2020 Kia Sportage Costs Less Yet Impresses

Name: 2020 Kia Sportage
Brand: Kia

Price Range: $12,293 - $23,990

Kia Sportage SX Turbo 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

Average

7.2

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

The 2020 Sportage is a pleasing city runabout, with a ton of well-executed optional features and low-end torque from the optional turbocharged motor. But in terms of real performance, driving refinement and fuel economy, the Sportage falls below what we consider acceptable in the class. It has some advantages, but we found just as many reasons to look elsewhere.

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Certified Pre-Owned Sportage

10-year/100,000-mile Powertrain Limited Warranty

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Average price: $17,230

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Appraise My 2020 Kia Sportage

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Kia Sportage model years

Kia Sportage for Sale

Pros

Well-shaped seats offer all-day comfort
Plenty of room in both rows
Pleasantly intuitive interior layout with quality materials
Quiet interior at highway speeds

Cons

Disappointing acceleration and fuel economy from upgraded engine
Ride is rougher than you'd expect in SX Turbo model
Thick pillars create larger-than-average blind spots
Relatively modest cargo capacity

What's new

Updated front and rear styling
New safety features, including adaptive cruise control
Standard 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Part of the fourth Sportage generation introduced for 2017

Low price, rich features, cargo compromise

Written by automotive expert Cameron Rogers

9/17/2020

If you're in the market for a small crossover, you're probably aware of heavy hitters such as the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Ford Escape. Wander off the beaten path, however, and you'll find alternatives that offer strong selling points. The 2020 Kia Sportage is one of these lesser-known rivals, and we think it makes a good name for itself, with a low price and a feature-rich lineup.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Ashburn, VA

50 listings

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2020 Kia Sportage
EX 4dr SUV
$14,981
great price
$2,963 below market
- 79,950 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, personal use only
- 5 Seats, 23 City / 30 Hwy MPG
- H&R Auto (24 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Blind Spot Monitorin...
- Power Driver Seat
Close
Located in Arlington, VA
WARRANTY, LEATHER, SUN ROOF, NAVIGTION, CARFAX CERTIFIED 25 SERIVCE RECORDS,CARPLAY/ANROID PLAY, NEW OIL CHANGE, NEW VA INSPECTION AND PRICED TO SELL ...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
26 Combined MPG (23 City/30 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: KNDPN3AC3L7657946
Stock: H74121
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 04-08-2026
2020 Kia Sportage
LX 4dr SUV
$13,999
good price
$1,304 below market
- 58,895 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, personal use
- 5 Seats, 23 City / 30 Hwy MPG
- Boost Motors (5 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- USB Inputs
- Apple Carplay/Androi...
Close
Located in Sterling, VA
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
26 Combined MPG (23 City/30 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: KNDPM3AC9L7635503
Stock: 635503
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 03-03-2026

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The Sportage costs less than many of its competitors but offers more features, including standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, plus desirable driver aids such as lane departure and forward collision warning systems. Unlike rivals, which offer skimpy starter versions, you can equip the Kia's base LX model with an option package that makes it well-equipped for such a reasonably priced crossover. Up the trim ladder, you'll find features that are rare for the class, including ventilated front seats and a panoramic sunroof.

Its most significant drawback is its relatively compact cargo area. The Sportage is smaller than most in the class, but its passenger seating is just as roomy as you'll find in competitors. That means the space savings has to come from behind the second row, where the Sportage supplies about one-third less cargo space than its most spacious rivals. We also aren't impressed by the upgraded engine, which feels strong but posts worse acceleration figures than the standard motor. Fuel ratings for either engine are also middling. However, its lower purchase price helps even things out, and you won't be turned off by the cargo area unless you typically load your car to the brim with gear.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

by the Edmunds Experts

Average

7.2

out of 10

We drove the 2020 Kia Sportage on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Performance: City torque wins, twist roads fail

6.5/10

How does the Sportage drive? The Sportage performs best around town, where its ample low-end torque, smooth braking and nicely weighted steering can shine. But when taken out of its comfort zone, the Kia falls apart. Our tester with the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine managed 0-60 mph in 9 seconds, a poor showing for an upgraded motor in the class. The brake pedal is a little soft, but it's easy to gauge the amount of pressure needed to bring the Sportage to an easy stop.

While the ride feels sporty, the suspension feels sloppy on twisty roads. Combined with numb steering and sometimes on-off power delivery, the Sportage reveals itself to be anything but sporty.

Comfort: Supportive seats, quick climate, but noisy tires

7.5/10

How comfortable is the Sportage? We like the supportive front seats that have plenty of adjustment and above-average heating and cooling capabilities. The climate control system quickly adjusts cabin temperatures too. The interior is well isolated from traffic noise and from road noise over bumps, but tire noise is noticeable at freeway speeds.

In keeping with the Sportage name, the ride is a bit firm and sporty. Around town, the suspension does a great job absorbing small bumps, but at higher speeds and over larger bumps, there's noticeable bounciness and rebound. It can be almost boat-like at times.

Interior: Generous space, cramped headroom

7.5/10

How’s the interior? The Sportage's interior feels high-quality for the class and has some nice features, but the sleek roofline creates compromises. Legroom and elbow room is generous all around, but drivers and passengers over 6 feet tall may note a lack of headroom. The low roof makes the interior feel smaller than it is, and the thick roof pillars create a number of blind spots. Yet even with the low roof, it's easy to get in or out of the SUV due to the wide door openings.

The seating position offers a good range of motion, especially with the generously telescoping steering wheel, but taller drivers will wish the seat could go lower. Buttons are clearly labeled, but each panel features buttons of identical shape and size so you will be relying on those labels rather than finding controls by touch.

Technology: Mostly excellent touchscreen, weak voice controls

8/10

How’s the tech? With few exceptions, the Sportage's tech features are top-notch. The logical and approachable touchscreen is very user-friendly, and we appreciate the standard smartphone integration and charging options for front and rear passengers. Our tester's upgraded stereo is among the best in the class. Navigation is clean and crisp, although some tasks take more steps than we'd like. Voice commands were disappointing — the system is easily confused, especially when you're trying to control navigation — and can't be accessed while using smartphone projection. A subscription to Kia's Uvo services, which our tester lacked, is said to improve voice recognition.

The Sportage's suite of driver aids worked well, handling traffic without false positives or unsettling jerkiness. Only lane keeping assist had issues, misreading lines in the pavement at times and providing little steering assist.

Storage: Average trunk space, awkward loading

7/10

How’s the storage? The trunk is usable but capacity is just average for the class. There's 30.7 cubic feet of space behind the second row and 60.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. The low cargo floor makes it easy to load items, but the trunk opening is also relatively low and the wheelwells intrude into the space. In the cabin, there are some nice storage options but not much space for small items. We like the generous phone cubby, but the console box is on the small side. All four door pockets have room for regular-size water bottles, but they quickly narrow to leave little room for much else.

The reclining rear seatback and clearly marked car seat anchors make fitting a child seat easier, but bulky rear-facing seats will requiring moving the front seats forward.

Fuel Economy: EPA and Real-World Numbers Fall Short

5/10

How’s the fuel economy? EPA estimates range from 26 mpg combined for the base front-wheel-drive Sportage down to 21 mpg combined for the turbocharged 2.0-liter model with all-wheel drive. Neither of those numbers is a strong showing in a class where competitors can claim up to 30 mpg.

On our real-world testing loop, the Sportage returned 20.6 mpg, coming close to the EPA estimate. Still, considering the relatively slow acceleration from even the turbocharged model, these economy numbers are disappointing.

Value: Kia warranty makes it worth it

7.5/10

Is the Sportage a good value? Where the Sportage was once a standout, it's now caught up in the mix as automakers hone their value propositions. The Kia has a slight price advantage, especially if you place more priority on comfort and tech features than performance or practicality. But the real value proposition is Kia's warranty: The five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty are matched only by Hyundai.

Starting at around $24,000, the Sportage undercuts the base CR-V, but it's less practical and comes with a less desirable base engine. Our top-of-the-line tester came in at a bit over $37,000, which just undercuts the highest-trim CX-5 that offers better performance with similar practicality. For the class, you're not quite getting everything you're paying for.

Wildcard: Feature-heavy commuter with brittle veneer

6.5/10

The Sportage lives and dies on its features, and it really only shines as a commuter. It's certainly an SUV that feels good to get into, with its well-built interior and comprehensive feature set, but push it outside of its comfort zone and the veneer cracks. In the end, it's hard to do anything but assign a split score here.

10-year/100,000-mile
Powertrain Limited Warranty

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2020 Kia Sportage trim level differences

The 2020 Kia Sportage is a five-passenger compact-crossover SUV available in LX, S, EX and SX Turbo trim levels. The LX has a decent number of standard features, while the S adds a few more and offers the most choices for optional packages. The EX contains features of both of the above trims and their respective packages. The sporty SX Turbo comes with nearly all of the Sportage's features as standard. Compare the 2020 Kia Sportage trim levels in-depth.

Which Sportage trim does Edmunds recommend?

If you want a feature-rich Sportage without an outrageous price tag, there are two ways you can go. The EX has faux leather upholstery, heated front seats and a handful of tech options such as blind-spot monitoring and keyless entry. If you want more goodies and can live without leather, the S with Premium package is a little more expensive but includes sporty styling upgrades, satellite radio and adaptive cruise control, among other extras. Of course, you can get these features on the EX, but that option package is pricey.

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$186/mo

$217/mo

Avg. Compact SUV

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Reliability

The 2020 Kia Sportage has a 5 years / 60,000 miles basic warranty and 2 recalls. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 4 out of 5, ranks it #7 out of 29 among Compact SUVs. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

4 out of 5 stars4/5Excellent

#7 out of 29 among Compact SUVs

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

$406/yr

vs. $465/yr
for Average Compact SUV

Frequency

0.83x/yr

vs. 1x/yr
for Average Compact SUV

Severity

10.9%

vs. 11.5%
for Average Compact SUV

Recalls

2 recalls found

Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.

If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).

Recall Number:: 22V703000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: SC249
Number of vehicles affected:: 70887
Defect Description:: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Defect Consequence:: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Corrective Action:: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.

Recall Number:: 21V137000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: SC206
Number of vehicles affected:: 379931
Defect Description:: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Sportage and Cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.
Defect Consequence:: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.
Corrective Action:: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain fuses in the electrical junction box. Vehicles equipped with an electronic parking brake (EPB) will also receive a HECU software update. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. The recall is expected to begin April 30, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC206.

Warranty

5 years / 60,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 10 years / 100,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 5 years / 100,000 miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles

Kia Sportage Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.6

74 reviews

5(78%)

4(14%)

3(3%)

2(1%)

1(4%)

See all 74 reviews of the Kia Sportage

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

2020 Sportage Features & Specs

Trim:

MSRP (New) Excludes Destination Fee	$23,990
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	26 MPG
Cost to Drive	$186/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	30.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Sportage models:

Forward Collision Avoidance Assist: Detects pedestrians and stopped or suddenly slowing vehicles. Warns the driver and automatically brakes if needed.
Lane Departure Warning System: Warns the driver if the Sportage drifts out of its lane without the driver using a turn signal.
Blind-Spot Collision Warning: Monitors your blind spots and alerts you to other vehicles through lights in the side mirrors.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover15.5%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Not Tested
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Marginal
Roof Strength Test
Not Tested
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Not Tested

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2020 Kia Sportage Costs Less Yet Impresses

Price & Payment

Pros

Cons

What's new

Low price, rich features, cargo compromise

For sale near Ashburn, VA

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance: City torque wins, twist roads fail

Comfort: Supportive seats, quick climate, but noisy tires

Interior: Generous space, cramped headroom

Technology: Mostly excellent touchscreen, weak voice controls

Storage: Average trunk space, awkward loading

Fuel Economy: EPA and Real-World Numbers Fall Short

Value: Kia warranty makes it worth it

Wildcard: Feature-heavy commuter with brittle veneer

2020 Kia Sportage trim level differences

Which Sportage trim does Edmunds recommend?

Cost to Drive

Reliability

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

Recalls

Warranty

Kia Sportage Reviews

Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

2020 Sportage Features & Specs

Safety

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