Kia Sportage SX 2024 Review

Prices for the 2024 Kia Sportage range start from $32,795 (+ORCs) and stretch to $52,720 (+ORCs).

With four trim grades on offer – S, SX, SX+, and GT-Line – and three engine options – a naturally aspirated front-wheel drive 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol with auto or manual, 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol AWD, and a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel AWD – a total of 11 combinations means there’s no shortage of choice.

Here, we’re testing the petrol-powered Sportage SX mated to a six-speed automatic, which comes in at $37,550 (+ORCs). If you want to save $2000, go for the six-speed manual, instead ($35,550 +ORCs).

Standard equipment on the 2024 Kia Sportage SX includes 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and daytime running lights (DRLs), rain-sensing wipers, silver roof rails, and heated electric door mirrors.

Inside, you get cloth upholstery, brushed metal dash trim, a leather-appointed steering wheel and dual-zone climate control on a fancy dual-purpose digital panel.

Kia covers all its vehicles with a generous seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and servicing – due every 12 months or 15,000km – will cost you $1222 or $2286 for the first three or five visits, respectively.

According to ANCAP, very safe. The Kia Sportage was awarded ANCAP’s maximum five-star safety rating back in 2022 thanks to heaps of standard safety tech, including AEB (with pedestrian and cyclist detection and junction turn assist), lane assist, rear cross-traffic alert, safe-exit assist, intelligent speed-limit assist, and driver attention alert.

A front-centre airbag also features across the range, as does high-beam assist on automatic SX variants, along with blind-spot monitoring with collision avoidance and trailer stability assist.

Rear occupant alert is also fitted standard, along with a reverse camera with dynamic parking guidelines, and front and rear parking sensors.

Because it sits at the lower end of the line-up, the 2024 Kia Sportage SX misses out on some of the niceties found higher up the tree.

Things like keyless entry with push-button start, heated seats, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, and full-electric seats are absent, to name a few.

Even still, the technology it does have at this price point is as good, if not better, than many of its key competitors. Take the huge 12.3-inch central touch-screen and 4.2-inch driver’s digital instrument cluster, for example.

Both are super clear and responsive, but the coolest party trick is the SX’s digital climate control/media panel, which toggles between menus at the touch of a (touch-sensitive) button.

The touch-screen comes equipped with digital radio, AM/FM radio, Sounds of Nature, multi-connect Bluetooth, profile settings, navigation with 10 years of traffic information and map updates, and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

Our Kia Sportage SX tester is fitted with the 115kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, meaning it’s a front-wheel drive affair only, however, the SX is also available with the 137kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel powertrain mated to an eight-speed auto and all-wheel drive arrangement.

It’s the most affordable and least inspiring powertrain combination in the Sportage line-up, serving up 115kW at 6200 rpm and 192Nm of torque.

For reference, the pricier turbo-diesel (which comes with an eight-speed auto and all-wheel drive) offers 137kW/416Nm. But it also costs more than $5000 more in the equivalent trim grade.

Meanwhile, the petrol SX comes with a maximum 1650kg braked towing capacity.

The vast majority of buyers will choose the six-speed automatic, but kudos to Kia for still offering a manual option for buyers – and not just on the base trim – when most have discontinued it.

Of the entire 2024 Kia Sportage range, the automatic SX petrol is said to be the least fuel efficient.

Kia claims it’ll use 8.1L/100km on a combined cycle, compared to 7.7L/100km for the manual and 6.3L/100km for the turbo-diesel.

During our seven-day test, we achieved an average fuel consumption reading of 8.5L/100km, over a mix of suburban and highway driving.

There’s a lot to like about the 2024 Kia Sportage, however, the naturally-aspirated SX petrol wouldn’t be our first pick.

It’s a perfectly acceptable SUV to chug around town in, but it doesn’t take long before the four-cylinder donk runs out of steam.

Building speed is arduous, particularly when you’re loaded with passengers and a boot-full of gear, and it’s gruff under heavy acceleration.

Meanwhile, the six-speed automatic is again, fine in lower-speed suburban settings, shifting seamlessly between gears. But at higher speeds and with some more enthusiastic driving, it struggles to keep up, often hunting around for the best gear to match what you’re asking of it.

It’s a powertrain that won’t be a problem for those happy to toddle about town, with little desire for performance, but for those wanting to get places quickly, we’d recommend splashing a little more cash on thee turbo-diesel SX or turbo-petrol SX+, both of which are much more rewarding behind the wheel.

Lacklustre powertrain aside, Kia has done a commendable job in terms of ride and handling right across the Sportage range, so even here in SX form, you get a well-rounded and comfortable ride.

The steering is direct and firmly weighted, making the 1508kg SUV easy to place on road. Lumps and bumps are easily soaked up, but the SX can still feel a little firmly sprung on some road surfaces, particularly on its 18-inch wheels.

Some of the active safety systems are a little sensitive, picking up parked vehicles and pedestrians nowhere near you whilst parking, bringing you to an abrupt halt. We also found the driving experience most enjoyable with lane-keep assist switched off.

Even at the lower end of the 2024 Kia Sportage range, there’s little evidence this is a budget-friendly model.

Look beyond the cloth upholstered seats – which are reasonably padded and comfortable over long stints – and the Sportage SX feels modern and hi-tech. A range of piano black, faux brushed metal, and leather-appointed surfaces are contrasted by a range of black plastics.

But again, it doesn’t necessarily feel ‘cheap’ in isolation.

From the driver’s seat, it’s easy to find a comfortable driving position for most, thanks to tilt- and reach- adjustable steering, and the addition of an electric lumbar adjust for the driver is a welcome addition, even if the front pews are otherwise manually adjustable.

All the main controls are within easy reach and it’s a cabin that offers plenty of outward visibility, particularly up front where the digital screens are set low in the dash to ensure plenty of vision out the windscreen.

There are family-friendly storage options throughout and, in the rear seat, it’s roomy enough for a pair of adults or three kids, but this trim grade misses out on USB or 12-volt power outlets.

Getting in and out is a breeze thanks to generous door apertures – something parents with young children will be happy about – and a 543-litre boot (or 1829L with rear seats folded) is spacious, but not class-leading.

A full-size spare tyre under the boot floor (across the entire Sportage range) is another welcome inclusion.

It’s no surprise the 2024 Kia Sportage continues to dominate whatever rivals we put it up against in the bustling mid-size SUV segment.

But while the front-drive SX petrol automatic tested here is perfectly acceptable in isolation – not to mention great value – we’d be looking to stretch the budget a little further upstream if possible for those wanting a more efficient and enjoyable driving experience with a few more creature comforts.

2024 Kia Sportage SX at a glance:
Price: $37,550 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 115kW/192Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.1L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 184g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2022)