The Kia Sportage is one of our top-rated compact SUVs for its roomy and tech-forward interior, bold style, and class-leading warranty. Pricing starts at $27,090.
Inside and out, the Kia
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Sportage makes a strong case for the most cutting-edge entry in the competitive compact SUV segment. Fresh off of a complete redesign for 2023, the Sportage shares a family resemblance with Kia’s popular EV6 electric vehicle. Inside, we love the two big screens that serve as the focal point of one of the segment’s roomiest interiors. Backed by Kia’s famously generous warranty coverage, the Sportage ranks high on our list of the best compact SUVs for most people. The Sportage lineup also includes hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants, which are reviewed separately. The Honda CR-V
HMC,
Mazda CX-50
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and Hyundai Tucson are each similar in different regards.
See: The 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid is stylish, practical and has stellar safety scores
2024 Kia Sportage pricing
The 2024 Kia Sportage starts at $27,090 for the base LX model. The popular X-Line model begins at $31,890, and a loaded X-Pro Prestige model starts at $37,890. All-wheel drive is a $1,800 option for the LX, EX, and SX Prestige trim, and it’s standard on all X-Line and X-Pro models.
The Sportage is a slightly lower-priced alternative to segment stalwarts like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4
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| 2024 Kia Sportage | MSRP |
| Sportage LX | $27,090 |
| Sportage EX | $29,090 |
| Sportage X-Line | $31,890 |
| Sportage SX | $32,590 |
| Sportage SX Prestige | $34,590 |
| Sportage X-Pro | $36,090 |
| Sportage X-Pro Prestige | $37,890 |
These are manufacturer’s suggested retail prices and don’t include the $1,325 factory-to-dealer delivery fee (destination charge).
Before buying a Sportage, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should pay. Kia Sportage resale values are about average for the segment.
What’s new?
Having been completely redesigned for 2023, changes are minor to the 2024 Sportage. AWD is no longer available for the SX trim, and LED projector headlights are now standard on every trim. Second-row seat-mounted airbags are a new standard safety feature.
Driving the 2024 Kia Sportage
The Kia Sportage is powered by a 187-horsepower 4-cylinder engine matched with an 8-speed automatic transmission and front- or all-wheel drive. Our reviewers have found power delivery and acceleration about typical for the segment.
One of the things that impressed us the most when we drove the Sportage was the quiet ride. It’s so serene and hushed that it rivals some luxury brands. Between the smooth, quiet ride and the upscale cabin, we thought it felt like a bigger, more expensive SUV in highway cruising. The handling around town is pretty standard for a compact SUV, and it feels stable around corners.
A big surprise with the Sportage is that it’s a pretty good off-roader when adequately equipped, namely in the X-Pro trims. Few remember the rugged roots of the Kia Sportage in its early years, but this generation delivers a satisfying blend of on-road comfort and off-road capability.
We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating the current collection of compact SUVs, including this Kia Sportage.
Roomy interior
Our reviewers have collectively described the interior of the Kia Sportage as an attractive mix of sport, luxury, and tech. The dual 12.3-inch digital displays married beneath a curved sheet of glass dominate the first impression, but that’s just the beginning. Angular air vents hugging the curved display add a technical look. An asymmetrical center console puts buttons and controls within easy reach of the driver. And when not needed to hold your drink, the cupholder area cleverly transforms into an extra bin that can accommodate larger items. We like the idea of the dual-purpose digital control panel — the same knob increases volume or temperature, depending on the mode — but it’ll always be a little extra cognitive load.
Most significantly, there are 41.3 inches of legroom in the adult-friendly rear seats and 39.6 cubic feet of cargo space in the Sportage. Those are both best-in-class ratings, just barely beating the roomy Honda CR-V.
See: The new 2023 Honda CR-V aims to excel in a multitude of ways. Mission accomplished.
Favorite features
Blind-spot view monitor
When you activate a turn signal, a video image of the Sportage’s rear-quarter blind spot is displayed on the digital instrument panel, helping make lane changes safer. It’s supplemented by the Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, which automatically applies selective brakes to keep the Sportage from changing into an occupied lane.
X-Pro Models
These are the rugged Sportage models suitable for use on dirt. While they are nowhere near as capable as something like a Jeep Wrangler in off-road settings, they have 1.5 inches of extra ground clearance, BFGoodrich all-terrain tires, and a multi-terrain all-wheel-drive system with dirt-specific settings. And they look the part.
Spacious interior
A vast cargo hold and tons of rear-seat space make the Sportage one of the roomiest SUVs in its class.
Dual panoramic displays
Most trims of the Sportage come with two 12.3-inch screens in one sleek display. One is a digital gauge cluster, and the other is an infotainment screen loaded with features like Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Amazon Alexa.
Wireless charging
An available wireless charging pad makes it easy to keep the battery in your phone topped off. Additionally, two USB-C chargers are located on the back of the seats.
Kia Drive Wise
Standard features in the Kia Drive Wise safety tech suite include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, and lane-following assist.
Check out: The 2024 Mazda CX-50 vs. the Ford Bronco Sport
Engine and transmission
The same engine powers every non-hybrid Kia Sportage, but conventional hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains are also available and reviewed separately. Like most of its rivals, front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is a popular option.
2.5-liter 4-cylinder
187 horsepower @ 6,100 rpm
178 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy (2023): 25/32 mpg (FWD), 23/28 (AWD)
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Class-leading warranty
The Kia Sportage is tied with the Hyundai Tucson for the best warranty in its class. It’s backed by a 5-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty.
KBB’s car review methodology.
This story originally ran on KBB.com.
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