Mat Watson reviews the new Kia Sportage: I recommend this car to everyone

If you’ve asked me to recommend a spacious, well-equipped and good-value family SUV, the chances are I’ve pointed you in the direction of the Kia Sportage. It’s recently been updated, and I want to find out if this is still a car worth recommending.

So I’m going to investigate the changes that Kia has made, and decide whether they’re for better or worse. I’ll put it through a series of consumer-focussed tests, show off some of this car’s tech and deliver a conclusive verdict to help you decide if it’s right for you.

New Kia Sportage design: much better from some angles

Kia has given the Sportage a major facelift, and the biggest change can be seen up front. The headlights on the old car were quite pointy, but now they’re more upright like the ones you’ll find on the Kia EV9.

And I think it works. In my opinion this is a much better-looking car than the old one, but changes to the rest of the car are much less dramatic. There are some new alloy wheel designs, which are more angular than before, and the lower part of the rear bumper is new as well.

It’s almost like Kia spent its entire design budget on the front of the car, then ran out of money to do the rear. I still think it’s an effective redesign though, the Sportage is a smart-looking SUV.

New Kia Sportage engines: it’s quicker than a hot hatch

There are more changes under the skin on the new Sportage which are more significant than the design. Kia has massively simplified the engine lineup, and there are now only two options to choose from.

The entry-level car has a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 150hp, and this can be paired with either a six-speed manual gearbox or an automatic. Alternatively, you can have this same engine with a hybrid system added on. This boosts power to 240hp, and you can get this version with four-wheel drive as an option. There is no longer the option of a diesel Sportage.

I’d personally go for the hybrid version, not only because it’s more powerful but because it’s also more economical. It’ll return up to 53mpg, whereas the petrol version tops out at 41mpg.

What impressed me the most though was the performance. You might not expect a Kia SUV to be particularly quick, but this four-wheel drive hybrid model did 0-60mph in just 7.2 seconds according to my specialist timing gear. It also did the quarter mile in 15.4 seconds, which is the same as I got out of an old Volkswagen Golf R32. Not too shabby.

New Kia Sportage boot space: not an improvement, but that’s no bad thing

One of the main selling points of the Kia Sportage has always been its massive boot, and this new one has the same 591 litres as before. That’s only really beaten by the Hyundai Tucson, but how much can you actually fit back there?

Well to find out, I’ve gathered the Carwow carry-on suitcases of truth. I managed to squeeze seven of them underneath the load cover in the Sportage, but when I tested the Audi Q3 a few weeks previously I managed to get nine of them in. That car has over 100 litres less space on paper, so it goes to show that the stats don’t always tell the full story.

But still, how many suitcases do you really need? The Sportage’s boot is more than big enough, and there are some handy features like tie-down points and a 12-volt socket. I also like the fact you can fit the parcel shelf under the boot floor.

New Kia Sportage prices: not as cheap as you might think

Kias used to be the cheapest cars in their class, but not anymore. They’re about average these days.

The starting price of this Sportage is almost identical to the Nissan Qashqai and Skoda Karoq – they all kick off at £31,000, and rise to around £44,000 for the top-spec car with the biggest engine.

But this is where Carwow comes in, because the discounts available create a bit of a gap between these cars. Right now you can save an average of around £3,000 on a new Kia Sportage or Skoda Karoq, but there are discounts of £6,000 available on a Nissan Qashqai.

So before you buy your next family SUV, make sure you check out the latest new car deals on Carwow to see how much you can save.

New Kia Sportage interior: Kia must watch my videos

It seems as though Kia has seen my review of the previous Sportage, because it’s fixed two of my biggest interior gripes.

The first is the gloss black plastic on the centre console, which scratched and smudged easily. That’s been replaced with a nicer-looking matte plastic which hides dirt and grime much better.

I also thought the steering wheel in the old car felt a bit cheap, but this updated version has a much nicer wheel. You also get some new materials on the dashboard and a smaller bezel around the infotainment screen, but other than that the layout is pretty much the same.

This means you get an easy-access climate control panel, and while I’d prefer proper buttons at least these touch-sensitive ones are easy to prod at on the move. The infotainment system is decent as well, and you now get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as opposed to the tethered system you got before.

Something which does annoy me though is the spec, because Kia doesn’t allow you to mix and match features on certain trim levels. For example, if you want things like wireless charging, the glass roof and a 360-degree camera, you have to go up to the top-spec car. This means you end up paying for features you might not want, such as the head-up display and hands-free tailgate.

New Kia Sportage rear seats: I can keep this brief

The old Kia Sportage had plenty of space in the rear seats, and this new one is exactly the same.

Kneeroom is really good, as is headroom, and I like the fact you can recline the rear seats for added comfort. It’s also fine with three in the back, and fitting a baby seat is really easy thanks to the exposed ISOFIX points.

Driving the new Kia Sportage: it’s surprising

Family SUVs aren’t designed for flinging down a country road; they’re just big, practical boxes for ferrying your kids around. The Sportage is a bit different though, because it handles quite well.

You get very little body roll through the corners, and the steering is decent as well. It’s not as sharp as something like an Audi Q3, and you won’t feel the urge to take the scenic route home and chuck it about, but it feels safe, secure and precise.

On the motorway it’s quiet and comfy, and you get adaptive cruise control on all but the entry-level car with a manual gearbox. The hybrid system is punchy as well, which is great for overtaking.

Around town you get a good view forward, but there is a bit of a blindspot over your shoulders. It’s well worth having the 360-degree camera, which makes it even more annoying that you have to go for the range-topping model to get it.

Overall though, the Sportage is an easy and inoffensive car to drive which will make it super-easy to live with everyday.

My final verdict: will I continue to recommend the Kia Sportage?

The Kia Sportage is one of the best-selling cars in the UK, but is this updated version still worth buying?

I think so, but with one caveat. If you want a diesel engine, you can’t get one anymore. You’ll have to go for the Skoda Karoq instead. Other than that, I think the upgrades have only served to improve the Sportage. I’m happy to continue recommending it.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

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