2021 Kia Sportage Review

Name: 2021 Kia Sportage
Brand: Kia

Price Range: $11,988 - $28,590

Kia Sportage SX Turbo 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

Average

7.2

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

The 2021 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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Certified Pre-Owned Sportage

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

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Price & Payment

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Average price: $18,183

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Kia Sportage model years

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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

Written by automotive expert Ryan ZumMallen

10/1/2020

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.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Ashburn, VA

52 listings

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2021 Kia Sportage
LX 4dr SUV
$14,995
fair price
$548 below market
- 91,120 miles
- 5 Seats, 22 City / 26 Hwy MPG
- 23 mi away
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Blind Spot Monitorin...
- Power Driver Seat
Close
Located in Arlington, VA
2021 KIA SPORTAGE ALL WHEEL DRIVE with powerful 2.4L GDI DOHC 16V I4 -INC DUAL CVVT engine and driven only 91120 miles! Fully loaded and much more! CA...
Features and Specs:
23 Combined MPG (22 City/26 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN:
KNDPMCAC1M7916549
Stock:
2931
Certified Pre-Owned:
No
New Listing
2021 Kia Sportage
EX 4dr SUV
$15,998
great price
$2,348 below market
- 90,120 miles
- 5 Seats, 22 City / 26 Hwy MPG
- 2,261 mi away
- Delivery available*
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Blind Spot Monitorin...
Close
Located in Buena Park, CA
Wanna drive? CarMax puts you in the driver's seat-and that includes transparency and pricing without document or processing fees. Certain cars may hav...
Features and Specs:
23 Combined MPG (22 City/26 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN:
KNDPNCAC2M7935043
Stock:
70240802
Certified Pre-Owned:
No
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Certified Pre-Owned Sportage
10-year/100,000-mile
Powertrain Limited Warranty
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https://www.kia.com/us/en/cpo

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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

edmunds TESTED

by the Edmunds Experts

Average

7.2

out of 10

We drove the 2021 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

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

8/10

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.

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

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https://www.kia.com/us/en/cpo

Storage

7/10

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

5/10

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.

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

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2021 Kia Sportage trim level differences

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. Compare the 2021 Kia Sportage trim levels in-depth.

Which Sportage trim 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.

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$198/mo

$230/mo

Avg. Compact SUV

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Reliability

The 2021 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

4.7

26 reviews

5(81%)

4(11%)

3(8%)

2(0%)

1(0%)

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2021 Sportage Features & Specs

Trim:

Est. Market Value	$16,528
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	26 MPG
Cost to Drive	$198/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	30.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles

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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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