Cars/Kia/Sportage

Kia Sportage — Buyer's Guide

Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.

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Kia Sportage overview

With 413,595 currently licensed in the UK, the Kia Sportage is one of Britain's most popular cars.

Euro NCAP awarded the Sportage 5 stars in 2022, with 87% adult occupant and 86% child protection scores.

It has a 80.5% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, brakes, tyres.

Annual running costs are estimated at £1,621 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £135/month or 20p/mile.

Theft risk is rated very low at 2.5 per 1,000 registered vehicles.

NCAP Safety

2022

MOT Pass Rate

80.5%

185,000 tests

Monthly Cost

£135

est. annual total

New From

£29,000

Safety rating

Euro NCAP tested the Sportage in 2022 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.

Adult Occupant

87%

Child Occupant

86%

Pedestrian

68%

Safety Assist

87%

Safety recalls

There are 18 known DVSA recalls affecting the Kia Sportage. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.

R/2024/500

The vacuum pump drive gear may be damaged by a mechanical failure caused by high acceleration torque during the engine starting phase. If the pump fails an increase of the brake pedal force may be experienced while driving.

Build dates: 2022-09-08 to 2023-06-14

R/2024/500

The vacuum pump drive gear may be damaged by a mechanical failure caused by high acceleration torque during the engine starting phase. If the pump fails an increase of the brake pedal force may be experienced while driving.

Build dates: 2022-09-08 to 2023-06-14

R/2024/465

The HECU hydraulic electronic control unit of affected vehicles equipped with Anti-lock Brake Systems ABS and Electronic Stability Control ESC could leak internally and cause an electrical short over time. In extreme cases the HECU could overheat with a possible risk of an under bonnet fire.

Build dates: 2010-03-12 to 2014-01-24

R/2023/255

The mesh filter inside the tandem pump may block causing insufficient oil supply and a risk of vacuum pump failure. If the pump fails there will be no vacuum assistance and the possibility of increased braking distance when applying the brake pedal.�

Build dates: 2018-10-25 to 2020-09-28

R/2023/211

A combination of the instrument cluster software and electrical noise while the vehicle is starting may result in cluster booting errors.

Build dates: 2022-08-10 to 2023-03-27

+ 13 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.

Reliability & MOT

Based on 185,000 MOT tests, the Sportage has a first-time pass rate of 80.5% above the UK national average of 72%.

This is a positive sign for reliability. The Sportage is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.

Running costs

Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Kia Sportage are estimated at around £1,621 per year, or £135 per month.

Fuel

£0

/year

Road Tax

£195

/year

Depreciation

£1,171

/year

MOT

£55

/year

Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.

Electric specifications

Battery

14 kWh

Range (WLTP)

43 mi

Motor

67 kW

90 bhp

Drive

AWD

Depreciation

Starting from £29,000 new, a Kia Sportage typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.

AgeRetainedEst. ValueLost
1 year75%£21,750−£7,250
2 years64%£18,500−£10,500
3 years56%£16,250−£12,750
4 years50%£14,650−£14,350
5 years46%£13,450−£15,550
6 years43%£12,550−£16,450
7 years41%£11,800−£17,200
8 years39%£11,200−£17,800
9 years37%£10,650−£18,350
10 years35%£10,100−£18,900

Theft risk

The Sportage has a theft rate of 2.5 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated very low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000.

How common is the Sportage?

There are currently 413,595 licensed and 7,225 SORN Sportages in the UK (420,820 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Kia Sportage reliable?

The Sportage has a 80.5% first-time MOT pass rate based on 185,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.

How safe is the Kia Sportage?

Euro NCAP awarded the Sportage 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2022. It scored 87% for adult occupant protection, 86% for child occupant protection, 68% for vulnerable road users, and 87% for safety assist features.

How much does a Kia Sportage cost to run?

Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Sportage are estimated at around £1,621 per year (£135/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.

Are there any recalls on the Kia Sportage?

There are 18 known safety recalls affecting the Sportage. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.

Is the Kia Sportage likely to be stolen?

The Sportage has a theft rate of 2.5 per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is rated very low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Standard security precautions should be sufficient.

How much does a new Kia Sportage cost?

A new Sportage starts from around £29,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.

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