Malerie Harris

2013 Kia Sportage

••3.5

Posted On: July 4, 2024

Imagine Buying a Car and Loving Every Minute of It

Pros
It's a suv, Drive smooth

Cons
Sometimes have to push to give it speed, Sometimes gas mileage

Pleasant to drive for the most part, with well-controlled body motions through turns and a fairly comfortable ride. There isn't much steering response, so the car lacks true sportiness, but the SUV tracks straight and true, and the brakes provide sufficient stopping power. On the downside, the Sportage's easygoing ride starts to feel disconnected over large bumps in the road or broken pavement.

2013 Kia Sportage Review

Pros

Clean interior design
Strong turbocharged engine
Plenty of standard features
Composed handling

Cons

Low cargo space
Sluggish acceleration
Average fuel economy

Overview

The Kia Sportage is a compact five-seat crossover utility vehicle. With a striking new look, improved quality throughout, and a bevy of high-end features available, this generation Sportage represents a sizable leap from the previous generation. Stale warts like the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4 continue to dominate the compact crossover category but Kia hopes their latest effort will earn them a bigger piece of the crossover pie.

Pricing and Features
7.0/10

Pricing for the Kia Sportage starts around $19,000 while a fully-loaded all-wheel-drive SX costs around $30,000. Among the standard features found on the Kia Sportage are 16-inch alloy wheels, a six-speaker audio system with USB and auxiliary audio inputs, power windows, mirrors, and door locks. And steering wheel-mounted audio and cruise control buttons. Notable options include keyless entry and engine start, a telescopic steering wheel, leather seats, heated front seats, automatic-folding rear seats, navigation, and a backup camera.

Trims	Base	LX	EX	SX
MSRP (FWD)	$19,000	$21,200	$24,200	$26,900
MSRP (AWD)	NA	$22,700	$25,700	$28,400
Key Features		Adds to Base trim features	Adds to LX trim features	Adds to EX trim features
		Anti-Theft Alarm System	Air filter	Aluminum door sills
		12V power outlet	Voice recognition audio system	Leather shift knob
		Keyless entry	Leather steering wheel	6-way power-adjustable driver’s seat
		Rear heat vents	Tilt & telescopic steering wheel	Chrome exhaust tips
		Cargo area light	UVO infotainment system	LED DRLs
			Fog lamps	Power mirrors

Buying Advice

We recommend you buy the EX trim as it packs all the coolest features for a compact crossover. The asking price starts around $24,200 for the front-wheel-drive models and an extra $1,500 for the all-wheel-drive system.

Engine and Performance
7.4/10

Two engines are offered in the Sportage- a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 176 horsepower and 168 pound-feet of torque and a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 260 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque. The base trim features a six-speed manual transmission while the higher trims each come with a six-speed automatic that includes a manual shift mode. Front-wheel drive is standard but those living in less-hospitable climates can choose the optional all-wheel-drive system offered in higher trims. Under normal conditions, the system sends power to the rear wheels when the front wheels slip, helping improve efficiency.

For more challenging conditions, there is a lock mode that distributes torque evenly between the front and rear wheels at speeds up to 25 mph. In day-to-day driving, the Kia Sportage is generally comfortable though the suspension is tuned somewhat firmer than expected. Along with a slightly softer ride, the steering effort could have offered a better road feel. With 176 horsepower on tap and one of the lowest curb weights among its competitors, acceleration is good.

Model	Kia Sportage	Mazda CX-5	Honda CR-V	Toyota RAV4
MSRP	$19,000	$20,995	$22,795	$23,300
Engine	2.4L Naturally Aspirated Inline-4	2.0L Naturally Aspirated Inline-4	2.4L Naturally Aspirated Inline-4	2.5L Naturally Aspirated Inline-4
Drivetrain	FWD	FWD	FWD	FWD
Transmission	6-speed manual	6-speed manual	5-speed automatic	6-speed automatic
Power	176 hp @ 6000 rpm	155 hp @ 6000 rpm	185 hp @ 7000 rpm	176 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque	168 ft-lbs. @ 4000 rpm	150 ft-lbs. @ 4000 rpm	163 ft-lbs. @ 4400 rpm	172 ft-lbs. @ 4100 rpm
0-60 MPH (sec)	9.3	9.5	8.7	8.4
Quarter Mile (sec)	17.1	17.1	16.6	16.4
Top Speed (mph)	139	116	112	110

The Toyota RAV4 takes the lead on the table with good performance numbers. The powerful Honda CR-V takes the spot behind Toyota. The Sportage rests in third place with decent performance figures while the Mazda CX-5 is the slowest amongst all the rivals.

Fuel Economy
8.0/10

All Sportage trims deliver city fuel economy numbers in the low 20s. Front-wheel-drive models equipped with automatic transmission see highway numbers in excess of 30 mpg. Adding all-wheel-drive lowers fuel economy by several miles per gallon.

Model	Kia Sportage	Mazda CX-5	Honda CR-V	Toyota RAV4
MPG (City)	20	26	23	24
MPG (Highway)	27	35	32	31
MPG (Combined)	23	29	26	26
Fuel Capacity	15.3	14.8	15.3	15.9
Range (City/Highway/Combined)	306/413/359	385/518/451	352/474/413	382/493/437

The Kia Sportage is not as fuel-efficient as the Mazda CX-5 and hence, it falls behind it. The Honda CR-V grabs the second spot on the table with a combined mpg of 26. Despite housing a large fuel tank, the Toyota RAV4 returns only 26 mpg combined.

Interior
7.2/10

Inside, the Kia Sportage feels well-constructed. Most of the materials are plastic but they are soft surfaces and strategic locations like where your elbows rest. For a compact crossover, the cabin is roomy, especially for rear-seat passengers.

The angle of the rear seatbacks can’t be adjusted like in many competitive vehicles and the seats may be too firm for some tastes. But overall, the Sportage provides good comfort. While not the largest in class, the rear cargo area provides a useful 26.1 cubic feet of cargo space that expands to 54.6 cubic feet with the 60/40 split rear seats folded.

Model	Kia Sportage	Mazda CX-5	Honda CR-V	Toyota RAV4
Seating Capacity	5	5	5	5
Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	39.1/56.7/41.4	40.1/57.5/41	39.9/58.6/41.3	39.8/57.3/42.6
Rear Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	38.5/55.1/37.9	39/55.5/39.3	38.6/56.4/38.3	38.9/55.4/37.2
Cargo Capacity (cu-ft)	26.1	34.1	37.2	38.4

In terms of headroom, the Mazda CX-5 offers class-leading in both rows while the legroom offered by all the rivals is sufficient for taller occupants. Speaking of trunk capacity, the Toyota RAV4 is the best with 38.4 cubic feet of cargo space followed by the Honda CR-V and the CX-5 while the Sportage is pushed to the last.

How intuitive is the 2013 Kia Sportage’s infotainment system?

The Kia Sportage comes with a UVO infotainment system. With UVO, occupants can make phone calls, respond to text messages, and control music devices simply using voice commands.

The instrument panel features clearly-separated audio and climate controls making each easy to operate and understand. The touchscreen responds to the user’s inputs quickly and the interface is quite user-friendly. Some of the other features include:

Satellite radio
HD radio
Voice recognition
USB port
Bluetooth streaming
Navigation system
Four-speaker sound system

Exterior
8.0/10

One area where the Sportage really shines is its exterior design. Styling on previous models ranges from pragmatic to just plain dull.

In contrast, the latest version of sharply drawn headlights, high beltline, tasteful use of chrome, and modern taillights create an impressively stylish appearance. Adding to the bold exterior are LED running lights found exclusively on the highest EX trim Also available on the EX trim is a panoramic sunroof.

Model	Kia Sportage	Mazda CX-5	Honda CR-V	Toyota RAV4
Curb Weight (lbs)	3157	3208	3305	3435
Length (in)	174.8	179.3	178.3	179.9
Width (in)	73	72.4	71.6	72.6
Height (in)	64.4	67.3	64.7	65.4
Ground Clearance (in)	6.8	8.5	6.3	6.3
Wheelbase (in)	103.9	106.3	103.1	104.7

Only the Mazda CX-5 has a ground clearance of 8.5 inches while the other competitors have below 7 inches. The Honda CR-V has the shortest wheelbase of 103.1 inches which means less passenger room. Some of the other exterior features of the Sportage include:

LED DRLs
LED Fog lamps
LED headlamps
Power mirrors
Black roof rails
Black grille with chrome accents

Safety
8.9/10

The new Kia Sportage earned respectable safety ratings from both safety agencies. The SUV was well-honored by a ‘Top Safety Pick’ award for its consistent ‘Goog’ ratings in most of the crash tests. Likewise, NHTSA gave an overall rating of five stars as well. A total of six airbags are installed in the cabin of the Sportage. Speaking of safety features, there are no advanced safety features on offer. Some of the standard safety features are:

Rearview camera
Rear parking sensors

Final Verdict

If you appreciate the style, value, and seating position of an SUV and a compact easy-to-park park, we think you’ll like the Kia Sportage. If you have any intentions of venturing off-road, the Kia Sportage is not for you. Unlike its original mode, the latest version is exclusively for on-road use. The prices for the Sportage are on par with the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport but much lesser than the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4. The resale values for the latest Sportage are much better than the previous models. Hence, the 2014 Kia Sportage is a smart pick in the compact crossover category.

2012 Kia Sportage SUV

2014 Kia Sportage LX

2013 Kia Sportage LX

2014 Kia Sportage LX

2013 Kia Sportage User Reviews

2014 Kia Sportage LX

2014 Kia Sportage EX

2013 Kia Sportage LX

2012 Kia Sportage LX

2014 Kia Sportage LX

2013 Kia Sportage SX

2013 Kia Sportage LX

2014 Kia Sportage LX

2013 Kia Sportage LX

2012 Kia Sportage LX

2013 Kia Sportage SX

2012 Kia Sportage LX

2013 Kia Sportage LX

2014 Kia Sportage EX

2012 Kia Sportage EX

2013 Kia Sportage EX

2012 Kia Sportage SX

2014 Kia Sportage LX

2014 Kia Sportage LX

2014 Kia Sportage EX

About 2013 Kia Sportage

2013 Kia Sportage EX

2013 Kia Sportage LX

2012 Kia Sportage LX

2014 Kia Sportage LX

2012 Kia Sportage EX

2013 Kia Sportage SX

2013 Kia Sportage User Reviews

Imagine Buying a Car and Loving Every Minute of It

ProsIt's a suv, Drive smooth

Cons Sometimes have to push to give it speed, Sometimes gas mileage

2013 Kia Sportage Review

Pros

Cons

Overview

Pricing and Features7.0/10

Engine and Performance7.4/10

Fuel Economy8.0/10

Interior7.2/10

How intuitive is the 2013 Kia Sportage’s infotainment system?

Exterior8.0/10

Safety8.9/10

Final Verdict

Saved Cars

Pros
It's a suv, Drive smooth

Cons
Sometimes have to push to give it speed, Sometimes gas mileage

Pricing and Features
7.0/10

Engine and Performance
7.4/10

Fuel Economy
8.0/10

Interior
7.2/10

Exterior
8.0/10

Safety
8.9/10