Used Kia Sportage Buying Guide

Used Kia Sportage Buying Guide
Inventory Contact

The Kia Sportage has been on North American roads for three decades, being a solid SUV since then. A used Kia Sportage offers a blend of comfort, features, and, even more importantly, the most bang for your buck. We’ll be looking at some of the generations and their features. This is your used Kia Sportage buying guide.

Key Takeaways:

  • The fifth generation offers great mileage and comfort.
  • If you’re wanting something that is a bit greener, then the fifth generation is for you, as it has hybrid options, a great option for environmentally conscious drivers.
  • The fourth generation became a stronger pick in 2020, and if you’re not looking for the most modern tech, this will be a great option, especially if you find one at an unbeatable price.

Fifth Generation (2023-Present)

Used Kia Sportage Fifth Generation Buying Guide

This model is equipped with some great features that make driving even easier without input from you. One of these features was a terrain mode that automatically adjusted to whatever terrain you were on, helping maintain control. These terrains were snow, sand, and mud. While snow may be a bit of a rarity for us, if you do manage to find yourself driving in snow, this will come in handy.

While a 2.5L I4 engine was offered, which has an EPA-rated 28 MPG combined. There are two hybrid engines that are also offered, one being a regular hybrid and the other being a plug-in variant. These utilize a 1.6L I4 engine, paired with a 44.2 kW electric motor.

The base hybrid will get you 43 MPG combined, with a total range of 589 miles. While the plugin variant gets slightly less combined MPG at 35, it does have the ability to run on electricity only, able to get you 34 miles, without the need to use gas.

Some features that you can find from this generation are an 8-inch infotainment screen, with 12.3-inch screens being an available option. If you find yourself looking at an EX, or above trim, you’ll find that they come with the larger screen, wireless charging pad, and even a heated steering wheel. When the temperatures drop or when you're on long drives, this will help keep your hands loose.

Thanks to the longer body at 183.5 inches, you now have 41.4 inches of legroom for the front and 41.3 inches for the rear. While this is plenty of space for comfort, you also have access to 39.6 cu-ft of cargo space, making this a great option for those parents who have kids in extracurricular activities.

Fourth Generation (2017-2022)

Used Kia Sportage Fourth Generation Buying Guide

When this generation hit the roads, it came in 3 trims. The trims you can find are LX, EX, and SX. This generation also offers two I4 options. These are the 2.4L and the 2.0L being Since the 2.0L is turbocharged, it outputs 240 horsepower. The 2.4L is the more efficient engine, having an EPA-rated 26 MPG combined, compared to the 23 MPG combined that is on the 2.0L.

This generation came with a shorter body at 176.4 inches. For the legroom, you do get a bit more at 41.5 inches for the front row, but the second row suffers a bit at 38.2 inches. For the cargo space, you have access to 30.7 cu-ft, which is decent, but not as great as the most recent models.

For the 2020 models, a new trim joined the lineup. This one is a “sportier” option known as the S. This slots in between the LX and EX trims. This year also brought a new, upgraded leatherette seat and an optional wireless charging pad. All trims now come equipped with an 8-inch infotainment screen. Some other new driver assistance features are automatic high-beam headlights, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go technology, driver-attention warning, pedestrian detection, and lane-keeping assist.

The older infotainment screen before this was a 5-inch screen, with both 7 and 8-inch screens that were optional. If you want the largest one available, then it’ll be easier to find that after 2020.

Which year of the Kia Sportage should I choose?

If you’ve made up your mind on the Sportage and want to know which is the best to get, there are a few options. While the newest generation is the obvious pick, we think that the 2020 models are also a strong option. While it isn’t as spacious or efficient, it isn’t far off. No matter what you choose, we want to be the ones you come to. Come on down to a Jarrett location today for more info on these SUVs!

Pricing was accurate at the time of article writing. All pricing is subject to change. See the manufacturer and/or Dealer for up-to-date pricing.