Review - 2022 Kia Sportage

Co-developed alongside the latest generation Hyundai Tucson, the Kia Sportage is a futuristic-looking SUV that features attractive features lists for the money, hoping to snatch buyers away from fan-favourites like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester and the Volkswagen Tiguan.

The question remaining, though, is just how good is the latest generation Kia Sportage, and is there some genuine substance underneath that striking new styling? Let’s find out.

Starting Price: $32,445

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Kia Sportage - SX (FWD) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check Kia Sportage car page.

How Much Does It Cost?

The Kia Sportage lineup kicks off from $32,445 for the Sportage S front-wheel drive manual, while the automatic is priced at $34,445. The range then moves to the Sportage SX front-wheel drive, which is priced at $35,000 and $37,000 respectively for the manual and automatic. 

From here, the range moves to the Sportage S all-wheel drive which is priced at $39,845, while the SX+ front-wheel drive is priced at $41,500, while the SX all-wheel drive is priced at $42,400. 

The Sportage SX+ 1.6 all-wheel drive is priced at $43,500, while the SX+ 2.0D all-wheel drive is priced at $46,900. Finally, the Sportage range tops-out in the form of the Sportage GT-Line which is priced at $49,370 and the flagship GT-Line 2.0D all-wheel drive which is priced at $52,370.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change, and do not include on-road costs. 

How Much Can OnlineAuto Save You? 

Using OnlineAuto’s car purchasing service, one of our car specialists can help you save and find the best value model for you. 

What Features Does the Kia Sportage Have?

Kia’s entry-level Sportage S comes riding on a set of 17-inch alloys, and receives LED headlights and daytime running lamps and part-LED tail lights, as well as a reversing camera with rear-mounted parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and an 8.0-inch infotainment system with DAB+ radio and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

Moving to the Sportage SX adds a set of 18-inch alloys, as well as dual-zone climate control, leather gear lever, automatic wipers, power-adjustable driver’s seat, remote folding rear seats and an upgraded 12.3-inch infotainment system with satellite navigation. 

The Sportage SX+ adds to the package with 19-inch alloys, LED fog lights, heated front seats wrapped in vegan leather, keyless entry and start, front-mounted parking sensors, a powered boot lift, wheel-mounted paddles and an upgraded Harman Kardon sound system. 

Finally, Kia’s range-topping Sportage GT-Line comes packaged with heated and ventilated front seats, leather and suede upholstery, Bi-LED headlights and tail lights, wireless smartphone charging, LED ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, surround-view camera, remote parking assistance and a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display. 

Range Features: 

• 17-inch alloys

• LED headlights and daytime running lamps 

• Part-LED tail lights 

• Rear-view camera with parking sensors 

• Adaptive cruise control 

• 8.0-inch infotainment system with DAB+, wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto 

• Leather-wrapped steering wheel 

• 18-inch alloys (Sportage SX)

• 12.3-inch infotainment system with satellite navigation (Sportage SX)

• Dual-zone climate control (Sportage SX)

• 19-inch alloys (Sportage SX+)

• LED fog lights (Sportage SX+)

• Heated front seats wrapped in vegan leather (Sportage SX+)

• Powered boot lift (Sportage SX+)

• Harman Kardon sound system (Sportage SX+)

• Bi-LED headlights with LED tail lights (Sportage GT-Line)

• Panoramic sunroof (Sportage GT-Line)

• Leather & suede upholstery (Sportage GT-Line)

• 12.3-inch digital driver’s display (Sportage GT-Line)

• Heated & ventilated seats (Sportage GT-Line)

• LED ambient lighting (Sportage GT-Line)

Kia Sportage Colours 

The Kia Sportage is available in a range of colours, including Clear White, Snow White Pearl, Steel Grey, Gravity Grey, Fusion Black, Dawning Red, Vesta Blue and the signature Jungle Wood Green. 

Is it Comfortable to Drive?

The latest generation Kia Sportage is an absolute pleasure to drive, and remains entirely user-friendly as a companion for your trips around town, school runs and long-distance road trips. 

The Sportage positions the driver in a nicely elevated seat atop the road with a great view over your surroundings, which, combined with the lightweight steering rack makes the Sportage perfect for driving around town. The compact turning circle means it’s easy to navigate and park the Sportage in town, while remaining nice and agile in and around tight spots and carparks. 

Better still, the Sportage is more than up for the task of Australia’s rough road surfaces when you do leave the city. This is because Kia and Hyundai both revise their vehicles specifically for the Australian market, giving them suspension that works admirably on poor, bumpy surfaces. 

Australian buyers have the option of three engines, depending on which variant you opt for. The entry-level Sportage receives a 2.0-litre petrol producing 115kW/192Nm, while the mid-range 1.6-litre turbo-petrol produces 132kW/265Nm, and the flagship turbo-diesel increases pulling power for things like boats and caravans with a 137kW/416Nm power figure. 

Power is put to the road via a dual-clutch automatic transmission which, unfortunately, can lag at times while you’re moving off the mark in traffic, but overall performs well in offering quick, smooth gear shifts. 

As a complete package, then, the latest-generation Sportage is an impressive SUV to pilot around town and on long distance trips, making the process of driving an easy and comfortable affair. 

Is it Practical and Spacious? 

The updated Sportage features a significantly larger platform that transports it from the compact to the midsize SUV segment, and has immense benefits when it comes to occupant space, comfort and practicality for growing Australian families.  

The front of the cabin has received a styling refresh that creates a more modern and feature-packed environment, with the infotainment system sitting atop the climate settings and a large storage tray housing USB chargers and space for loose items, that also doubles as a wireless charger in the top-spec GT-Line variant. 

The air vents weave their way through the dash in a nod to the exterior design that emphasises sharp, angular lines and culminates in a smart, visually-appealing SUV cabin, especially when you consider the attractive price tags.

Other storage options in the front cabin include a large set of door bins either side, a pair of cup holders and a decent amount of storage underneath the large folding armrest. 

In terms of space, there’s a great view out of the front cabin with a fully-adjustable driver’s seat and a heap of space for you and the front passenger to get comfortable on long journeys, with absolutely no issues in terms of headroom for even the tallest of drivers. 

Move to the rear of the cabin and you’ll find a comfortable bench seat that can also be reclined back and forth, so your kids can get comfortable on long trips. There’s no issues when it comes to head or legroom in the rear of the Sportage, with enough space for adults to get comfortable, and a heap of headroom even with the optional sunroof installed. The rear bench seat also features a set of ISOFIX anchors, with a heap of room to install a child seat in minutes. 

In terms of cargo storage, the Sportage has a boot rated at 543L with the second row standing, which expands to 1,829L with the seats folded down. In the real word, the Sportage’s boot is more than enough for a large family, and while it remains slightly smaller than its sister car, the Hyundai Tucson, buyers do benefit from a full-sized spare tyre underneath the boot floor.  

Is it Safe?

The Sportage is yet to be officially rated by ANCAP, considering just how new it is to the Australian market. A good reference here, though, is that the Sportage’s sister car, the Hyundai Tucson has received a five star ANCAP rating. 

As standard, all Sportage variants come packaged with autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian, junction and cyclist assistance, as well as blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane keep and follow assistance, adaptive cruise control and a reversing camera with parking sensors. 

Is it Fuel Efficient?

Kia’s entry-level Sportage S with a 2.0-litre petrol engine is rated at 7.7L per 100km on a combined cycle, while the 1.6-litre turbo petrol is rated at 7.2L per 100km and the range-topping turbo-diesel unit is rated at 6.3L per 100km. 

This means that the turbo-diesel Sportage is the most fuel-efficient offering in the range, while offering the most power. 

Our Verdict: Is the Kia Sportage Worth it?

From effectively every angle that you look at the Kia Sportage, it remains one of the leading offerings in the midsize SUV market. As a complete package, the Sportage offers a user-friendly and comfortable driving platform that benefits from Kia’s generous approach to entertainment and safety feature lists. 

The redesign has given the exterior more style, while the larger platform has translated to some serious benefits for those seated in the rear of the cabin, making it one of the leading options within the midsize SUV market. 

As a result, we highly encourage you to add the Sportage to your shortlist, and on that note, if you’re in the market for a new car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925.

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Seven-year, unlimited KM warranty with capped price servicing 

2. No official ANCAP safety rating, yet 

3. Two petrol engines and one diesel available 

4. 543L of boot space with a full-sized spare tyre 

Pros 

• Attractive seven-year ownership program

• Redesigned cabin offers far more space and comfort than before 

• Generous entertainment and safety feature lists  

Cons

• Dual-clutch auto can misbehave briefly at slow speeds 

• Intrusive lane keep assistance at times 

• Underwhelming base petrol engine 

OnlineAuto Rating: 9/10

Kia Sportage Competition