Buying a used Kia Sportage (2015-21)

If you didn’t like early examples of the Hyundai Elantra passenger car, you might not have thought much of early Kia Sportage SUVs. Both models during the 1990s shared a platform and the Sportage struggled with credibility.

In 2010 brought a new and more appealing third-generation (SL-series) Sportage, which had its competence in design and improved off-road credentials rewarded with awards from markets across the world.

That version of the Sportage benefited from local suspension tuning for the first time and helped strengthen Kia’s position in the Australian marketplace, where it was on a fast track to becoming one of the nation’s leading brands. The Sportage alone went from 3000 sales in 2010 to 7600 in 2015 – second only to the Cerato small car.

At that point, the SL Sportage was due for replacement, making way for the new fourth-generation QL-series Sportage built in Korea with features specific to Australia and also in factories throughout the world. Global sales of the QL Sportage would by 2021 exceed 1.2 million units.

Launched in Australia in January 2016, the new Sportage came with 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre petrol engine options, plus a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel. Front- or all-wheel drive layouts were available, with six-speed automatic transmission fitted standard.

Other markets allowed buyers to specify 1.6-litre petrol or 1.6 and 1.7-litre diesels with manual transmission. Also available elsewhere was a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and an eight-speed automatic.

The QL design would also snare awards in significant markets, including the US where it was named Best Small SUV in the influential JD Power Initial Quality Study.

QL-series Sportage sales peaked during 2019 at more than 13,500 units before sales slumped as COVID-19 lockdowns and supply shortages took effect. Almost 10,000 Sportage sales still helped Kia to sixth place overall in the market with 56,076 units for the 2020 calendar year.

The current fifth-generation (NQ5) Sportage was launched in Australia in November 2021.

• Underbody damage due to off-road use
• Paint delamination on upper surfaces
• Owners not responding to recall notices to replace the heater core due to possible fire risk

The Kia Sportage that appeared on Australian roads during the late 1990s was a strange-looking device, but quickly adapted to a competitive market where trends were being set by the likes of the Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester.

Fast-forward 20 or so years and the fourth-generation QL-series Sportage would retain a quirky appearance, using features like its ‘alien eye’ light pods and weirdly shaped side windows to define it as different in a world full of lookalike SUVs.

As expected in a market where sales weren’t particularly strong and the product being sold was different from elsewhere, Kia Motors made Australia wait until late 2016, almost a year past the QL’s international release date, before stocks arrived.

Our range of QLs commenced with the front-wheel drive Si – a 114kW/192Nm 2.0-litre petrol variant with six-speed automatic transmission, priced from $28,990 plus on-road costs.

By this time, our market was deemed too sophisticated for manual transmission and Kia elected not to offer a manual in any version of the QL-series Sportage at launch (although that did change during 2019).

Turbo-diesel versions cost $5000 more than the basic Si but did come with all-wheel drive, more power (136kW) and more than double the amount of torque, up to a very useful 400Nm. The 2.0-litre diesel when hauling a braked trailer also had a 1900kg tow capacity, against 1600kg for the petrol FWD.

Si versions offered plenty of equipment, with climate-control air-conditioning, a six-speaker sound system with Bluetooth, automatic headlight activation, heated and folding exterior mirrors, roof rails and 17-inch alloy wheels with a full-size spare.

The seats would adjust manually for height and the steering column adapted to both height and reach. It also provided controls for the stereo and cruise control.

Climb a rung to the Sportage SLi and the prices of a 2WD Sportage increased by $5000 to $33,990 plus ORCs. For the extra, buyers could expect wheels that were an inch larger in diameter but with lower-profile tyres that could still fit into the spare wheel well.

If you use a car in places where replacement tyres aren’t readily available, the Sportage offers a huge advantage over models that offer only a temporary spare or none at all.

The seats were covered leather and both front pews had power adjustment. The infotainment system was supplemented by sat-nav – which reportedly suffered some initial problems – while other features included LED daytime running lights and tyre pressure monitoring.

Top of the QL Sportage tree, as of early 2016, was the turbo-diesel AWD Platinum. It was priced at $46,990 plus ORCs, or a helpful $500 less than the closely related Hyundai Tucson Highlander CRDi.

Platinums brought a serious list of standard kit, beginning with a 135kW/237Nm 2.4-litre petrol engine in place of the 2.0-litre.

SUV buyers who valued driver assist technology would love the Platinum and its array of sensors, bells and beepers. There were monitors to keep you in your lane and advise of a vehicle alongside, a forward collision alert with low-speed autonomous braking, parking proximity alerts, automated steering and, of course, an exterior camera.

Platinum seats were ventilated and infinitely adjustable, the tailgate had full power operation and an electric sunroof was included.

Barely a year would then pass before Kia reshuffled the deck, adding an extra model to the range for 2018 and replacing the Platinum with an equally luxurious GT-Line.

Least expensive was still the Si petrol, although by mid-2018 it cost $29,990 plus ORCs. The new Si Premium began at $32,290, with turbo-diesel versions of the GT-Line starting at $47,690 plus ORCs. There was no change in output from the powerplants.

Since 2014, Kia has enticed buyers with its seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and a capped-price servicing scheme.

Cars in the used market may still be covered by that original manufacturer’s warranty, with associated roadside assistance, and may still have access to the servicing deal.

The Kia Sportage model to seek, if you can afford one, is a Platinum or GT-Line. These with their 2.4-litre petrol or 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engines have enough power to deal adequately with a 1700-1800kg SUV – power that the 2.0-litre petrol engine just doesn’t really have.

Even at base Si level, the Sportage offers decent seats in a roomy cabin. Forward vision is good, as is the dash layout and display screen. Experimenting for a few minutes will reveal which functions can be controlled via thumb buttons and which need the screen.

Top-spec QL-series Sportage models come with paddle shifts, but like those in the Mazda CX-5, they aren’t the easiest devices to use. Manual control works best when using the central selector.

High-grade Sportage SUVs deliver an array of audible and visual warnings that may annoy some users. The six- or eight-speaker sound system seems okay but might be deemed a bit miserable in a top-notch model.

Some owners fail to appreciate the difference between all-wheel drive (AWD) and ‘all terrain’, taking SUVs like the Sportage into spots where they will get stuck and possibly damaged as a result.

AWD versions of the Sportage can deal adequately with lots of off-road situations and will be just fine in the ice and snow during your family’s Alpine getaway. For other low-traction adventures, like damp sand and rocky tracks, hastening slowly is the best tactic when learning just how far the Sportage chassis might take you.

Occupant protection is a major consideration when comparing vehicles intended as family transport. With excellent performances in local ANCAP and Euro NCAP testing, all versions of the Australian-market Sportage warrant five-star ratings.

Fuel consumption will be at its worst when a petrol Sportage is used under urban conditions, yet even here the manufacturer’s claim is a decent 10.7L/100km. In highway running, petrol versions manage 8.0L/100km but get walloped by the turbo-diesel with its 5.4L/100km highway figure and combined average of 6.8L/100km.

Not many models in this size and price range deliver a better experience for family users than the Kia Sportage.

Providing somebody hasn’t replaced the original tyres with cheap, noisy ones, these vehicles cruise quietly and have enough grunt from the more powerful engines to safely overtake.

Luggage capacity with the back seat fully occupied is 466 litres (1455 litres if you lay both sides of the rear seat down), although legroom in the back is marginal if you have a tall teen or two.

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Used vehicle grading for Kia Sportage QL (2015-21)
Design & Function: 16/20
Safety: 16/20
Practicality: 16/20
Value for Money: 14/20
Wow Factor: 10/20
Score: 72/100

Also consider: Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-5, Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan X-TRAIL, Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4, Volkswagen Tiguan