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Best Car Deals for April 2025Kia Sportage Generations: Through the Years
From tiny off-roader to hybrid-powered and tech-laden compact crossover powerhouse, there has been a lot of change over the five Kia Sportage generation.
1996 Kia Sportage | Shop Kia Sportage on Carsforsale.com
Kia Sportage Generations
Across a span of nearly 30 years, the five Kia Sportage generations have seen remarkable levels of transformation from a petite off-roader of questionable build quality to a staple of the compact crossover segment to a top-shelf SUV that has put the competition on notice. The older models are interesting from a historical perspective, but if you’re in the market for a Sportage, stick to the 4th and 5th generations as they are packed with the latest technology and, as of this year, hybrid power.
First Generation: 1995-2002
Easily forgotten in the current setting of car-based crossovers is that the Kia Sportage was originally a body-on-frame vehicle that truly embodied the SUV ethos. Built to compete with the likes of the Geo Tracker, Suzuki X-90, and Jeep Cherokee, these early Sportages were true off-roaders.
- Built on the RWD Mazda Bongo cargo van platform with a 130 hp 2.0L inline-4 that is paired with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic.
- Optional 4WD system had a dual-range transfer case and locking front hubs.
- Body styles included a four-door SUV or 2-door soft top convertible and in 1997, the Kia Sportage became the first production vehicle to have a knee airbag.
- Equipment in 1998 included a rear-mounted spare tire carrier, dual front airbags, power accessories, and a fully-boxed ladder frame.
- These 1st-gen Sportages sold in low numbers and were plagued by issues like rear wheels falling off while driving and dismal safety scores.
Second Generation: 2005-2010
After a 2-year hiatus, Kia smartly pivoted away from a declining segment and into the burgeoning crossover market populated with the likes of Honda’s CR-V and Toyota’s RAV4. Longer and heavier than the prior generation, this new Sportage also went the unibody route, sharing a platform with the Hyundai Elantra and Tucson.
- The 2.0L 4-cylinder returned with 140 hp and was joined by an optional 2.7L V6 rated for 173 hp and 178 torques.
- The second gen Sportage featured FWD and available AWD.
- Standard equipment on early models included alloy wheels, air-conditioning, and power accessories with the option for a sunroof and leather upholstery.
- A 2009 facelift brought USB ports and navigation to the menu of features, while Consumer Reports named the Sportage one of the most reliable vehicles for sale that year.
- Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, stability control, dual front airbags, and full-length side curtain airbags were all standard with the 2nd-gen Sportage, which helped it earn a 5-Star overall crash rating from the NHTSA.
Third Generation 2011-2016
Four inches longer than the 2nd-gen model and with fresh, rakish sheetmetal, the 3rd-gen Kia Sportage represented the first serious threat to the CR-V and RAV4 segment favorites. Kia’s legendary 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty certainly helped, but so did a new turbocharged powertrain and added premium features.
- The base engine was now a 2.4L inline-4 making 176 horsepower and 168 lb-ft of torque that paired with a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission and the option for AWD.
- A new SX model boasted a far more potent turbocharged 2.0L four-pot that put down 260 hp and 269 torques.
- After giving the 2nd-gen model a “Poor” rating for roof strength, the IIHS rated the latest Sportage as a Top Safety Pick.
- Standard features for the 2011 Sportage included 16-inch alloy wheels, cloth upholstery, a 6-speaker stereo, and Bluetooth connectivity. A panoramic moonroof, climatized front seats, a chilled glovebox, and dual-zone automatic climate control were also available.
- A mild facelift was applied in 2014 that also brought LED taillights and direct injection to the base motor that increased output slightly.
Fourth Generation: 2017-2022
More of an evolution of the 3rd-gen model, the 4th-gen Kia Sportage nonetheless came with fresh sheetmetal, a bevy of advanced driver-assistance systems, and more features than ever.
- The 2017 Kia Sportage was offered in LX, EX, or SX Turbo trims. Base models came with the carryover 2.4L engine now making 181 hp, while the SX Turbo was fitted with the carryover 2.0L engine that saw a drop in output to 240 hp.
- A 6-speed automatic, the only transmission, sent power to the front wheels or all four via an optional AWD system, and the Sportage earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS every year of this series except in 2019.
- Standard features out of the gate included Drive Mode Select, 17-inch wheels, cruise control, a backup camera, and a front USB port.
- For 2018, the EX came with blind-spot monitoring (BSM), rear cross-traffic alert (RCTA), Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, while the SX Turbo brought an 8-inch infotainment screen and a Harman-Kardon audio system.
- By 2020, forward collision mitigation (FCM), a driver-attention warning (DAW), and a lane-keeping system (LKS) were all made lineup-standard, and adaptive cruise control (ACC) showed up on the top-spec SX Turbo Sportage.
- Other high-end amenities like a heated steering wheel, wireless charging pad, and ambient cabin lighting were also available in 2020.
- The 2021 and 2022 Kia Sportage models brought new packages like the blacked-out Nightfall Edition and LX Value package with 18-inch wheels, Smart Key access, and heated front seats for the base model.
Fifth Generation: 2023-Present
Of all the Kia Sportage generations, the latest is easily the most impressive. It boasts head-turning – if polarizing – design, an extra six inches of length versus the prior Sportage, true off-road chops, and three distinct powertrains. The all-new 2023 Kia Sportage is also the first to be built stateside in Georgia.
- Base 2023 Sportages are still powered by a naturally aspirated 2.4L inline-4 with 187 hp, but an 8-speed automatic now handles shifting duty.
- Along with a bigger cabin and cargo bay, the latest Sportage comes standard with full LED exterior lighting, a 12-inch digital gauge cluster, an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, smartphone mirroring, FCM, DAW, and an LKS.
- Moving through the trim hierarchy yields features like a 12-inch infotainment display, rear USB ports, camera-based BSM, semi-autonomous Highway Driving Assist, remote smart parking, and navigation-based ACC. This impressive roster of technology is one of the reasons we put the 2023 Sportage on our list of the best compact SUVs.
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- There is also a new X-Line series that can be had with all-terrain tires, a mildly lifted suspension, multi-terrain driving modes, and AWD with a locking center differential.
- A new Sportage Hybrid debuted this year that pairs a turbocharged 1.6L inline-4 with a 44-kW electric motor, which is good for 225 hp and 258 torques. The 44-mpg highway rating and 13.7-gallon gas tank mean this Sportage can go a whopping 600 highway miles on a full tank. It offers a sweet matte paint job and an even sweeter $28,000 starting price, which helps it earn a spot on our list of favorite hybrid SUVs.
- There is also a new plug-in hybrid Sportage for 2023 with a larger hybrid system that makes 261 hp. It’s not cheap with a starting price of $40,015, but it offers the ability to drive up to 34 miles on pure electricity.
- For in-depth coverage of the 2023 Kia Sportage, be sure to check out our review.
