Pop quiz: When Kia arrived in Canada back in 1999, it began selling to Canadians with only two models, what were they?
Answer: One was the Sephia mid-sized sedan and the other was the Sportage.
2020 Kia Sportage EX
Photo: Eric Novak
The Kia Sportage is not only one of the first Kia models to be sold in Canada, but it’s also currently their longest running nameplate going back to 1993. In November, 2019 Kia Canada announced it had sold its 1 millionth vehicle in Canada and while many nameplates have come and gone in that time, the Sportage remains.
The current Sportage is the 4th generation version and it has been in dealerships since the 2017 model year. For the 2020 model year new front and rear fascias were added for a refreshed look, but the basic bones remain the same. In fact the Sportage offers a look that is completely distinct within the entire SUV package which includes long running Soul and Sorento stable mates as well as the full sized Telluride which debuted last year and a new sub compact Steltos, scheduled to arrive later in 2020. In some ways the rather distinctive designs of all their SUV/Crossover models is refreshing, while in other ways they lack many of the common traits that make you realize the models are all related.
The rather unique styling of the Sportage comes from Peter Schreyer the President of the company globally and it’s chief designer since 2006. The German-born Schreyer is notable for his bringing the Audi TT to life and his design style has been imparting itself on both Kia and Hyundai designs for some time.
The compact SUV segment has become one of the most competitive segments over the past few years, given that North Americans have shifted their preferences away from sedans and more toward ‘utes in that time. The Sportage no longer has the elbow room that it once had and with plenty of new or updated models from competitors coming out since 2017, the current Sportage has been slipping in the segment in terms of overall sales. In 2019 it did not place within the top 10 of its segment in Canada.
Photo: Eric Novak
The reason for the slip has more to do with the fact that this Sportage is coming close to the end of its generational lifespan than for any deficiency or lack of appeal it may have. The Sportage remains a functional, pragmatic and appealing option that with a host of trim levels can be priced anywhere from $25,795 for a base LX trim with FWD up to $39,995 for a top end SX. This pricing makes it competitively priced in the segment and has always been one of its strengths.
Most trims are powered by a 2.4L 4 cylinder engine that offers 181 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. If you want more power you need to jump up to the top end SX and it’s turbocharged 2.0L engine where you’ll enjoy 237 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque to get you moving. In the segment these options are neither an advantage or a liability in terms of output.
But where the Sportage may be falling behind a bit is with the combined fuel economy that these options offer. The 2.4L variant has a combined fuel economy rating of 10.0 L/100 KM while the 2.0 Turbo comes in at 11.0 L/100 KM. These put it on the poorer performing end of the spectrum in the segment. An even more remarkable comparison would be how the new 7-passenger Telluride which is much larger than the Sportage and is powered by a 3.8L V6 has a combined fuel economy rating of 11.2 L/100 KM or just slightly higher than the turbocharged variant in the Sportage.
Overall the 2020 Kia Sportage remains a good option for those looking to buy in the compact SUV/crossover segment. There are still enough good things going for it to warrant consideration. But as the segment gets more crowded with high quality competitors, it becomes more evident that for this stalwart nameplate in Kia’s line up to regain its strength and levels of success, it may be time to see a 5th generation enter the fold.
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