Overall Rating |  |
Part of the leisure 4X4 market the Sportage is often overlooked for it's main rivals the land Rover Freelander and Toyota Rav-4. Low priced with good off-road ability but still remains inadequate compared to more modern rivals and poor secondhand values.
For
- Cheap family 4x4 with reasonable abilities
- Decent equipment for the money
- Appears well built and proving reliable so far
Against
- Some rivals are roomier, especially in the back
- Road and wind noise with some body roll
- Lack of safety equipment
Road Test
A small 4x4 designed for hard work and little else. Despite the occasional facelift, it can't match the likes of a Toyota RAV4 for looks but is very competitive off-road. In town steering is heavy but corners well without much body roll. The ride is un-comfortable and you feel every bump in the road. The interior trim feels basic and improvements have been made to make it feel roomier especially headroon and added storage. Decent boot space. There's just one engine, a 2.0 petrol borrowed from Mazda which is thirsty and noisy when worked hard. If you are buying new, be careful of heavy depreciation.
Need To Know
JD Power stars: 1
Best Models: 2.0S
Replacement: 2005
Alternatives
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Star Ratings
Handling Comfort Quality & Reliability  Performance Roominess Running Costs Value for Money Stereo/Sat Nav |
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