How Many Miles & Years Do Kia Sportages Last? (9 Questions Answered)

No Kia vehicle mixes practicality with comfort as perfectly as the Sportage.

This compact SUV combines its spacious five-seat interior and high-tech safety features with an elegant exterior.

But are Kia Sportages durable? Let’s find out in this article.

Before we check it out, make sure to read our list of most common complaints with the Kia Sportages.

Here’s the short answer to how long the Kia Sportage lasts:

The Kia Sportage can last an average of 200,000 miles before it requires major repairs. That means the average American driver can use the car for about 13 years. However, you will need to be diligent with manufacturer-recommended maintenance activities to get this round figure. 

How Many Miles Can You Expect from a Kia Sportage?

You should expect your Kia Sportage to last for about 200,000 or more. By keeping up with maintenance and refraining from abusing the vehicle, a Sportage can probably last 250k miles before it needs upgrades of vital components.

Servicing and repairing your Sportage can help improve its longevity and overall ownership costs.

The Sportage is a popular SUV. See all the Kia SUV models here.

How Soon Should You Expect Rust on a Kia Sportage?

You probably won’t find rust on your Kia Sportage until about five years after production. Kia Sportages typically start rusting from the windscreen.

However, Kia has received several complaints from customers about Sportage models rusting within the first year of their release. Unfortunately, most of these Kia Sportage owners confused rail dust for rust.

Rail dust are tiny pieces of metal that travel from rail tracks onto vehicles transported by train. Because rail dust looks like rust, many drivers often mistake them for each other.

Since Kia often transports its cars by train, you’ll probably find rail dust on your vehicle. If you want to prevent the rail dust on your car from destroying its paint, apply clay bar to your Sportage immediately after buying it.

How Long Do Kia Sportages Last Compared to Similar SUVs?

There is no doubt that the Kia Sportage is a durable vehicle. However, you may need to compare the car with similar cars before you make your purchase. Here’s a comparison that might help:

Kia Sportage vs. Ford Escape

The Kia Sportage has a shorter life span than the Ford Escape. Most Ford Escapes can last as long as 250,000 miles if they receive adequate attention.

In contrast, a Kia Sportage may experience a major breakdown after hitting the 200,000-mile mark.

Kia Sportage vs. Nissan Rogue

Your Kia Sportage will probably stop functioning at the same time as a Nissan Rouge. Both vehicles last for an average of 200,000 miles.

The two cars also seem to have similar maintenance costs. According to RepairPal, it costs an average of $462 to maintain the Sportage annually, while yearly maintenance costs for the Nissan Rouge is $467.

Kia Sportage vs. Subaru Forester

Subaru Foresters seem to be more durable than Kia Sportages. The average Subaru Forester lasts between 200,000 to 250,000 miles. In contrast, your Kia Sportage may barely last beyond 200,000 miles.

How Reliable is the Kia Sportage?

The Kia Sportage is a highly reliable car. J.D. Power ranked the 2020 and 2021 models of the vehicle an 82% in reliability.

However, the Kia Sportage has a few shortcomings. For instance, 26 Sportage owners complained about their engine breaking down while they were driving. Most of these users had to replace their engines at an average cost of $5,630.

Please also read our article about how long Kia Sorentos last.

The Best and Worst Models for Kia Sportage

According to carcomplaints.com, the worst model year for the Kia Sportage is 2012. This model year received the highest complaints across all Kia Sportage models.

Some of these reports were about severe problems like engine malfunction, which cost over $5,000 to repair.

2019 is the best model year for the Kia Sportage. Since its inception, only one customer has reported a problem with the model on carcomplaints.com.

You should also dive deeper into the best and worst Kia Sportage years.

What About Recalls for These Model Years?

The Kia Sportage has been recalled 12 times. Model years from 2006 to 2021 have all been recalled for some safety and factory defect issues.

Kia recalled some 2012 Kia Sportage models to repair their faulty engines. Certain 2019 Kia Sportages also received recalls. Kia inserted the wrong fuses into the electrical box of these vehicles. This problem may cause an engine compartment fire.

Make sure to also read our article about how long the Kia Niro lasts.

 Kia Sportage Model Year List

Here are model years for the Kia Sportage:

• 1995 Kia Sportage
• 1996 Kia Sportage
• 1997 Kia Sportage
• 1998 Kia Sportage
• 1999 Kia Sportage
• 2000 Kia Sportage
• 2001 Kia Sportage
• 2002 Kia Sportage
• 2003 Kia Sportage
• 2004 Kia Sportage
• 2005 Kia Sportage
• 2006 Kia Sportage
• 2007 Kia Sportage
• 2008 Kia Sportage
• 2009 Kia Sportage
• 2010 Kia Sportage
• 2011 Kia Sportage
• 2012 Kia Sportage
• 2013 Kia Sportage
• 2014 Kia Sportage
• 2015 Kia Sportage
• 2016 Kia Sportage
• 2017 Kia Sportage
• 2018 Kia Sportage
• 2019 Kia Sportage
• 2020 Kia Sportage
• 2021 Kia Sportage

Are Kia Sportages Expensive to Maintain?

Compared to other SUVs, the Kia Sportage is very cheap to maintain. The average cost of servicing an SUV is $651 yearly. In contrast, it only costs about $462 to maintain a Kia Sportage annually.

How Long Do Kia Sportage Brake Pads Last?

Your Kia Sportage brake pads will probably last between 30,000 to 70,000 miles. When they start wearing out, your Sportage brake pad may make harsh vibrations.

It’s best to replace your brake pads when you hear loud noises to ensure your vehicle’s optimum performance.

If you want to use your Kia Sportage brake pads for a long time, avoid riding your brakes or braking abruptly while driving. You may also want to skip heavy traffic when possible.

According to yourmechanic.com, it costs between $135 – $254 to replace Kia Sportage brake pads.

How Long Do Kia Sportage Tires Last?

You can expect your Kia Sportage tires to last for about 50,000 miles. However, it may help to change your tires once you notice their sidewalls are breaking apart.

It is important to know that over-inflating or under-inflating your tires can shorten their lifespan.

You can make your Kia Sportage tires last longer by rotating them after every 5,000 miles. Another way to make your Kia Sportage tires more durable is to maintain the air pressure in them. Always inspect your tires regularly and inflate them when their air pressure falls.

How Long Do Kia Sportage Transmissions Last?

On the average, Kia Sportage transmissions last between 100,000 to 200,000 miles. Fluid leaks and sluggish acceleration may indicate that your transmission needs a replacement.

Your Kia Sportage transmissions are likely to last for a long time if you refill your engine oil after every 7,500 miles.

How Long Do Kia Sportage Spark Plugs Last?

Most Kia Sportage spark plugs wear out around 30,000 miles. Therefore, it’s best to change your spark plugs immediately you notice a decrease in your vehicle’s performance.

Repairpal.com puts the price of Kia Sportage spark plugs between $173 – $198.

What About Insurance Cost?

According to finder.com, it costs an average of $152.61 a month or $1,831.32 per annum to insure a 2021 Kia Sportage. Older models may be cheaper to insure.

Note that several factors can affect insurance rates. Age, sex, marital status, location, driving history, credit score, and insurance provider can all affect your premiums. 

Also read our article about how long the Kia K900 lasts.

Tips to Prolong the Life of Your Kia Sportage

If you are buying a Kia Sportage, you probably want to drive it for as long as possible. These tips might help you:

1. Use manufacturer-recommended fluids for your engine, transmission and other components.
2. Refill your Kia Sportage engine oil after each 7,500-mile interval.
3. Get snow and summer tires and install them in the appropriate seasons.
4. When your vehicle’s warning lights alert you about an issue, fix the problem immediately. If you don’t know what’s wrong with your car, seek the help of your auto repairer or a Kia service expert.
5. Always replace your faulty vehicle components with genuine parts.
6. Maintain your tires regularly. This includes proper inflation, tire rotation, balancing, and wheel alignment.

Sources

Kia Sportage |carcomplaints.com

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