Kia Sportage Review: The Vertu VERDICT
“The Kia Sportage is the great all-rounder that succeeds in ticking the many boxes required for those seeking an excellent family SUV. Regular updates have helped to keep the Sportage at the pinnacle of a very competitive category, so it's no coincidence that it has never looked better, felt better made or appeared such great value-for-money. Factor in the excellent seven-year warranty and the Sportage remains a tempting proposition.”
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Kia Sportage: The Key Features
- Facelift in 2025 gave the Sportage a more striking look in-keeping with the rest of the range
- Choice of either petrol or petrol-hybrid powertrains, with the latter returning more than 50mpg
- Lots of interior room complemented by a huge 591-litre boot too
- Standard seven-year warranty (100,000-mile) warranty remains one of the most generous in the UK
- Is currently the second-best selling car in the UK behind only the Ford Puma
Who is the Kia Sportage Best Suited To?
- Small or growing families who would benefit from the generous interior room and sizeable boot
- Drivers with a keen eye on running costs but who have the need to travel further afield comfortably on a regular basis
- Those who want a refined, premium quality family SUV in an affordable price range
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Kia Sportage Trim Levels
Kia Sportage Trims | Powertrain Options | Standard Equipment |
|---|---|---|
| 17-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running headlights, electrically adjustable door mirrors, rain sensing front wipers, leather steering wheel, electric front/rear windows, front/rear air-conditioning, 12.3-inch touchscreen navigation, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, USB-C port6-speaker audio system, front/rear parking sensors, reversing camera system, ADAS suite | |
| 18-inch alloy wheels, LED front fog lights, gloss black door mirrors/wheel arches, privacy glass, GT-Line interior styling, heated front seats, electric seat adjustment, heated steering wheel, alloy pedals, 8-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, (in addition to Pure) | |
| 19-inch alloy wheels, GT-Line styling, dual LED headlights with intelligent lighting, panoramic sunroof, electric driver's seat with memory function, smart power tailgate, LED interior lights, customisable heads-up display, digital key 2.0 (in addition to GT-Line) |
Kia Sportage Technical Specifications
Kia Sportage Technical Specifications | 1.6-litre T-GDi | 1.6-litre T-GDi HEV | 1.6-litre T-GDi HEV AWD |
|---|---|---|---|
Type | Mid-Size SUV | Mid-Size SUV | Mid-Size SUV |
Seats | 5 Seats | 5 Seats | 5 Seats |
Trims | Pure, GT-Line, GT-Line S | Pure, GT-Line, GT-Line S | GT-Line S |
Powertrain | Turbocharged Petrol | HEV - Petrol-Hybrid | HEV - Petrol Hybrid All-Wheel Drive |
Power | 147bhp | 235bhp | 235bhp |
0-62mph | 9.7secs | 7.9secs | 8.1secs |
Fuel Economy | 40.1mpg | 51.3mpg | 44.1mpg |
CO2 Emissions | 162g/km | 129g/km | 145g/km |
Boot Space | 591-litres | 587-litres | 587-litres |
Insurance Group | 19E - 22E | 23E - 25E | 26E |
EuroNCAP Safety Rating | 5-Stars | 5-Stars | 5-Stars |
What We Like About the Kia Sportage
- Handsome looker that still cuts a dash even in such a competitive class
- Option of conventional turbocharged petrol and hybrid powertrains, while frugal PHEV is incoming too
- Generously sized 591-litre boot and space for a family-of-five inside
- Premium feeling interior that is built to a high standard
- Excellent seven-year warranty across the entire Kia range
- A used Kia Sportage also makes an excellent buying proposition
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Mid-Size SUVs To Also Consider...
Nissan Qashqai
The Nissan Qashqai has long been a favourite in the UK and it has never been better than in its current third generation guise. An attractive looker with fine quality and impressive refinement, the Qashqai is particularly impressive when paired with its e-POWER hybrid system
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Peugeot 3008
The Peugeot 3008 offers plenty of kerbside appeal with its daring coupe-style appearance, but its talents remain skin deep. The interior is ergonomically designed and well-built, while it also has a full house of powertrain options - petrol, plug-in hybrid and full-electric (Peugeot E-3008)
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Hyundai Tucson
The Hyundai Tucson has been a mainstay in the mid-size SUV class for many years now but rivals still have a hard time bettering it in many areas, not least its sheer practicality, quality interior and wide range of trims and engines
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* Details correct at the time of publication (August 2026)
Review Published: August 2026
Updated: August 2026
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- Kia