Used 2022 Kia Sportage

The 2022 Kia Sportage is an excellent compact crossover/SUV in a class full of equally superb contenders. Buyers really are spoiled for choice. Where the Sportage makes its case is the amount of standard equipment included in the price, plus a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Trim levels for the 2022 Sportage are LX, Nightfall, EX, and SX Turbo. This generation launched for the 2017 model year, and an all-new model is due next year. Which might make potential buyers decide to wait, or they could try to negotiate a sweeter deal on this year’s model.

There’s a similar-sized crossover in the Kia stable, the newer Seltos. What’s the difference between the Kia Sportage and the Kia Seltos? The Sportage offers a more powerful engine option. Yet, although the Seltos is classified as a subcompact, it has slightly more maximum cargo space and virtually the same amount of rear legroom.

Compact crossovers have an appeal going from young singles to families to empty-nesters — virtually anyone who wants decent practicality and a raised driving position. The 2022 Sportage is a good call, but not the best.

Despite having “sport” in its name, the Sportage doesn’t have the same kind of poise as, say, the Mazda CX-5. Then again, nor does any other compact crossover.

The driving experience in the Sportage is passable, though. The suspension is smooth over most surfaces and tidy through most corners. The SX Turbo’s engine can be entertaining with its 240 horsepower, but the base engine gets the job done at a lower price.

With seating for five, or four in greater comfort, the 2022 Sportage isn’t the most spacious compact crossover (the Honda CR-V is a top player in this regard), but it still does pretty well. Rear legroom is 38.2 inches, and cargo space goes from 30.7 to 60.1 cubic feet. The luggage area is made a little more practical with a dual floor feature.

Up front, there are plenty of soft-touch plastics, comfortable front seats, and a dashboard that’s both pleasant and user-friendly. Only at freeway speeds does any road noise become particularly noticeable.

Kia now has a portfolio full of smart and distinctive vehicles. By this time, the Sportage is a bit older than most of its stablemates. And although there’s still a confidence in the exterior design, it doesn’t have the same impact as the company’s newer models.

The Nightfall version makes a real effort to add coolness, though, with touches like a gloss dark gray grille with a piano black frame, plus side cladding, roof rails, and various other elements all in black. The two higher trims add some chrome. Well, in the case of the SX Turbo, dark chrome.

PHYSICAL CONTROLS
Many car manufacturers are making infotainment touchscreens as the main controller for several functions beyond the usual radio station selection, etc. To its eternal credit, Kia decided to keep some traditional knobs in the Sportage for things like air conditioning and fan speed. There’s also a proper control for volume.

LUXURY FEATURES, MAINSTREAM PRICES
Although the Kia Sportage is alluring to those seeking an affordable compact crossover that doesn’t feel cheap, up at the higher trim levels are features more usually associated with luxury vehicles. Such as heated/ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, powered tailgate, panoramic sunroof, and a 320-watt Harman Kardon audio system.

In LX trim, the 2022 Sportage comes with front-wheel drive, a 2.4-liter engine, 17-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, cloth upholstery, air conditioning, manually adjustable front seats, and 60/40 split/fold/recline rear seats. Every trim level has an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, Bluetooth, USB port, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, and a 160-watt/6-speaker audio setup.

Driver aids include forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, driver attention monitoring, and lane-keeping assistance.

This year, buyers of the LX Sportage now have the choice of spending $2,100 on a Value Edition package or $4,000 on the next-up Nightfall model. The extras in the package that come standard in the Nightfall include 18-inch alloy wheels, heated side mirrors, power-adjustable driver’s seat, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.

However, that package also has heated front seats, keyless entry/ignition, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The rest of the Nightfall model has mainly cosmetic additions, plus a flat-bottomed steering wheel, paddle shifters, and simulated leather upholstery.

Hands-free tailgate operation comes in at the EX level, along with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a USB port for rear passengers. EX trim also offers a Technology package that brings features like wireless charging, satellite radio, navigation, adaptive cruise control, front/rear parking sensors, and a Harman Kardon audio system upgrade.

The SX Turbo has all of the above, and a turbocharged engine, metal sport pedals, leather seating surfaces, 19-inch alloy wheels, sport-tuned suspension, and full LED exterior lighting.

Every 2022 Sportage trim qualifies for all-wheel drive.

The main engine in the 2022 Sportage range is a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder unit. It’s naturally aspirated (no turbocharger) and makes a perfectly adequate 181 horsepower. We’d like it better if it was more economical in city driving, but there isn’t much else to complain about.

The range-topping SX Turbo model has, to no one’s surprise, a turbocharged engine. It’s the increasingly common 2.0-liter 4-cylinder configuration and makes a meaty 240 horsepower (or 237 when all-wheel drive is in the picture). Naturally, it uses a little more fuel than its less powerful counterpart.

Both engines connect to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is the basic setup, and all-wheel drive (AWD) is optional at every trim level. Maximum towing capacity of the Sportage is 2,000 pounds, regardless of engine.

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), 22/26 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)