Since its North American debut as a 1995 model, the Kia Sportage has come a long way. Remember the swamp tour TV commercials that introduced us to an affordable compact Korean SUV? That under-powered, tippy, body-on-frame all-wheel driver is long gone, but it created a solid customer base. This review covers the fourth generation Sportage of the 2017-2022 model years. In Canada, sales hovered around the 12,000 mark annually. Here’s what you should know about buying a used Kia Sportage.
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Used Kia Sportage 2017 – 2022 engine options and trims
The trim line up from entry to top consisted of the LX front-wheel drive, LX all-wheel drive, LX NightSky AWD, EX S AWD, EX Premium S AWD, and SX AWD. All except the top SX were powered by a 2.4L 4-cylinder putting out 181 hp. The SX got the benefit of a turbo-charged 2.0L 4-cylinder delivering 237 hp. The sole transmission offering was a 6-speed automatic. The front wheels were the primary drivers with the rears kicking in for added traction.
For its weight and size either of these engines provided more than enough power for the average driver and driving conditions. All of the trims from the LX Nightsky to the SX come with a full slate of driver convenience and collision mitigation systems, with the EX Premium S adding only a power hands-free liftgate.
Used Kia Sportage 2017 – 2022 price range
The asking price range for used Kia Sportage is quite wide. You can find one from as low as CDN $11,000 to as high as CDN $30,000
Kia Sportage 2017 – 2022 interior and practicality
Interior materials used are competitive for this class, and with few complaints about squeaks or rattles. The base LX trim offers essential features such as Bluetooth, a USB port, and a small touchscreen. For those seeking more, higher trims come with a high-resolution 8-inch touchscreen that provides good graphics and fast response times. The EX’s standard 7-inch touchscreen, which includes Uvo infotainment features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for seamless smartphone integration. Passenger comfort and space in the Sportage are acceptable for its class.
The driver and front passenger enjoy generous headroom and legroom. Rear-seat passengers are equally well accommodated, with a 6-foot driver still able to comfortably seat another 6-footer in the rear, enjoying ample thigh support. This level of comfort is typically found in midsize crossovers, making it a pleasant surprise in the compact Sportage. Like most compact SUVs, towing capacity is limited to 2,000 lbs max with trailers equipped with their own braking system.
Problems in Used 2017 – 2022 Kia Sportage
Early years of the fourth gen Sportage (2017-2019) didn’t score well with some owners. Primary complaints were fuel economy (10.5 L/100KM combined for the 2.4L and 11.1 for the 2.0 Turbo), general body hardware failures (think latches, mirrors, locks, windows, etc) and paint (peeling, fading and cracking). Visibility out side and rear windows was also mentioned as problematic due to wide rear pillars. While earlier generations of the Sportage had some history of internal engine faults (oil consumption, excessive piston/cylinder wear, and stalling) the fourth gen had much better reliability.
Kia Sportage reliability
With proper maintenance (which is competitively priced at most service providers) the Sportage can easily exceed 250K km or more. Getting a full repair history package to review before purchasing a pre-owned vehicle is always a good idea. Wearable items such as brakes and tires delivered expected lifespans. The Sportage is usually welcomed at most non-dealership service centres and benefits from a good variety of aftermarket replacement parts and easy-to-access components.
The fourth generation Sportage hasn’t been recalled all that often. The 2017 model has four recalls to its name specifically for engine, fuel, electrical systems and trailer hitches. The 2018 model was recalled thrice for engine, fuel and hydraulics. 2019 to 2022 models were recalled for potential fire hazard in the engine compartment and trailer hitch issues. The 2022 model was also recalled once for issues with tow hitch harness.
Which used Kia Sportage should you buy?
Stick with the 2020-2022 model years of the fourth gen to get the best reliability and acceptable levels of popular safety and convenience features. Stay away from glass roof panels. Even though the Sportage didn’t have any widespread problems with roof glass shattering, impacts can weaken the glass without showing any visible signs.
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