Likes
- Offers excellent value for money on the used market.
- Great levels of space and standard equipment.
- Kia’s long warranty period means many examples are still covered.
- A very enjoyable and accomplished SUV.
Used Kia Sportage review
2016 - 2021
Dislikes
- Some question marks regarding long term reliability.
- 2.0-litre petrol engine wants for more power.
- Full safety suite only on higher spec models.
- Some struggle with antiquated attitudes regarding the badge.
Stuff you should know
The 4th generation 2016 to 2021 QL Sportage has been available here in Australia with 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre petrol engines and a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel.
In terms of which wheels are doing the heavy lifting, the 2.0-litre petrol powers the front wheels exclusively, the 2.4-litre petrol and 2.0-litre turbo-diesel send drive to all four wheels when a loss of traction is detected.
As far as the various trim levels go, depending on the year, Australia initially received the entry model Si, then Si Premium and SLi with the GT Line and Platinum topping the range. Also, if you’re a fan of the Tennis, the limited edition Australian Open Edition might be for you.
The Sportage received a mid-life update halfway through 2018 which included extra equipment, most notably surrounding safety tech, some mechanical changes such as the introduction of an eight-speed automatic transmission for the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine and a relatively subtle facelift and improvement for the interior trim.
Finally, for the 2019 model year, Kia renamed the introductory trim specs to S, SX and SX+.
What goes wrong
Exterior:
There are reports that the motors for the electric windows are forming a reputation for failing, meaning you might not be able to open or close them at any given time.
Sportage models with a sunroof can have issues with the motors, not failing completely, just the mechanism slowing when opening or closing. However this can be easily fixed by lubricating the tracks or rails.
There have been complaints of the headlights not emitting enough light from the factory even when using high beams.
There are reports of door locks failing which has resulted in a number of owners locking themselves out of their cars. This issue is specifically known to affect models built prior to 2019.
The AEB system will apparently disable itself if the lens for the windscreen mounted camera becomes dirty or obstructed,. However this is most prominent when driving in heavy rain or snowy conditions.
This is highly sporadic, but there have been reports of the sunroofs shattering randomly while the car is driving.
Another sporadic issue but there have been a handful of reports of reversing cameras not displaying an image, glitching out or just showing a black or static screen. In worse case scenarios, this can require the whole infotainment unit/system to be replaced.
There have also been reports related to the collision avoidance systems malfunctioning as well as the blind spot monitoring will just activate randomly.
Interior:
There are reports of air conditioning compressor issues. In less serious cases the air conditioning just gets a bit noisy however, in more serious cases it can fail completely, fixing it out of warranty can become expensive.
There are a few cases reported of the airbag warning light on the dashboard displaying randomly. This is usually thanks to a glitchy or defective passenger side airbag control module which needs to be replaced.
Mechanically:
Make sure to check the recalls. There are some recalls regarding potential fires from ABS control units and high-pressure fuel lines.
Although, worldwide very few of them actually caught fire, it is still important that the recalls are actioned.It’s worth mentioning that previous generations of the petrol engines are notoriously bad for catastrophic failures. To the point now where second hand replacement engines are getting difficult to get.
Engines in the post 2015 QL Sportage are much improved but they’re only just starting to come out of warranty so the long-term prospects are still unknown. We do know that they have some oil consumption issues which could be an
Exterior:
There are reports that the motors for the electric windows are forming a reputation for failing, meaning you might not be able to open or close them at any given time.
Sportage models with a sunroof can have issues with the motors, not failing completely, just the mechanism slowing when opening or closing. However this can be easily fixed by lubricating the tracks or rails.
There have been complaints of the headlights not emitting enough light from the factory even when using high beams.
There are reports of door locks failing which has resulted in a number of owners locking themselves out of their cars. This issue is specifically known to affect models built prior to 2019.
The AEB system will apparently disable itself if the lens for the windscreen mounted camera becomes dirty or obstructed,. However this is most prominent when driving in heavy rain or snowy conditions.
This is highly sporadic, but there have been reports of the sunroofs shattering randomly while the car is driving.
Another sporadic issue but there have been a handful of reports of reversing cameras not displaying an image, glitching out or just showing a black or static screen. In worse case scenarios, this can require the whole infotainment unit/system to be replaced.
There have also been reports related to the collision avoidance systems malfunctioning as well as the blind spot monitoring will just activate randomly.
Interior:
There are reports of air conditioning compressor issues. In less serious cases the air conditioning just gets a bit noisy however, in more serious cases it can fail completely, fixing it out of warranty can become expensive.
There are a few cases reported of the airbag warning light on the dashboard displaying randomly. This is usually thanks to a glitchy or defective passenger side airbag control module which needs to be replaced.
Mechanically:
Make sure to check the recalls. There are some recalls regarding potential fires from ABS control units and high-pressure fuel lines.
Although, worldwide very few of them actually caught fire, it is still important that the recalls are actioned.It’s worth mentioning that previous generations of the petrol engines are notoriously bad for catastrophic failures. To the point now where second hand replacement engines are getting difficult to get.
Engines in the post 2015 QL Sportage are much improved but they’re only just starting to come out of warranty so the long-term prospects are still unknown. We do know that they have some oil consumption issues which could be an indication of thing to come. Time will tell.
In terms of common complaints and problems, the petrol engines are known to have a fairly normal mix of water pump and thermostat housing leaks and sensor glitches that are pretty much on par with most modern Japanese or South Korean cars.
As for the diesel engines, they do have a problem with turbos and waste-gate actuators which, if occurs out of warranty will cost around $6000 to repair, more if done by a dealership.
However they have a surprisingly low rate of reported DPF and EGR complications for modern common rail diesels. Some oil leaks and coolant leaks like most engines but overall, not too bad.
The six and eight speed transmissions are considered to be reliable but there are a few reported instances where dealerships have replaced entire transmissions because of ongoing issues.
This may all seem like there are a lot of problems across the range but any car that sells in large volumes will have numerous reports of multiple issues.
Overall the QL Sportage is considered to be very reliable and because they have a 7 year warranty from new, and scheduled services are required maintain that warranty, most Sportage examples have been well serviced.
If you’re buying one that has the remainder of the new car warranty, please make sure those services have all been done on schedule or you might be inadvertently buying something with a voided warranty.
Recalls:
- 16 May 2021 – The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), which is responsible for the ABS, Electronic Stability Control system and Traction control System can remain live when the vehicle is switched off. This can allow moisture into the system increasing the likelihood of a short circuit or even a fire. 57,851 units built between 2016 & 2019 were affected.
- 2 June 2022 – The Heater Core Element suffered from a software issue meaning it would operate at a higher than normal temperature. This could lead to a vehicle fire. It affected 31,074 units across the entire QL Sportage range.
Exterior:
There are reports that the motors for the electric windows are forming a reputation for failing, meaning you might not be able to open or close them at any given time.
Sportage models with a sunroof can have issues with the motors, not failing completely, just the mechanism slowing when opening or closing. However this can be easily fixed by lubricating the tracks or rails.
There have been complaints of the headlights not emitting enough light from the factory even when using high beams.
There are reports of door locks failing which has resulted in a number of owners locking themselves out of their cars. This issue is specifically known to affect models built prior to 2019.
The AEB system will apparently disable itself if the lens for the windscreen mounted camera becomes dirty or obstructed,. However this is most prominent when driving in heavy rain or snowy conditions.
This is highly sporadic, but there have been reports of the sunroofs shattering randomly while the car is driving.
Another sporadic issue but there have been a handful of reports of reversing cameras not displaying an image, glitching out or just showing a black or static screen. In worse case scenarios, this can require the whole infotainment unit/system to be replaced.
There have also been reports related to the collision avoidance systems malfunctioning as well as the blind spot monitoring will just activate randomly.
Interior:
There are reports of air conditioning compressor issues. In less serious cases the air conditioning just gets a bit noisy however, in more serious cases it can fail completely, fixing it out of warranty can become expensive.
There are a few cases reported of the airbag warning light on the dashboard displaying randomly. This is usually thanks to a glitchy or defective passenger side airbag control module which needs to be replaced.
Mechanically:
Make sure to check the recalls. There are some recalls regarding potential fires from ABS control units and high-pressure fuel lines.
Although, worldwide very few of them actually caught fire, it is still important that the recalls are actioned.It’s worth mentioning that previous generations of the petrol engines are notoriously bad for catastrophic failures. To the point now where second hand replacement engines are getting difficult to get.
Engines in the post 2015 QL Sportage are much improved but they’re only just starting to come out of warranty so the long-term prospects are still unknown. We do know that they have some oil consumption issues which could be an indication of thing to come. Time will tell.
In terms of common complaints and problems, the petrol engines are known to have a fairly normal mix of water pump and thermostat housing leaks and sensor glitches that are pretty much on par with most modern Japanese or South Korean cars.
As for the diesel engines, they do have a problem with turbos and waste-gate actuators which, if occurs out of warranty will cost around $6000 to repair, more if done by a dealership.
However they have a surprisingly low rate of reported DPF and EGR complications for modern common rail diesels. Some oil leaks and coolant leaks like most engines but overall, not too bad.
The six and eight speed transmissions are considered to be reliable but there are a few reported instances where dealerships have replaced entire transmissions because of ongoing issues.
This may all seem like there are a lot of problems across the range but any car that sells in large volumes will have numerous reports of multiple issues.
Overall the QL Sportage is considered to be very reliable and because they have a 7 year warranty from new, and scheduled services are required maintain that warranty, most Sportage examples have been well serviced.
If you’re buying one that has the remainder of the new car warranty, please make sure those services have all been done on schedule or you might be inadvertently buying something with a voided warranty.
Recalls:
- 16 May 2021 – The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), which is responsible for the ABS, Electronic Stability Control system and Traction control System can remain live when the vehicle is switched off. This can allow moisture into the system increasing the likelihood of a short circuit or even a fire. 57,851 units built between 2016 & 2019 were affected.
- 2 June 2022 – The Heater Core Element suffered from a software issue meaning it would operate at a higher than normal temperature. This could lead to a vehicle fire. It affected 31,074 units across the entire QL Sportage range.
Should you buy it?
The simple answer is…probably.
Like any used car it is critical to make sure any Sportage you’re looking at ticks all the boxes and make sure to have it checked out for a full pre-purchase inspection before you hand over any cash.
But if it all checks out, yes buy one.
We’d highly recommend going for a 2.4-litre petrol engined Sportage over the 2.0-litre petrol and turbo diesel as the petrol lacks in urge and any fuel savings you may experience with the diesel, may be eaten up with maintenance costs down the track. In saying that, for whatever reason, if you just must have a 2.0-litre petrol or diesel, fine.
The simple answer is…probably.
Like any used car it is critical to make sure any Sportage you’re looking at ticks all the boxes and make sure to have it checked out for a full pre-purchase inspection before you hand over any cash.
But if it all checks out, yes buy one.
We’d highly recommend going for a 2.4-litre petrol engined Sportage over the 2.0-litre petrol and turbo diesel as the petrol lacks in urge and any fuel savings you may experience with the diesel, may be eaten up with maintenance costs down the track. In saying that, for whatever reason, if you just must have a 2.0-litre petrol or diesel, fine.
Should you buy it?
The simple answer is…probably.
Like any used car it is critical to make sure any Sportage you’re looking at ticks all the boxes and make sure to have it checked out for a full pre-purchase inspection before you hand over any cash.
But if it all checks out, yes buy one.
We’d highly recommend going for a 2.4-litre petrol engined Sportage over the 2.0-litre petrol and turbo diesel as the petrol lacks in urge and any fuel savings you may experience with the diesel, may be eaten up with maintenance costs down the track. In saying that, for whatever reason, if you just must have a 2.0-litre petrol or diesel, fine.
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Models, pricing & features
Tech specs
Body Style:
5-door SUV
Engines:
2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol (Si, S, SX, SX+, Si Premium, SLi)
2.4 litre 4-cylinder petrol (Platinum, GT-Line)
2.0 litre 4-cylinder diesel (Si, SLi, Platinum, GT-Line)
Power:
114kW – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol
135kW – 2.4 litre 4-cylinder petrol
136kW – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder diesel
Torque:
192Nm – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol
237Nm – 2.4 litre 4-cylinder petrol
400Nm – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder diesel
Transmission & drivetrains:
6-speed manual, front wheel drive (FWD) – S, SX
6-speed automatic, front-wheel drive (FWD) – Si, S, SX, SX+, SI Premium, SLi
6-speed automatic, all-wheel-drive (AWD) – Si, SLi, Platinum, GT-Line
8-speed automatic, all-wheel drive (AWD) – From 2018 (Si, SLi, GT-Line)
Fuel Consumption:
6.8 – 7.9L/100km
Length:
4,480mm
Width:
1,855mm
Height:
1,645mm
Kerb weight:
1,379 – 1,501kg
Body Style:
5-door SUV
Engines:
2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol (Si, S, SX, SX+, Si Premium, SLi)
2.4 litre 4-cylinder petrol (Platinum, GT-Line)
2.0 litre 4-cylinder diesel (Si, SLi, Platinum, GT-Line)
Power:
114kW – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol
135kW – 2.4 litre 4-cylinder petrol
136kW – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder diesel
Torque:
192Nm – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol
237Nm – 2.4 litre 4-cylinder petrol
400Nm – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder diesel
Transmission & drivetrains:
6-speed manual, front wheel drive (FWD) – S, SX
6-speed automatic, front-wheel drive (FWD) – Si, S, SX, SX+, SI Premium, SLi
6-speed automatic, all-wheel-drive (AWD) – Si, SLi, Platinum, GT-Line
8-speed automatic, all-wheel drive (AWD) – From 2018 (Si, SLi, GT-Line)
Fuel Consumption:
6.8 – 7.9L/100km
Length:
4,480mm
Width:
1,855mm
Height:
1,645mm
Kerb weight:
1,379 – 1,501kg
Body Style:
5-door SUV
Engines:
2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol (Si, S, SX, SX+, Si Premium, SLi)
2.4 litre 4-cylinder petrol (Platinum, GT-Line)
2.0 litre 4-cylinder diesel (Si, SLi, Platinum, GT-Line)
Power:
114kW – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol
135kW – 2.4 litre 4-cylinder petrol
136kW – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder diesel
Torque:
192Nm – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol
237Nm – 2.4 litre 4-cylinder petrol
400Nm – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder diesel
Transmission & drivetrains:
6-speed manual, front wheel drive (FWD) – S, SX
6-speed automatic, front-wheel drive (FWD) – Si, S, SX, SX+, SI Premium, SLi
6-speed automatic, all-wheel-drive (AWD) – Si, SLi, Platinum, GT-Line
8-speed automatic, all-wheel drive (AWD) – From 2018 (Si, SLi, GT-Line)
Fuel Consumption:
6.8 – 7.9L/100km
Length:
4,480mm
Width:
1,855mm
Height:
1,645mm
Kerb weight:
1,379 – 1,501kg
Warranty & servicing
Warranty:
7 years/unlimited kms
Servicing:
15,000kms/12-months
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Disclaimer
Please note that pricing information is subject to fluctuations in the automotive market.
Information correct as of January 20, 2022.
The advice provided on this website is general advice only. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this advice, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs.
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