2021 Kia Sportage Review

Kia Sportage SX Turbo 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

+498

The Sportage is a pleasing city runabout. We like its easy-to-use controls and value for the dollar. 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 there are just as many reasons to look elsewhere.

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2021 Kia Sportage Review

byRyan ZumMallen^{Contributor
Ryan ZumMallen has worked in the automotive industry since 2012. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Ryan has also contributed to Road & Track, Autoweek, Trucks.com and more. In 2019, Ryan published his first book, Slow Car Fast, on the millennial generation and its unique take on modern car culture.}

Pros

Smooth ride
Spacious front and rear seating
Attractive dashboard layout with appealing features
Quiet interior at highway speeds

Cons

Lower fuel economy than some top rivals
Relatively modest cargo capacity
Slow acceleration

What's new

S Sunroof and Premium packages are no longer available
Nightfall Edition and Nightfall Edition Premium packages take their place
Part of the fourth Sportage generation introduced for 2017

Overview

The 2021 Kia Sportage is a small SUV that slots between the three-row Sorento and the compact Seltos. The Sportage shares more than a little with its corporate sibling, the Hyundai Tucson. The Sportage packs tons of features into an affordable package, with available all-wheel drive and a striking design that helps it stand out from the crowd. But in a very crowded segment, it rated lower on our list than all-stars such as the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Forester.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Kia Sportage LX 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A) 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 $3.46 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$165/mo

$180/mo

Avg. Compact SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

The current-generation Sportage debuted in 2017 and benefited from a variety of updates for 2020. As such, very little changes on the 2021 model. For our full take on the ups and downs on the Sportage and whether it's the best SUV for you, check out our Expert Rating for all the details.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds 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.}

Average

7.2

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

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 largely disappoints. Our Sportage test vehicle had the optional turbocharged 2.0-liter engine. With it we managed a 0-60 mph sprint of 9 seconds, which is a poor showing for a small SUV with an upgraded engine. 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

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

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. Drivers and passengers more than 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

8.0/10

How’s the tech? With few exceptions, the Sportage's tech features are top-notch. The logical and approachable touchscreen is user-friendly, and we appreciate the standard smartphone integration and charging options for front and rear passengers. The available upgraded stereo is among the best in the class. Navigation graphics are clean and crisp. But voice commands are 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 works well, handling traffic without false positives or unsettling jerkiness. Only lane keeping assist has issues; it can misread lane marker lines and doesn't provide much steering assist to keep you within the lane.

Storage

7.0/10

How’s the storage? Cargo capacity is 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 wheelwells intrude into the space. In the cabin, there's not much space for small items. We like the generous phone cubby, but the center console bin is on the small side, and the door bins are narrow.

Got small children? The reclining rear seatback and clearly marked car seat anchors make fitting a child seat easier, but installing a bulky rear-facing seat will require moving the front seats forward.

Fuel Economy

5.0/10

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 route, 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

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

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.

Which Sportage does Edmunds recommend?

There's a long list of standard features on all Sportage trims, but the EX really packs them in for the price. This model adds several visual upgrades as well as some that you'll feel right away, such as the power-adjustable driver's seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel and dual-zone automatic climate control.

2021 Kia Sportage models

The 2021 Kia Sportage is available in one of four trims: the LX, S, EX and SX. All models come with a six-speed automatic transmission and your choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

LX
Standard equipment on the LX includes:

181-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine
17-inch alloy wheels
8-inch touchscreen display
Six-speaker sound system
USB port
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone functionality
Selectable driving modes
60/40-split folding and reclining back seat
Rear privacy glass

The Sportage also comes with a suite of safety features, such as:

Driver attention monitor (issues an alert if sensors determine you may be fatigued)
Lane departure warning (alerts you if it detects drifting without a turn signal activated)
Lane keeping assist (steers the Sportage back into its lane if it drifts over the line)
Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)

S
Builds off the LX, adding:

18-inch alloy wheels in dark gray
Foglights
Roof rails
Heated, power-folding mirrors
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Simulated leather upholstery
Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)

EX
Makes several optional packages from LX and S standard:

18-inch alloy wheels with machined finish
Hands-free tailgate
Keyless entry and ignition
Gloss black interior trim
Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter
Power-adjustable driver's seat
Heated front seats
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Rear USB port

SX Turbo
Tops the range with exclusive features including:

240-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine
19-inch wheels
Sport-tuned suspension
Larger front brakes
LED headlights
Black roof rails
Navigation system and satellite radio
Harman Kardon eight-speaker sound system
Wireless charging pad
Heated flat-bottom steering wheel
Paddle shifters
Heated and ventilated front seats
Leather seats
Power-adjustable front passenger seat
Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car ahead, even in heavy traffic)
Front and rear parking sensors

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

4/5Excellent

#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

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Kia Sportage from 2008-2022.}

$406/yr

vs. $465/yr
for Average Compact SUV

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

0.83x/yr

vs. 1x/yr
for Average Compact SUV

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

10.9%

vs. 11.5%
for Average Compact SUV

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Kia Sportage.

5 (78%)

4 (15%)

3 (3%)

2 (1%)

1 (3%)

4.6

96 reviews

Write a vehicle review See all 96 reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Stylish get up and go!

Shelly, 02/05/2020

2020 Kia Sportage LX 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)

I was surprised to learn how comfortable this car is. I drive a lot and didn't want bad gas mileage or a vehicle that hesitated. The seats are SO comfortable, the ride is quiet, bigger interior room, including the back seat. Stylish interior and easy controls with many options. I can feel this difference when I put in AWD and if I choose sport mode too. I love driving this around …

Very Pleased

Bsprinks, 10/29/2019

2020 Kia Sportage S 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)

I just returned from a 1,200 mile trip in my 2020 Kia Sportage S with premium package. Nothing like a long trip tp get to know your vehicle! I can say I'm very pleased with the vehicle. It rides smooth, it's comfortable, and rides quiet. Using Google maps on Android Auto was great. My Garmin never came out of the console compartment. The driver assist technologies worked good as well. It …

First review of the 2020!

Matt Johnson, 06/19/2019

2020 Kia Sportage S 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)

This car is fantastic! I’m 6’0” and 220 and I couldn’t be more comfortable. I read a review where someone said it didn’t have much headroom for a 6ft guy. I don’t know what car he was driving because there is tons of room over my head in the front or back seat. My model does not have the power seats and there’s not a lot of adjustability but they are super comfy as is. We came from an …

Beyond expectations

DB GaNung, 12/15/2020

2021 Kia Sportage SX Turbo 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)

2021 Kia Sportage SX Turbo, Pacific Blue with Beige interior package (really tan with charcoal edges, HOT! It has every smart safety upgrade, including the fact it can park itself either by backing into a slop or parallel. And then it can unpark itself. It has lane departure, but also will keep one in the lane utilizing adaptive cruise control as you go. Front and back avoidance and …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 Kia Sportage, so we've included reviews for other years of the Sportage since its last redesign.

See all 96 reviews of the Kia Sportage

Write a vehicle review

2021 Sportage Highlights

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$24,090
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	26 MPG
Cost to Drive	$165/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: Warns you if it detects pedestrians or stopped or suddenly slowing vehicles. Automatically brakes if needed.
Lane Departure Warning System: Warns you if the Sportage drifts out of the lane without you 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
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
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
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2021 Kia Sportage Review

2021 Kia Sportage Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Kia Sportage LX 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A) 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 $3.46 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Sportage does Edmunds recommend?

2021 Kia Sportage models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

Stylish get up and go!

Very Pleased

First review of the 2020!

Beyond expectations

2021 Sportage Highlights

Safety

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Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Kia Sportage LX 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A) 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 $3.46 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}