Used Kia Sportage review: 2016 to 2021 (Mk4) - Reliability and common problems
Owners told us that the Kia Sportage is a very reliable car, and the maker’s long warranty shows how confident it is about its models
The Kia Sportage is likely to be a very reliable choice of used family car. It’s tough to make a definitive statement on the dependability of any car, but the simple fact that Kia sells it with a seven-year warranty that’s transferable from owner to owner tells us a lot.
How reliable is the Kia Sportage?
Kia doesn’t want to be offering warranty-covered free repairs all the time, so it clearly would not offer this impressive cover if it wasn’t sure its cars are some of the most reliable out there. The Sportage uses a set of tried-and-tested petrol and diesel engines, and the warranty covers you for up to 100,000 miles, so there’s no reason to think it won’t be a very dependable car.
You can buy service plans online that cover you for essential maintenance. We looked up the cost for a 2018 diesel Sportage and found that for both the 40,000 and 50,000-mile services it would cost just over £400.
Service intervals for most Sportage models are every 20,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first. The petrol turbo models (the 1.6 T-GDi only) have shorter intervals, though - every 10,000 miles or 12 months. You’ll want to bear that in mind if you’re deciding on which version to choose.
Are there any common problems or things to look out for?
On the whole, the Kia Sportage should be trouble-free. There’s evidence online that some cars can suffer from engine computer problems or a juddering clutch, both of which will be covered by the warranty. Odd-feeling steering might be one area to look out for – test drive a couple of cars to give yourself some context on how it should feel.
As with all used cars, check for damage around the bumpers and on the wheels, and if you’re confident doing so, check the fluids are all topped up. Low oil or coolant is a sign of an inattentive seller, which is usually something you want to avoid.
What about recalls?
There are no reported recalls for the Kia Sportage built from 2016 to 2021 in the UK.
What do owners think?
In our 2021 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey the Kia Sportage was ranked ninth out of the top 75 cars featured in the poll. That’s a great result and owners reported that their Sportages have been reliable and are well built, plus practicality and ride quality were praised as well. It’s a really good sign that owners are impressed with these key areas.
