2021 Kia Sportage Review

　　

2021 Kia Sportage Review

byRyan ZumMallenContributor

　　Ryan ZumMallen has worked in the automotive industry since 2012. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Ryan has also contributed to Road & Track, Autoweek, Trucks.com and more. In 2019, Ryan published his first book, Slow Car Fast, on the millennial generation and its unique take on modern car culture.

　　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.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Kia Sportage LX 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$145/mo  for Sportage LX

　　Sportage LX

　　LX 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A) (Most Popular) - $24,090 MSRPLX 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A) - $25,590 MSRPS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A) - $26,590 MSRPS 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A) - $28,290 MSRPEX 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A) - $27,390 MSRPEX 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A) - $28,890 MSRPSX Turbo 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $33,750 MSRPSX Turbo 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $35,250 MSRP

　　vs

　　$166/mo

　　Avg. Compact SUV

　　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.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.2

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

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

8.0/10

　　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.

　　

Storage

7.0/10

　　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

5.0/10

　　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.

　　

Which Sportage does zzdcar 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.

　　

2021 Kia Sportage models

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.

　　LX

　　Standard equipment on the LX includes:

　　181-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine 17-inch alloy wheels 8-inch touchscreen display Six-speaker sound system USB port Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone functionality Selectable driving modes 60/40-split folding and reclining back seat Rear privacy glassThe Sportage also comes with a suite of safety features, such as:

　　Driver attention monitor (issues an alert if sensors determine you may be fatigued) Lane departure warning (alerts you if it detects drifting without a turn signal activated) Lane keeping assist (steers the Sportage back into its lane if it drifts over the line) Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)S

　　Builds off the LX, adding:

　　18-inch alloy wheels in dark gray Foglights Roof rails Heated, power-folding mirrors Leather-wrapped steering wheel Simulated leather upholstery Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)EX

　　Makes several optional packages from LX and S standard:

　　18-inch alloy wheels with machined finish Hands-free tailgate Keyless entry and ignition Gloss black interior trim Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter Power-adjustable driver's seat Heated front seats Dual-zone automatic climate control Rear USB portSX Turbo

　　Tops the range with exclusive features including:

　　240-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine 19-inch wheels Sport-tuned suspension Larger front brakes LED headlights Black roof rails Navigation system and satellite radio Harman Kardon eight-speaker sound system Wireless charging pad Heated flat-bottom steering wheel Paddle shifters Heated and ventilated front seats Leather seats Power-adjustable front passenger seat Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car ahead, even in heavy traffic) Front and rear parking sensors

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2021 Sportage Highlights

Trim: LXSEXSX TurboLX

　　

Base MSRP	$24,090
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	26 MPG
Cost to Drive	$145/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	30.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles