Kia Sportage

• Typical used price (UK): £7,000–£13,000 (2016–2021 cars; higher trims and low-mileage at the top)
• This car: £9,999 (BV69KMG, HPL Motors The Wirral)
• Insurance group: 15P
• MPG: 49.6 (official combined)
• CO₂: 127 g/km
• Best for: Families wanting a spacious, well-equipped and safe used SUV on a budget

Is It a Good Choice?

For families after a practical, no-nonsense used SUV, the Kia Sportage is one of the safest bets around. This fourth-generation car was a huge seller, and for good reason: it's roomy, comfortable, generously equipped and reassuringly easy to live with. Crucially, it comes with Kia's seven-year warranty, which is transferable between owners, so a used example like this may still have factory cover remaining.

This car is the 1.6 CRDi diesel in the well-equipped "2" trim, which brings sat nav, a reversing camera, heated front and rear seats and dual-zone climate control as standard. The diesel is economical and relaxed, ideal for family and motorway miles. At £9,999 it's a spacious, well-specified family SUV at a very affordable price, and an easy one to recommend to buyers who value practicality and peace of mind.

Pricing & Running Costs

The fourth-generation Sportage was on sale from 2016 to 2021, so there's a wide range of used choice, and it's affordable to buy. Prices depend on age, mileage, engine and trim.

Typical UK Used Price Ranges:

• Early, higher-mileage cars (2016–2017): roughly £7,000–£9,500
• Later cars (2018–2020): roughly £9,500–£13,000
• Low-mileage and higher trims: toward the top of that range
• This car (2019 diesel "2", higher mileage): £9,999

Running Costs

• Insurance group 15P — reasonable for a family SUV
• An official 49.6mpg, with a realistic low-50s achievable on longer runs, helped a little by the mild-hybrid system
• Standard flat annual rate of VED road tax (check the current DVLA figure)
• Kia servicing is affordable, with fixed-price plans and long 20,000-mile/annual intervals
• Euro 6 means it's exempt from ULEZ and Clean Air Zone charges

Performance & Driving Experience

This car uses Kia's 1.6-litre CRDi turbodiesel with 134bhp and 48V mild-hybrid assistance. Put simply this means that the mild-hybrid system uses a small electric motor to support the diesel engine and improve efficiency and stop-start, but it can't drive the car on electric power alone, so it behaves just like a normal, efficient diesel. It's a torquey, flexible engine that pulls strongly from low revs, making it relaxing around town and effortless on the motorway, and 0–62mph takes a reasonable 10.8 seconds.

On the road the Sportage is set up for comfort rather than sharpness. It's softer-sprung than sportier rivals like the Ford Kuga, so it's not the keenest thing through corners, but it rides comfortably and is quiet and easy to drive, which suits family and long-distance use perfectly.

Key Performance Figures:

• Power: 134 bhp
• Cylinders: 4
• Engine capacity: 1,598cc (diesel, 48V mild hybrid)
• Gearbox: 6-speed manual
• Drive: Front-wheel drive
• 0–62 mph: 10.8 seconds

Interior & Technology

The Sportage's cabin is spacious, sensibly laid out and well equipped in "2" trim. This car has a 7-inch touchscreen with sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB radio and Bluetooth, plus a reversing camera and rear parking sensors to make manoeuvring easy. There's a genuinely generous kit list for the price, including heated front and outer rear seats, dual-zone climate control, cruise control with a speed limiter and Kia's connected services.

Material quality is solid and hard-wearing rather than plush, with some harder plastics lower down, which is typical of the class and the car's age. But everything is logically arranged, easy to use and built to last, and the driving position is comfortable and commanding.

Space & Practicality

Practicality is a real strength. The Sportage is roomy front and rear, with plenty of head and legroom for a family of five, and a large boot of around 490 litres that swallows buggies, shopping and luggage with ease. The 60/40 split rear seats fold to extend it further, and there's useful cabin storage throughout. The load lip is a little high and the folded seats don't lie completely flat, but as an everyday family SUV it's hard to fault for space.

Dimensions:

• Length: 4,485 mm
• Width: 1,855 mm
• Height: 1,645 mm
• Boot: ~490 litres
• Seats: 5
• Doors: 5

MPG, Emissions & Tax

• Combined MPG: 49.6 (official)
• CO₂: 127 g/km
• Euro status: Euro 6
• Fuel type: Diesel (48V mild hybrid)
• Engine: 1,598cc, 4-cylinder
• Gearbox: 6-speed manual

The diesel makes real sense for higher-mileage and motorway drivers, where its economy shines. Euro 6 compliance means it's exempt from London's ULEZ and other Clean Air Zone charges, and real-world economy in the low-50s mpg is achievable on longer runs. Road tax is charged at the standard flat annual rate, so check the DVLA's current figure. As with any diesel, it's happiest doing regular longer journeys rather than short urban hops, which keeps the exhaust filter clear.

Safety & Reliability

The Sportage was awarded the maximum five stars by Euro NCAP, with a strong 90% for adult occupant protection. It comes with lane-keep assist, driver attention warning, high beam assist, hill-start assist, trailer stability assist and a full set of airbags. The rating dates from 2016 and has since expired as standards have tightened, so it's best compared with cars of a similar age, and it's worth noting this trim doesn't include the autonomous emergency braking found on some later or higher-spec models.

NCAP Ratings (Euro NCAP, 2016):

• Overall: 5 Stars
• Adult occupant: 90%
• Child occupant: 83%
• Vulnerable road users: 66%
• Note: rating dates from 2016 and has expired; autonomous emergency braking is not fitted to this trim

On reliability, the Sportage benefits from Kia's excellent reputation, and its seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty is transferable between owners, which is a genuine advantage on the used market. Depending on this car's exact registration date and mileage, it may still have some of that factory cover remaining, so it's well worth confirming with HPL. In the interests of balance, the diesel versions have attracted the odd reliability question mark over the years, so a full service history matters, and the remaining warranty (if applicable) is reassuring here. This car has covered 70,859 miles with three previous keepers; as always, confirming the service record and an HPI check is wise, and HPL adds its 128-point check and a warranty of its own.

Alternatives

• Nissan Qashqai — the UK's benchmark family SUV, sharper to drive but often pricier.
• Hyundai Tucson — the Sportage's close mechanical cousin, with a long warranty of its own.
• Ford Kuga — the keener driver's choice, if handling matters more than comfort.
• Vauxhall Grandland X — smart and widely available, with keen used pricing.
• Mazda CX-5 — a classier, more upmarket-feeling family SUV.
• Dacia Duster — the value pick, with genuine space for a lot less money.

Verdict

The Kia Sportage is one of the most sensible used family SUVs you can buy. It's spacious, comfortable, well-equipped and easy to live with, and Kia's transferable seven-year warranty gives real peace of mind that few rivals can match. This diesel "2" is economical on longer journeys and generously specified, and at £9,999 it's excellent value. The things to weigh up are its higher mileage and three previous keepers, and that the diesel suits regular longer trips best. But for family space, kit and reassurance at this price, it's very hard to beat.