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6 speed, Automatic w/OD
Intercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded I-4, Regular Unleaded I-4
All Wheel Drive, Front Wheel Drive
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
According to data collected from verified owners for the J.D Power 2020 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, 55% of Kia Sportage owners are female (vs. 49% for the segment). The median age of a Sportage owner is 59 years (matching the segment average).
Owners say their favorite things about the Sportage are (in descending order) the:
Owners indicate their least favorite things about the Sportage are (in descending order) the:
In the JD Power 2020 APEAL Study, the Sportage ranked number 12 out of 15 compact SUVs.
In the sections that follow, our independent expert provides an analysis of a Sportage SX equipped with the following options:
The price of the test vehicle came to $37,100, including the $1,175 destination charge.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
A fully loaded Kia Sportage SX Turbo meets, and even exceeds, expectations with regard to comfort, quality, and design.
The interior exudes sophistication through soft-touch materials, polished metallic accents, contrast seat stitching and piping, and a perfect balance between physical and digital controls. Overhead, a panoramic glass roof stretches all of the way to the cargo area, bathing the cabin in natural light. And each time you drive the Sportage, the transmission shifter’s robust and refined action imparts a satisfying sense of quality.
Seat comfort impresses, too, and you’ll discover that you can sit up quite high in this SUV if that’s your preference. Both front seats offer power adjustment, with 10-way operation for the driver seat and 8-way for the passenger seat. Soft leather, heated and ventilated cushions, and a heated steering wheel help to make travel more enjoyable regardless of the weather.
If you’re getting into the back seat, or simply loading children, don’t accidentally smack yourself in the face while opening the back door. Because the Sportage has no rear quarter windows, the widest part of the door is the upper corner. This section can pass uncomfortably close to your head as you open the rear door.
Once you’ve climbed into the back seat, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. The seat cushion offers good leg support and a comfortable backrest angle, and there are air conditioning vents to keep you cool when the day is hot. Hard plastic front seatback panels aren’t ideal, but they’re only an issue for taller passengers with longer legs.
Storage space is decent. While the cargo area looks small, it holds four full-size suitcases without any trouble.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
If you know how to use a smartphone, you’ll understand how to operate the Sportage SX Turbo’s driver information center and infotainment system. Each offers the ability to adjust various vehicle functions to specific preferences. Once you’ve set things up to suit your preferences, interaction will be quick and minimal.
In the top-of-the-line version of the Sportage SX Turbo, the infotainment system includes:
Additionally, wireless smartphone charging is standard on this version of the Sportage. The SX Turbo also has a Harman Kardon premium sound system with eight speakers and Clari-Fi digital music restoration technology. It provides remarkably good sound quality for this segment.
Compared to some compact crossover SUVs, the Sportage’s UVO Link infotainment system is behind the times. The 8-inch display is smaller than what you’ll find in some competitors. Also, UVO Link does not provide access to a Wi-Fi hotspot, and the voice recognition technology is not up to modern standards.
However, Kia deftly integrates the screen between the Sportage’s air vents, and the row of buttons living between traditional stereo volume and tuning knobs adds simplicity. Dual-zone automatic climate control functions are separate from the touchscreen, too.
If you’ve experienced the latest and greatest infotainment tech, the Sportage is a letdown. If you haven’t, you’ll be happy with its refreshing ease of use.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
In a word, the Kia Sportage SX Turbo is fun. But that description comes with caveats.
The main reason a Sportage SX Turbo is enjoyable to drive is the turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine under its hood. It whips up 240 horsepower at 6,000 rpm (237 hp with AWD). More importantly, it delivers 260 pound-feet of torque from 1,450 rpm to 3,500 rpm.
Even though the SX Turbo AWD weighs almost two tons, the engine gives this little SUV an exuberant personality. Some people might find it too exuberant, because all of that torque can arrive with neck-snapping thrust. Depending on what gear the 6-speed automatic is in, and the situation, the SX Turbo’s power delivery behaves like an on/off switch.
Switching from Normal to Sport mode – which readies the Sportage SX Turbo for a good time – helps to smooth this behavior out. So does choosing to shift manually using the steering wheel paddle shifters. With both of these approaches, though, the behavior doesn’t disappear completely.
Do you live where it snows? Or maybe you simply want to make maximum use of the Sportage’s turbocharged engine. In either case, you’re going to want the Sportage SX Turbo’s optional Dynamax all-wheel-drive system. It automatically sends power to the rear wheels as road surface and driving situations require. A locking center differential evenly splits power distribution between the front and rear axles to maximize traction at low speeds.
Kia adds a sport-tuned suspension and 19-inch wheels and tires to every Sportage SX Turbo. Yet the SUV feels a little softer than you might expect, and the ride quality offers enough compliance that it doesn’t feel harsh over uneven pavement. Similar to its big brother, the Telluride SUV, the Sportage seemingly glides over the worst surfaces.
Toss the Sportage down a favorite back road, and you’ll wish for quicker and sharper steering. You’ll also long for tires that grip better and don’t squeal well short of the handling limit. The SUV shows its engineering age, too. Sharper impacts travel up through the suspension and into the Sportage’s structure.
So, while its compact dimensions, upscale design, turbocharged power plant, and quad-element daytime running light signature might suggest the Sportage SX Turbo is a Korean Porsche Macan, it’s not.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
The Sportage’s Kia Drive Wise collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) is basic, but it gets the job done. You get everything you need, and nothing you don’t.
Choose SX Turbo trim, and Kia Drive Wise equips the Sportage with the following ADAS:
Additionally, UVO Link supplies 911 Assist. To use this feature, pair your smartphone via Bluetooth. If a collision occurs and your phone has a signal, it will automatically make a call to rush emergency responders to your location.
Over the course of 230 miles of driving, the adaptive cruise control proved smooth and effective. The lane-keeping assistance (LKA) legitimately prevented the Sportage from wandering into a bike lane while I examined the navigation map to determine my next turn. However, that same effective LKA behavior caused instances of irritation and aggravation when its corrections were unwelcome.
Generally speaking, the Sportage’s Kia Drive Wise collection offers impressive tech. But if you’re looking for a Level 2 driving aid such as the automaker’s Highway Driving Assist, it’s not available for this SUV.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Behind its rear seat, the 2022 Sportage holds 30.7 cubic feet of cargo. Fold the back seat flat to create 60.1 cubic feet of volume. These figures fall short of segment leaders.
The test vehicle had Kia’s smart tailgate technology. It detects the presence of the key fob and opens automatically after a several-second delay marked by three beeps. This is great when your hands are full because there is no need to balance on one leg while waving your other leg underneath the back bumper to activate a sensor. This is not great when you’re standing near the back of the Sportage with no desire to open the cargo hold.
If you’d rather not use the smart tailgate, you can turn it off using a menu in the driver information center.
According to the EPA, the Sportage SX AWD should return 21 mpg in combined driving. For this review, we used a modified testing route that included more highway driving than is typical, and the Sportage returned 23 mpg.
With its 16.4-gallon fuel tank, this result translates into 375 miles of driving range, or 335 miles if you’re leaving yourself some cushion.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Kia Sportage earns an overall rating of five stars. However, the SUV provides 4-star protection for the driver in a frontal-impact collision.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) calls the Sportage a Top Safety Pick for the 2021 calendar year. Only the SX Turbo trim earns an Acceptable headlight performance rating, though. Other trims rate Poor.
The 2022 Kia Sportage price range is from $24,090 for the LX trim with front-wheel drive to $35,250 for the SX Turbo trim with AWD. The destination charge is $1,175.
In the JD Power 2020 Initial Quality Study (IQS), the Hyundai Tucson ranked highest in the compact SUV segment. The Kia Sportage and the Chevrolet Equinox were the next highest-ranked models.
In the JD Power 2020 Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout Study (APEAL), the Ford Escape and Mazda CX-5 tied for the top ranking in the compact SUV segment. The GMC Terrain was the next highest-ranked model.
Other competitors to the Kia Sportage include the Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, and Toyota RAV4.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
If the 2022 Kia Sportage were a human being, it would be getting its first invitations to join the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). In other words, it remains a vibrant and productive member of the Kia SUV family and still has plenty of life left in it. But it just isn’t as young, athletic, and competitive as it once was.
There is plenty to like about the 2022 Kia Sportage. This is a high-quality, comfortable, safe, and stylish compact crossover SUV. With the SX Turbo trim, it’s even upscale and thrilling to drive in its own way. But the time has come for a complete overhaul, which is undoubtedly coming soon.
Christian Wardlaw is a veteran digital automotive journalist with over 25 years of experience in test-driving vehicles. In addition to JDPower.com, his work has appeared in numerous new- and used-car buying guides, newspapers, and automotive industry trade journals.
