Used 2021 Kia Sportage

The 2021 Kia Sportage compact crossover/SUV has been a mainstay of the Kia lineup for years, evolving from budget runabout to almost-luxury conveyance whose design was overseen by the celebrated Peter Schreyer, who worked on the original Audi TT.

Yet the Sportage remains affordable. It continues to attract buyers with its attractive pricing, fantastic 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, plus a generous amount of standard and optional equipment. Every Sportage has an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration. And every trim is eligible for all-wheel drive.

Engine choices are a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder with a perfectly adequate 181 horsepower, or a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with a gutsy 240 horsepower.

Although the 240-horsepower turbocharged SX may seem like the most attractive model because of its superior muscle, the standard 2.4-liter 4-cylinder with 181 horsepower works just fine in the 2021 Kia Sportage. It has more than ample power, and the standard 6-speed automatic transmission operates unobtrusively.

The 2.4 also achieves better fuel economy than the 2.0-liter turbo. For outright acceleration, though, the turbocharged Sportage SX is the way to go.

The electrically assisted steering feels natural (which is not always the case with this kind of assistance), and the suspension has a ride quality that’s comfortable and compliant without being vague and floaty.

The cabin of a 2021 Kia Sportage can make drivers and passengers alike look forward to the next trip, thanks to supportive and comfortable seats, logical control positioning, and red backlighting that makes the instrument panel easy to read at night. There are many storage places, as well.

The roomy rear seats have reclining backs and plenty of space to stretch out, although headroom takes a hit when the optional panoramic sunroof is on board. But the upper-end trims offer heated rear seats. The Nightfall package includes an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat.

The Sportage’s 30.7 cubic feet of luggage space behind the rear seats expands to 60.1 cubic feet when they’re folded down. Neither figure compares well with the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4.

With a high-achieving head designer comes the equally elevated official descriptions. Kia says the Sportage’s smooth surfaces and sharp edges echo shapes found in fighter jets. Perhaps, but let’s all agree that the Sportage shook off its budget roots a long time ago.

The new-for-2021 Nightfall Edition and Nightfall Edition Premium packages for the Sportage S trim replace last year’s Sunroof and Premium packages. They include piano-black exterior accents, special-design dark gray 18-inch alloy wheels with black centers, panoramic sunroof, and a Sportage badge that stretches across the tailgate.

The base LX trim has 17-inch alloy wheels; the range-topping SX Turbo model rolls on 19-inch alloy wheels.

ACTUAL KNOBS
Kia has wisely retained a considerable number of traditional controls for items such as the Sportage’s air conditioning and fan speed. The infotainment system deploys a touchscreen, but it also has proper knobs for volume and tuning.

LUXURY FEATURES, MAINSTREAM PRICES
The Kia Sportage can be an excellent choice as an entry-level crossover SUV. But it’s also available with high-end features like heated and ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, 320-watt Harman Kardon audio system, panoramic sunroof, and a powered tailgate.

In entry-level LX trim, the 2021 Sportage comes with cloth upholstery, 6-way manually adjustable driver’s seat, air conditioning (with rear vents), Normal, Sport and Eco driving modes, power windows/locks/side mirrors, dual-level cargo floor, 60/40 split/fold/recline rear seats, 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, USB port, auxiliary audio input, 6-speaker/160-watt audio system, forward-collision mitigation with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high beams.

It’s worth considering the next-up S trim to gain a leather-wrapped steering wheel and simulated leather upholstery, plus 18-inch alloy wheels, power-folding side mirrors, and roof rails.

All-wheel drive is optional for every trim of the 2021 Kia Sportage trim, and the system includes a locking differential for improved traction on slick surfaces. Another option is a special front fascia with an off-road-friendly 28-degree approach angle.

An arguably more important option for the lower trims is dual-zone automatic climate control. And families looking at the Sportage LX should consider ordering the optional Tricot seat fabric, which is specially treated for easy cleaning.

An electronic parking brake and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert come in at the S level, which is eligible for those new Nightfall packages. The Nightfall Premium package brings extras like a second USB port, satellite radio, wireless charging, and keyless entry/ignition.

The powered tailgate is part of the EX trim, which is also when a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and heated front seats are included.

The SX Turbo has a sport suspension to complement its turbocharged engine, along with LED headlights/taillights, LED interior lighting, leather seating surfaces, heated/flat-bottomed steering wheel, sporty stainless steel pedals, adaptive cruise control, front/rear parking sensors, and a 320-watt Harman Kardon audio system.

In every 2021 Sportage except the SX Turbo is a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine developing 181 horsepower. This output is pretty much average for the compact SUV/crossover class. Fuel consumption, however, isn’t so bearable, especially in the city.

The 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine in the SX Turbo generates an impressive 240 horsepower. Predictably, it’s also thirstier.

A 6-speed automatic is the sole transmission and front-wheel drive (FWD) is the standard setup, with all-wheel drive (AWD) on the options list. The Sportage is rated to tow up to 2,000 pounds.

2.4-liter inline-4
181 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
175 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/30 mpg (FWD), 21/25 mpg (AWD)

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
240 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm (237 horsepower for AWD models)
260 lb-ft of torque @ 1,450-3,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/28 mpg (FWD), 19/24 mpg (AWD)