2011 Kia Sportage Review - it might win awards for most improved, but that's about it

The latest sister car to its Hyundai counterpart, the Kia Sportage is in many ways mechanically similar to the Tucson, a fact that is particularly important to our review of the new compact crossover.
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AutoGuide reviews the latest new cars with test drives, car comparisons and shootouts plus coverage of breaking auto industry news, auto shows, rumors and spy photos. Help shop for your new car with informative car buying tips and car recall news, and be entertained with feature stories, Top 10s and car review videos.

[@isaac198428]

This 2011 model is one of the best small suvs in the market now and this guy doesn't know what he's talking about. only thing I agree with is the pillars being too big & small rear window other than that this is a great vehicle. maybe it's too small for him but not for other drivers... obviously he was paid to review and probably the competition gave him something to talk bs. If you're a consumer and go to the lot, you pick what car suits your style and size. Being small inside is your personal issue not a flaw of the vehicle being that most of us are under 6'. lol

[@rhezzz]

LOVE LOVE LOVE this car. I would take this over any other SUV out today. Styling is AMAZING. I still can remember the first time I saw this vehicle I thought it was super GORGEOUS could not take my eyes off it. I had a similar reaction the first time I saw the Honda Accord, however for the Kia it was much more. Kia is a winner with this one, all reviews I saw besides this one have really been impressed with it. It has excellent safety ratings, excellent features, good fuel economy & is HOT

[@Patriot842]

I just bought a 2011 Kia Sportage LX and then added the fog lights a couple of weeks after. I love it and do not regret buying it at all.

[@Eagleshot26]

Still havw it?

[@umsaraiii342]

@@Eagleshot26 probably not🤔

[@mikerules666]

I agree with the person below me. Why do all these reviewers have to pick at every little thing and turn it into negative things. I test drove the Sportage and I did not have one single complaint about it. I actually think it is perfect in every way. It is a great looking crossover and the price point is just right. It has plenty of power and it rides great as well. I could see fine out every window and the seats were extremely comfortable as well.

[@mikerules666]

@ILYCable I just wanted to ask you how you like the ride and steering feel. Did you test drive any Japanese models first or did you just go straight for the Kia?

[@mikerules666]

@LindaCranmer1 Did you go straight for the Kia or did you test drive other models first? I'm just asking cause I'm in the market for one and I'm highly considering this crossover.

[@amirkeyrain]

wait, are the car small or this guy too tall?

[@churro9623]

The sportage rocks! I don't know why the gas and break pedals are an issue. Most European cars have those.

[@Dipz0142]

I have owned both cars and undoubtedly Kia Sportage drives and feels much more youthful than the Tuscon!! I do not agree with any of the comments with regard to the suspension either... Not bumpy at all and infact the handling is much better than the Tuscon. It corners extremely well and the steering is extremely responsive... You'd just love to rev it on an open curving road....

[@stk931]

@avlisk why would it do that?

[@waticala3000]

when are you going to do the Hyundai Tucson review???

[@mixkit]

It's a sport crossover! It's supposed to be stiff. I have the turbo AWD version and I love it. I also have an E38 BMW740IL, 73 MG midget, and I rather drive my Sportage any day. Heated/Cooled seats, Turbo AWD, 18's, Backup Camera, Panoramic Roof. It's a real head turner and it Smokes any other crossover I've come across.

[@Renato1506]

I bought a Sportage a few weeks ago, and really feel a difference in the suspension, the car jumps a lot in any hole, someone else was bothered by this? The rest is perfect! (Brazil)

[@Yackov86]

@wrecks1984 I think you got yourself the one they were going to use for parts... x) I have a 2003 Kia Rio and two months ago it gave me the first problem: the A/C. After paying $20, they fixed it. 8 years after I bought it, I had to spend $20. My Kia is a cheap car, but it is a really good car. On January I'll (hopefully) have the sportage on my garage. ;)

[@arfer]

The only justifiable gripe from this guy is the rear window visibility......it is a bit impaired.........but apart from that the Sportage has been nothing but excellent for me. This guy seems to be complaining about things in the Sportage that are maybe different from the way they are in his favorite cars....not a good reviewing basis to work from.

[@Yackov86]

@wrecks1984 Thanks so much for the advice. I apreciate it. But I've compared prices and Kia cars are good deals. The Nissan Rouge is at a good price too. The thing about Hondas is their part are expensive (at least here, in PR. I don't like CR-V anyways). I've compared the Rouge and the Sportage and I think (I don't know much about cars) they are pretty much equally equipped and the price was lower in the Sportage SX. But mostly, I picked the Sportage because of the great experience with my Kia.

[@dagopakar]

When you test drive one make sure you do so on uneven roads as well. The hard suspension is a killer!. I spent five hours in the back of one recently and felt every bump in the road. After my experience it's not a car for me.

[@wrecks1984]

@Yackov86 very possible, before buying kia get prices at other makes, you might be suprised, we got our selves a nissan pathfinder for just a bit more than a loaded sorento or a veracruz, so if you want to go in that size i would shop, just for the fun of it go test trive a used 2008 cr-v and 2008 sportage you'll see a huge difference. honda's dont age fast. just friendly advice. other thing resale value, i owed 20000$ to own car, when i turned in my rental and it was worth 16000 before taxes.

[@keunsoo2000]

I think the reviewer well pointed out small things that all matters. Eventhough I don't agree with everything, still, I was able to look into faults of the vehicle he mentioned and decide for myself whether it matter much or not. If anybody asks for plush ride, obvisouly should go for some like Oldsmobile but if you all look for some fun, Kia probably be good way to go.

[@mikerules666]

@y2kxcel Great. Thanks for the info. I am definitely going to go test drive one.

[@SunburstFender18]

I've read on Kia forums that some customers are receiving very poor gas mileage.

[@jonny2k100]

That is one sexy color, nothing to do with the fact ours is in that color aswell ;)

[@Cameronb28]

What's going on in the Kia dearlership

[@StangBang35]

i lik this guy. i lik how it is a honest review so stop hatin

[@2010subrata]

Just ordered the the top disel range car and waiting impatiently for the delivery. I am a brand addict but this car has blown me away and I love the design, performance and style, not to mention the price and package. WTF this guy is talking about.. He has no understanding about what a good car is all about, I bet he drives a pink hummer... M%R%N

[@halloahalloahalloa]

I completely agree that this guy is really biased against Kia, and that he barely mentioned any of the good points of the car. I love the exterior design of this car; it's arguably the best looking in the class. But, I feel the need to set your comment straight. First of all, the Hyundai Tucson IS the ix35. Also, when I got inside the car, the first thing I thought was, "God, the a-pillars are way too thick to be safe." Just saying.

[@PambosZeniou]

O totally agree with all of you guys about this guy...

[@kalargyi]

Does anyone thought about the Depreciation? This actually cost More than Any Compact SUV over 5 years.

[@MarnusSteyn-fu6iq]

Typicaly jaded car reviewer.

[@bigred8863]

This guy talked so much bs about this car that i want to buy it,actually i was already planning to,i will use it mostly for winter driving though as i have another car.

[@cobaltss1985]

I I ve seen a lot of people complaingi about the visibility and wtf? are you blind?? Although I bought the car 8months ago I ve put more than 50,000kms (commuting from Toronto to Waterloo) and never had any visibility problem. Actually its pretty visible compared to my old car (Cobaltss) U can probably drive this backward at the track!! Disappointments: Fuel econ, Acceleration It seems like the car needs a tank of gas (55L) in every 450km.. (Yes I drive my car properly) 2.4L isnt enuf

[@chrischliew]

HELLLLOOOO? are you doing a Kia review or a Hyundai review? The right car for the wrong guy to do a review.

[@mikerules666]

Negative negative negative. Why are all these reviews so negative? This Sportage is not as bad as he says it is. I think it is one of the best looking crossovers on the market. I would definitely buy this before a Japanese model. I want to test drive one.

[@ShowMeWhatINeedToKnow]

He recommended the Tucson, but it has the same problems: Choppy ride, loud ride, cramped interior, same fuel economy, and very poor visibility.

[@7913Daniel]

Is this guy trying to recommend this car or trying to tell people not to buy it?

[@717jonpaul]

He looks pretty tall for this car. Could be cramped for his size.

[@dimiterdakov]

That wasn't a very good review to be honest. It was very opionated and that is the number one no-no in car reviewing. Some people like black interiors and the design :) A car review is supposed to give FACTS about space and leg room with general info. Let the consumer decide on the looks, pedals and so on.

[@lccurtis1]

I just purchased a Kia Sportage EX AWD and I love it. This guy's review is terrible and just FYI the Tucson and the Kia share platforms. Also I noticed he tried to make the cabin look really cramp by not moving the seat back and yes if you are over 6'5" almost any car will be cramped to you. to me this review was a bunch of blah blah blah

[@xicon8lead]

I fuckin hate the in-between-cut sounds

[@benito8773]

wow u literally were negative about almost everything

[@thegraggs]

This isn't the car for me, however compared to the competition, i like this alot better. If you want to pick everything apart, its still better than the competition. If you hate the gas pedal in this, go drive a Toyota, and see if you like that sticking gas pedal better. A really bad review.

[@wrecks1984]

@Yackov86 lucky :P

[@avlisk]

RE: Kia fuel economy. Kias are great, in my opinion, but, if you stomp on the accelerator, it opens up the fuel dump valve, spilling petrol onto the pavement. If you want to reach, or surpass, the Kia's mpg, drive it like your grandma. I'll still buy another KIa.

[@nandanapushpakumarasamarat4114]

🎉

[@chrischliew]

@xicon8lead Agreed. And i dont think the out-of-focus and in-to-focus of the close up shots of the car is at all impressive. HELLO! its very down right annoying! sheeshhhh...

[@TheBillproject]

this guy is bs 100% the sportage SX is an aggressive little gremlin and fun to drive! I forget i am in a crossover when speeding like it is a sportscar

[@HarleyPan]

woh this is spicy

[@CJ_Nightlives]

@srilankanlionsrock i agree i got this car a month ago and i love it WTF is this guy talking about

[@mandysav294]

Me too👍

[@contractki11er]

Lol, everyone if pissed at him because of all the nit picking he's doing. Even if it got many awards and is a great car overall, it doesn't leave it flawless. And everyone has a different opinion of a car, if everyone had the same opinion, everyone would be driving the same car!

[@DeadshotX1]

This guy is talking a load of nonsense. This is a great car, voted top vehicle by carbyer.com for 2011 I beilieve

[@julie5558]

i have a sportage i love it this guy is so wrong

[@TechFreak51]

How much were you paid by Kia competitors who are scared & jealous of Kia's (& Sportage's) recent success ???

[@alexiambassadors1510]

You’re eating siet

[@cvunit]

im going to buy this car, remove the KIA logo, add a grill = win.

[@Dipz0142]

This guy has it all Bull Shit... I own one and I regularly get 25-27 Miles on a gallon... And I mostly drive in city 25-50 mph!!!

[@OOOOOOBBB]

@wrecks1984 no i think it should be KIA=Killing Iron Automobile

[@jonszabo]

OMG...what a "pathetic" review!! All negatives...I don't recall hearing anything positive. The gas pedal issue...the video showed that the gas pedal (not pressed) was at a similar position to the break pedal...not "this serious angle" he talked about. About the "high dash" like the Camaro "one of the worst cars on the market for that"....this guy would find something wrong with Mother Theresa. I just wonder who's "paying" his check.

[@wrecks1984]

everyone knows that kia and hyundai are cheap cars...yes they have improved but still have room for improvement. i owned a hyundai 2009 tucson and was so happy to return the leaking motor head, broken shocks, faulty breaks which were whistling on highway (VERY ANNOYING) and had radio replaced and at ignition i felt the car would just fall apart...hard shaking. (42000 km.) before looks they should prove us that their cars go up to 400000km with out ''heavy'' maintenance like honda's and toyota's.

[@arfer]

Really, this guy makes pointless and silly gripes. Does he really think that the sole of your shoe has to sit flush with the truck-style gas pedal?? You can make contact with the gas pedal at any point and angle you want! I have to seriously doubt his knowledge of motoring, and commonsense, if he really thinks his foot must be flush up against that style of pedal.

[@stk931]

the least ricey ricer

[@trtepol]

i like this interior, this review sucks

[@tochjo772]

all of the faults he mention about this car i can't agree a single thing i,m sorry but true lol

[@KevinLab010]

This guy is a bit of a bias dink. The car is great value for the money. All the other reviews are more balanced. Its going to be difficult for those fat cat automakers to compete when good cars are being produced for the average consumer to afford. Todays economy and peoples budgets steer folks to buy Kia. Style + Value at reasonable cost. I am patriotic, but I work hard for my money and prefer to get more for my money. Likely no lazy ass unions at Kia either.