2024 Kia Sportage

Overview

To keep a firm hold on new-vehicle shoppers, compact crossovers such as the Kia Sportage make space their number-one priority. The two-row Sportage is spacious and is offered with a 187-hp four-cylinder engine that lacks significant kick. The more powerful Sportage Hybrid and PHEV, reviewed separately, mostly fix that gripe. Up against the likes of the Mazda CX-5 and Honda CR-V, the Sportage uses a bevy of standard features and equipment, with an affordable starting price to sweeten the temptation. Front-wheel drive is standard on most trims, but all-wheel drive is available. The Sportage’s distracting design keeps it from being mistaken for another crossover, but it does share much of its DNA with its corporate sibling, the Hyundai Tucson.

What’s New for 2024?

After a major overhaul last year, the Kia Sportage sees some less dramatic changes for 2024. Kia fits airbags to the second-row seats and LED projector headlights as standard equipment on all Sportage models. They’ve also dropped the all-wheel-drive SX trim for 2024.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

The midrange EX appears to offer the most value here, adding desirable features such as the larger 12.3-inch infotainment screen, wireless smartphone charging, and heated front seats.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The Sportage’s default powertrain is a 187-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder that mates to an eight-speed automatic transmission and either front- or all-wheel drive. We sampled both the base four-cylinder and the hybrid powertrain during our initial test drive and were more satisfied with the latter than the former. At our test track, the nonhybrid Sportage needed 8.6 seconds to hit 60 mph versus only 7.4 seconds for the hybrid. The Sportage rides on a new platform with a longer wheelbase than the previous generation, and ride comfort is improved as a result. The introduction of rugged-looking trims such as the X-Line gives the compact ute an off-road vibe, but the X-Pro actually has some equipment to help tackle the rough stuff. It rides on black 17-inch rims and all-terrain tires and features a selection of drive modes.

Towing and Payload Capacity

Though compact crossovers aren’t really the best option for consistent trailering use, the Kia Sportage does have a maximum towing capacity of 2500 pounds, but only if it’s been equipped with an aftermarket trailer brake controller.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The Sportage is rated for 25 mpg city and 32 mpg highway when equipped with front-wheel drive; all-wheel-drive models are EPA rated for 23 mpg city and 28 mpg highway. We haven’t yet taken the Sportage on our 75-mph fuel-economy route, but when we do we’ll update this story with test results. For more information about the Sportage’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Inside, the Sportage makes an impression with a snazzy design highlighted by a huge digital display on the dashboard and other various eye-catching details. The interior is available in an attractive two-tone color scheme as an option, but if you prefer an all-black cabin that’s available too. The center console boasts a rotary shift knob, a push-to-start button, and a myriad of other controls that blend into the piano-black bezel. Thanks to bigger dimensions overall as well as a longer wheelbase, the Sportage has more rear-seat legroom and 40 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat. There’s also a dual-level cargo floor for even more versatility.

The Car and Driver Difference

Infotainment and Connectivity

On the infotainment front, the Sportage comes standard with desirable features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. An 8.0-inch infotainment display is standard, and all models come with a digital gauge display, too. We’d suggest upgrading to the larger infotainment display, though, which measures 12.3 inches in diameter and provides more connectivity and crisper graphics. There are also neat touch-sensitive controls below the infotainment interface that alternate between the climate system and the stereo. An upgraded Harman/Kardon unit is available as well as a wireless phone charger and a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot.

How to Buy and Maintain a Car

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The new Sportage features a variety of standard and optional driver-assistance technology. The roster includes everything from navigation-based adaptive cruise control and a remote parking feature that’s essentially the same as Hyundai’s Smart Park system. For more information about the Sportage’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency brakingStandard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assistAvailable blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Kia boasts one of the best warranty plans out there, with the longest powertrain warranty in the industry. However, it lacks the complimentary maintenance of competitors such as Toyota and even its corporate sibling, Hyundai.

Limited warranty covers five years or 60,000 milesPowertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 milesNo complimentary scheduled maintenanceArrow pointing downArrow pointing down

Specifications

Specifications

2023 Kia Sportage X-Pro Prestige AWD
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon

PRICE
Base/As Tested: $38,415/$39,075
Options: Jungle Green paint with Ebony black roof, $395; carpeted floor mats, $155; wheel locks, $60; cargo net, $50

ENGINE
DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, port and direct fuel injection
Displacement: 152 in3, 2497 cm3
Power: 187 hp @ 6100 rpm
Torque: 178 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm

TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic

CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Tires: BFGoodrich Trail Terrain T/A
235/65R-17 104H M+S

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 108.5 in
Length: 183.5 in
Width: 73.4 in
Height: 66.9 in
Passenger Volume, F/R: 52/50 ft3
Cargo Volume, Behind F/R: 74/40 ft3
Curb Weight: 3728 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 8.6 sec
1/4-Mile: 16.5 sec @ 85 mph
100 mph: 24.4 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 8.9 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 4.1 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 6.1 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 117 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 180 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.84 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 20 mpg

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 25/23/28 mpg 

C/D Testing Explained 

More Features and Specs