Kia Sportage SX 2021 Review

The Kia Sportage is the Korean manufacturer’s five-door, five-seat mid-size SUV, competing against the likes of the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5 and Honda CR-V.

The mid-size SUV segment is the top-selling category in terms of sales in Australia, and the Sportage is entrenched as one of the top 10 players, sitting at seventh at the time of writing.

The current generation is the fourth and it has been around in Australia since January 2016. The nameplate dates back to the 1990s and in those days it was a pretty ordinary vehicle.

It’s unrecognisably better – and better looking – these days. However, expectation is now rising for generation five, which is expected later in 2021.

Here we’re testing the 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol (114kW/192Nm), six-speed manual, front-wheel drive version in SX trim. That’s one step up from entry-level S and the cheapest version of the SX you can buy.

By the way, these badges have only been around for about 18 months. Sportage used to be badged Si, Si Premium and so on. There seems to be no significant reason for the change; certainly Kia Australia never announced them with any ballyhoo.

The Kia Sportage SX also comes with a six-speed automatic transmission (with the same engine), as well as the option of a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel (136kW/400Nm) with auto and all-wheel drive.

Factoring in a recent minor price rise, the 2021 Kia Sportage SX manual will set you back $31,090 plus on-road costs, while the automatic gearbox adds an extra $2000. The auto-only diesel version starts much higher at $38,490 plus ORCs.

The cheapest Sportage is the S 2.0 manual at $28,990 plus ORCs, while pricing climbs as high as $48,490 for the GT-Line diesel. The most expensive petrol model is the $45,590 GT-Line, which is also the only one that comes with a 135kW/237Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder. It’s also the only petrol model with all-wheel drive, while all diesels are AWD.

The Kia Sportage SX 2.0-litre petrol manual comes with a decent safety equipment line-up that includes six airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane keep assist, a reversing camera, rear parking sensors, high beam assist, three child restraint anchorages and two ISOFIX positions.

The Sportage range comes with a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on 2016 testing protocols, which were less stringent than today’s tougher requirements.

Compared to more expensive Sportage variants, the SX misses out on blind spot detection with rear cross traffic alert, lane change assist, intelligent parking assist and front parking sensors.

Other equipment fitted standard includes 18-inch alloy wheels with a full-size spare mounted on an alloy wheel, roof rails, keyless entry and tailgate release, a proper retracting security blind, cloth seat trim, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, JBL eight-speaker audio, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, sat-nav with SUNA traffic info and two USB chargers.

White is the only standard colour. The other five premium paint options cost $520.

Higher-tier Sportage models add features like leather trim, electric front seat adjustment, push-button start, LED front fog lights, a power tailgate and wireless phone charging. At this price that all seems fair enough.

Over and above the S the SX gets a digital radio, sat-nav, a one-inch-larger 8.0-inch touch-screen and the JBL sound system.

Like all Kias, the Sportage comes with a transferable seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. Across those seven years – or 105,000km – the Sportage SX’s capped-price servicing cost comes out at $2811.

Keep servicing the vehicle at your Kia dealer and you’ll get up to eight years’ roadside assist into the bargain.

That warranty and servicing offer is definitely an important reason why you would consider the 2021 Kia Sportage SX.

Compared to logical opposition, the Sportage is bested by some logical rivals like the $30,490 (plus ORCs) Honda CR-V VTi, which is an auto.

But it also looks as good if not better than some others like the Hyundai Tucson X, bearing in mind the Sportage shares a lot technically with it under the skin because Kia is owned by Hyundai. The related Tucson will also be the first to enter a new generation, arriving in the first half of 2021.

As already explained, the SX has a pretty decent equipment level. It is also spacious inside, even capable of fitting a moderately tall person in the middle rear seat. The rear seat backrest also tilts through seven different positions for added comfort.

Luggage space is competitive at 466 litres with the rear seats in place and 1455 litres with them split-folded. While the tailgate is manually operated, the action is light and the loading height relatively low and flat.

There are plenty of storage places for cups, bottles, phones, wallets, purses and bags. The seats are flat, the trim is uniformly black, most surfaces hard to the touch and some of it prone to scratching.

But the steering wheel adjusts for reach and rake and the fundamental positioning and operation of controls is simple, functional and sympathetic to those among us not blessed with a computing degree. My iPhone was integrated into the operating system and running about 10 seconds after it was plugged in. Take note BMW.

The driving bit is where the Sportage doesn’t so much fall down as make a less compelling case.

The ageing ‘Nu’ engine comes with only port rather than direct fuel injection, but does offer double overhead camshafts and continuous variable timing of its 16 valves.

It’s no firecracker. Even with a manual rather than auto and just one person on board there was plenty of shuffling back to third gear and slow hauls up the hills.

This would be slow progress fully laden. Gosh knows how long it would take to get anywhere hauling its full 1900kg braked towing allowance.

But it is quite smooth and not too noisy when it’s being revved – which happens a lot – and against the 7.9L/100km fuel consumption average we saw an acceptable 9.0L/100km on the recommended standard unleaded fuel.

The manual was okay. There were a couple of stalls before the clutch bite point was learned and it is a pretty plasticky feel back through the lever making changes. But the biggest problem is the sheer inconvenience of changing gear in heavy traffic. No fun.

As per other Kias, the Sportage has benefited from local chassis tuning. There’s been some tightening of the independent suspension and body control is decent. As a result the Sportage doesn’t rock and roll too much through the corners and patters rather than shakes its way along rougher sections of bitumen.

But it feels like there’s been some bad habits covered over here, rather than something good’s been made better. There’s wheelspin in corners, some torque steer and weird knocking noises coming from the steering column when turning. The electric-assist rack and pinion system also has a gluggy weighted feel.

That means the steering isn’t the best for around-town work, but overall with its big windows the Sportage does provide a great viewing platform for shopping centre car parks and the like.

Considering the manual version of the 2021 Kia Sportage SX only accounts for 0.5 per cent of sales the answer to that question is hardly anyone.

Swap to the auto and the appeal becomes much more widespread. Young families, older families, couples, even singles looking for a well-priced, well-equipped wagon.

You might be looking at the last of a breed in the current Kia Sportage SX. There must be a chance the manual option will be dropped when the next generation arrives.

The argument to retain it is indecipherable to me. No-one drives these vehicles for the joy of a manual change. And the change isn’t joyful anyway. Rowing this engine along manually is all a bit laborious.

If the next Sportage SX retains the current generation’s user-friendliness and value, and does something about the sleepyhead drivetrain, it should deservedly become more popular than it currently is.

How much does the 2021 Kia Sportage SX cost?
Price: $31,090 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 114kW/192Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Fuel: 7.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 182g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2016)