRPEX 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A) (Most Popular) - $29,090 MSRPEX 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $30,890 MSRPX-Line 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $31,890 MSRPSX 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $32,590 MSRPSX-Prestige 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $34,590 MSRPSX-Prestige 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $36,390 MSRPX-Pro 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $36,090 MSRPX-Pro Prestige 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $37,890 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　The one thing we'd have liked to have seen improved for 2024 is power, but it didn't happen. The Sportage's base engine is an unremarkable and relatively inefficient four-cylinder engine. The Sportage Hybrid makes more power and that comes in handy when passing or merging onto the highway. The added benefit is that you'll get dramatically better fuel economy, too.

　　Besides the Sportage, you might also want to consider other highly rated small SUVs such as the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-50. The CR-V is one of the few competitors that can rival the Sportage for space, while the CX-50 offers superior performance at the expense of utility. Hyundai's related Tucson is another worthy option. Be sure to read the zzdcar Expert Rating to get our full report on the pros and cons of the 2024 Kia Sportage.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.9

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

6.5/10

　　How does the Sportage drive? The Sportage fails to impress in day-to-day driving. The mildly off-road-focused nature of the X-Pro trim we tested, with its all-terrain tires, makes on-road handling feel a bit softer, but that's less of an issue than the lack of power. It took our Sportage test car more than 9.5 seconds to reach highway speeds of 60 mph, which is very slow and seconds behind class leaders. There are no other engines offered unless you opt for the Sportage Hybrid, which we highly recommend checking out.

　　The engine makes most driving scenarios more work than it should be. The transmission is constantly hunting for the right gear to maximize available power, and the driver needs to plan for passing maneuvers well ahead of when they might need to happen. We otherwise found the steering easy and accurate and the brakes smooth and responsive. Replace the engine with something else and it would be a much better experience.

　　

Comfort

8.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Sportage? The Sportage has you covered if comfort is a priority. The seats may not offer an extensive amount of adjustments, but they offer excellent support and cushioning in all the right places. The upholstery isn't fancy but feels durable, and if you opt for the higher trim models, the front seats include ventilation and heat functions. The rear seats have a lot of adjustable recline, which will certainly make your rear passengers happy.

　　The Sportage suspension is very softly tuned. That allows the Sportage to absorb bumps and broken pavement well but sometimes causes it to uncomfortably bob up and down around a little more if the road is undulating. Kia also did a great job at keeping unwanted noise out of the cabin and keeping the interior free of squeaks or rattles.

　　We think the climate control layout is pretty slick — the touch panel controls convert to media controls when not in use — but we could see some people not liking it. Interface aside, the system performance is strong and effective at maintaining your target cabin temperature.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below