Kia Sportage

First generation (NB7)
Overview
Also called	Wanli Sportage (China)
Production	July 1993 – 2002
Assembly	South Korea: Hwaseong (Hwaseong Plant) Germany: Osnabrück (Karmann) Russia: Kaliningrad (Avtotor) Pakistan: Karachi China: Zhanjiang, Guangdong
Body and chassis
Body style	5-door SUV 3-door convertible
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel drive Front-engine, four-wheel drive
Related	Mazda Bongo
Powertrain
Engine	2.0 L FE I4 (gasoline) 2.0 L FE DOHC I4 (gasoline) 2.0 L RF I4 (diesel)
Transmission	4-speed automatic 5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,360 mm (92.9 in) 2,650 mm (104.3 in)
Length	4,030 mm (158.7 in) (3-door) 4,245 mm (167.1 in) (5-door) 4,440 mm (174.8 in) (Grand Wagon)
Width	1,855 mm (73.0 in)
Height	1,635 mm (64.4 in)

Interior

The longer Kia Sportage Grand Wagon (2001, Australia)

The first-generation Kia Sportage was developed with a Mazda Bongo engineering base platform. It shares many mechanical components such as the engine, transmissions (early versions), and differentials with the Mazda line of vehicles. This was during Kia's alliance with Ford and Mazda, which involved Ford/Mazda providing technology and Kia providing inexpensive manufacturing facilities for Ford.

Early in 1994, an experimental project was attempted between Kia Motors and Daimler-Benz AG. A small number of converted three-door convertibles into two-door pickups, designated GLL200, were produced. Actual production numbers have never been verified, but were rumored to be no more than 25 units assembled. All were test marketed through franchise dealerships in Seoul, South Korea, and Taipei, Taiwan. The collaboration was soon abandoned as Daimler unexpectedly withdrew before a formal agreement was achieved.

From 1995 to 1998, the Sportage was built by Karmann in Germany; European buyers received German-built versions in that period, while the rest of the world received South Korean-built versions. It was launched in Asia in July 1993 and European sales started two years later.

The Sportage was sold in either a five-door SUV or a three-door soft-top convertible. Kia initially developed the wagon in standard length form, but in circa 1996, the company released an extended length version. This stretched model—mainly sold in Asian markets under the name "Sportage Grand", but also as the "Grand Wagon"—featured a 305 mm (12.0 in) longer body utilizing the same wheelbase, an increase in luggage capacity from 1,570 to 2,220 liters (55.4 to 78.4 cu ft), and the relocation of the spare wheel from the tailgate to underneath the floor.[1]

Kia offered three Mazda-sourced engines in the Sportage, beginning with the 2.0-liter FE DOHC inline-four gasoline unit producing 95 kW (128 hp) and the 2.0-liter RF inline-four diesel rated at 61 kW (82 hp). Diesel-engined models were mostly restricted to European markets, as was the more basic single overhead camshaft (SOHC) version of the 2.0-liter FE gasoline inline-four. Delivering 87 kW (117 hp), this gasoline engine was available from 2000 onwards. In North America, the 2.0-liter FE DOHC engine produced 130 hp (97 kW) and had optional four-wheel drive. The 1997 model year Kia Sportage was the world's first production vehicle to be equipped with a knee airbag.[2]

This first-generation model (1993–2002) sold in low numbers, even domestically in South Korea, and models after Hyundai's 1998 partial takeover of Kia (1997–2002) were recalled twice for rear wheels dismounting while driving. The first-generation Sportage was discontinued in South Korea in 2002, and in North America after the 2002 model year. By 2003, most international markets had discontinued the Sportage range, although it remained on sale in some developing countries until its second-generation replacement arrived in 2005.

The Kia Sportage scored the lowest possible result in the Australian ANCAP crash tests – one star out of five. As well as a failure of the seat belts, the vehicle structure collapsed.[3]

Facelifts

c. 1998–2001
MY 1998–2001 Kia Sportage (US)

c. 1998–2002
MY 2000–2001 Kia Sportage EX (US)

c. 2002–2005
MY 2002 Kia Sportage convertible (US)

Second generation (JE/KM)
Overview
Production	August 2004 – February 2010 2005–2015 (China)
Assembly	South Korea: Gwangju (Gwangju Plant) China: Yancheng (DYK) Ecuador: Quito (AYMESA) Malaysia: Gurun (NAM) Russia: Kaliningrad (Avtotor)[4] Slovakia: Žilina (Žilina Plant) Ukraine: Zaporizhzhia (AvtoZAZ)[5]
Body and chassis
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive Front-engine, all-wheel drive
Related	Hyundai Tucson (JM)
Powertrain
Engine	2.0 L Beta II I4 (gasoline) 2.7 L Delta V6 (gasoline) 2.0 L CRDI I4-T (diesel)
Transmission	4-speed automatic 5-speed manual 6-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,630 mm (103.5 in)
Length	4,350 mm (171.3 in)
Width	1,820–1,840 mm (71.7–72.4 in)
Height	1,695–1,730 mm (66.7–68.1 in)
Curb weight	1,480–1,685 kg (3,263–3,715 lb)

After a two-year hiatus, the Sportage returned in model-year 2005, sharing an Hyundai Elantra-based platform with the 2005 Hyundai Tucson. A 2.0 L straight-4 diesel engine was available in the United Kingdom. Pricing started at just over US$16,000. Fans of the original pre-Hyundai Sportage and critics complained that it was considerably larger than the original Sportage and had none of its off-road capability, the two keys to its success. However, buyers of the second-generation model were likely to favor the available 173 hp (129 kW) V6, with 178 lb·ft of torque (241 N·m). Overall fit/finish and quality was noticeably improved over the first-generation model.

A facelift model of the second generation was introduced in May 2008. From 2006, it was manufactured at the Žilina Plant in Slovakia. A second facelift was introduced in the UK in early 2009, only a few months after its first facelift.

The Sportage was named as one of the most reliable vehicles from the 2009 Consumer Reports reliability survey.[6] The Kia Sportage ranked second in the "20 least expensive 2009 vehicles to insure" list by Insure.com. According to research, the Sportage is one of the least expensive vehicles to insure.[7]

• 
  Kia Sportage (pre-facelift, Europe)
• 
  2009-2010 Kia Sportage EX (facelift)
• 
  Kia Sportage (facelift, China)
• 
  Kia Sportage (facelift, China)

Safety

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety displays a 2008 Sportage as an example of a weak roof.

The second-generation Sportage earned a top rating of five stars in crash tests by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) judged it merely acceptable for frontal and side-impact crash, performance, and poor strength of its roof in a rollover.[8]

Test	Rating
Overall:
Moderate overlap front:	Average
Side:	Average
Roof strength:	Poor
Head restraints & seats:	Poor

Third generation (SL)
Overview
Production	March 2010 – August 2015 2010–2018 (China)
Assembly	South Korea: Gwangju (Gwangju Plant) Malaysia: Gurun (NAM) Russia: Kaliningrad (Avtotor) Slovakia: Žilina (Žilina Plant) China: Yancheng (DYK)
Designer	Peter Schreyer
Body and chassis
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive Front-engine, all-wheel drive
Related	Hyundai Tucson (LM)
Powertrain
Engine	1.6 L I4 GDI petrol 2.0 L I4 petrol 2.0 L I4 GDI (turbo) 2.4 L I4 petrol 1.7 L I4 CRDi turbo diesel 2.0 L I4 CRDi turbo diesel
Transmission	5-speed manual 6-speed manual 6-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,640 mm (103.9 in)[9]
Length	4,440–4,450 mm (174.8–175.2 in)[9][10]
Width	1,855 mm (73.0 in)[9]
Height	1,635–1,645 mm (64.4–64.8 in)[9]
Curb weight	1,410–1,625 kg (3,109–3,583 lb)

Interior

The SL series Sportage was released to Asian and European markets in April 2010, the North and Central American markets in August 2010, and the Australian market in October 2010, for the 2011 model year.[11] Two engines were available, a 2.0-liter Hyundai R diesel engine with 184 hp (137 kW), and a 2.0-liter Theta T-GDI gasoline engine. In China, it was released by Dongfeng Yueda Kia in October 2010 and called the Sportage R, and was to be built and marketed alongside the previous generation rather than as a replacement for it.[12]

The Sportage won the 2011 Car of the Year (originally "Auto roku 2011 na Slovensku") in Slovakia and "Truck of the Year" nomination of International Car of the Year. It was top of the JD Power Survey for 2012, the only car in the survey to score five stars across all categories, from mechanical reliability to ownership costs and the dealer experience. In South Africa, it took the 2013 Standard Bank People's Wheels Award for "SUVs and Crossovers – City & Suburban".[13][14]

The third generation received a facelift for the 2014 model year that included new headlamps and fog lamps.

Safety

The third-generation Sportage received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the United States.[15] Earning the award became tougher in 2010 when IIHS added the rollover crash test, which measures roof strength and is twice as stringent as the federal requirement. To pass this test, a vehicle's roof must be able to withstand the force of three times the vehicle's weight (acceptable rating). The federal standard requires a roof to hold 1.5 times the vehicle's weight.[16]

Test	Rating
Overall
Small overlap front	Poor
Moderate overlap front	Good
Side	Good
Roof strength	Good
Head restraints & seats	Good

• 
  2013 Kia Sportage Si (pre-facelift)
• 
  2013 Kia Sportage Si (pre-facelift)
• 
  Kia Sportage (facelift)
• 
  Kia Sportage R (facelift, China)

Fourth generation (QL)
Pre-facelift Kia Sportage
Overview
Also called	Kia KX5 (China)
Production	September 2015–present
Model years	2016–present
Assembly	South Korea: Gwangju (Gwangju Plant) Slovakia: Žilina (Žilina Plant) Malaysia: Gurun (NAM) Algeria: Batna (GLOVIZ)[17] Russia: Kaliningrad (Avtotor) China: Yancheng (DYK) Pakistan: Karachi (Kia Lucky Motors)
Designer	Peter Schreyer
Body and chassis
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive Front-engine, all-wheel drive
Related	Hyundai Tucson (TL)
Powertrain
Engine	1.6 L Gamma I4 (petrol) 1.6 L Gamma I4 turbocharged (petrol) 2.0 L Nu I4 (petrol) 2.0 L Theta II I4 turbocharged (petrol) 2.4 L Theta II I4 (petrol) 2.0 L R-Line CRDi I4 (diesel) 1.7 L U-Line CRDi I4 (diesel)
Transmission	6-speed manual 6-speed automatic 7-speed DCT 8-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,670 mm (105.1 in)
Length	4,480 mm (176.4 in)
Width	1,855 mm (73.0 in)
Height	1,635–1,645 mm (64.4–64.8 in)
Curb weight	1,465–1,770 kg (3,230–3,902 lb)

Kia unveiled its newly redesigned Sportage at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2015, and brought it to market in 2016 (as a 2017 model in North America). The company said the contrasting sharp edges and smooth surfaces were inspired by modern fighter jets.[18]

There are three gasoline engines, as well as one diesel engine in the line-up. The gasoline options are a 1.6-liter, 2.0-liter or 2.4-liter, offering around 97 kW/161 N⋅m, 120 kW/200 N⋅m and 138 kW/241 N⋅m respectively, while the diesel is a 2.0-liter turbo that will produce around 135 kW/400 N⋅m. A 130 kW/265 N⋅m 1.6 T-GDi turbo-gasoline with an optional seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, and a 136 kW/400Nm 2.0 R-Series diesel. Front- (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations are available.

In North America, the new Sportage is offered with three trim levels (LX, EX, and SX). Much like the previous model, it is available with two inline-four engine choices, a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter and a turbocharged 2.0-liter. The 2.4-liter produces 181 hp (135 kW) and 175 lb⋅ft (237 N⋅m), while the turbocharged engine makes 240 hp (180 kW) and 260 lb⋅ft (350 N⋅m), with small differences in performance dependent on whether FWD or AWD is configured. Both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

Kia KX5 (Chinese version)

Facelift Kia KX5

Facelift KX5 rear view

In China, the fourth generation Sportage was sold as the Kia KX5, the third generation model was sold alongside as the Sportage R, while the Kia Sportage name was used on a separate model developed from the second generation Hyundai ix35 chassis and also sold alongside.

The Kia KX5 received a facelift in 2019 conducted by Dongfeng Yueda Kia that would exclusively be sold in China only.

Available from March 2019, the front fascia was completely restyled with headlamps integrated with the grille and the rear end of the KX5 was also slightly redesigned for the Chinese market. Despite the exclusively restyled exterior, the wheels of the Chinese version are the same as the ones on the international Kia Sportage facelift.[19]

Safety

The 2017 Sportage received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.[20]

Test	Rating
Overall:
Small overlap front:	Good
Moderate overlap front:	Good
Side:	Good
Roof strength:	Good
Head restraints & seats:	Good
Front crash prevention:	Superior
Headlights:	Acceptable
Child seat anchors (Latch) ease of use:	Acceptable

The Sportage was Kia's best selling model worldwide in 2016, overtaking the Rio.[22]

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