One of the most selling and popular compact crossovers in the segment, the Kia Sportage is back for 2020, with some slight updates and improvements over its previous year model. The Sportage was famed for its cavernous Interiors, superb ride quality, and great noise insulation. Kia has on top of this, made additional upgrades to the existing unit.
Vehicle images are guides only and may not reflect the model's exact specifications/features– exact specifications/features should be confirmed with the seller.
Standard with the 2020 Sportage, all models now get a standard 8” Touchscreen Infotainment System with Apple Car Play and Android Auto. The AWD units, get unique front fascia and a different shade for the alloys as well. On the safety front, Kia has upped the ante with the standardisation of features like Forward Collision Assist, Lane Keep Assist and more across the range. Mechanically, the Sportage remains unchanged but with the reshuffling of the trims, the Sportage gets the powerful 2.0L Turbocharged 4 Cylinder motor, in just the Top of the line SX Turbo trim.
2020 Kia Sportage Front View
2020 Kia Sportage Rear View
5.7/10 Pricing and Features
6.0/10 Engine and Performance
7.1/10 Fuel Economy
7.2/10 Interior
6.8/10 Exterior
8.6/10 Safety
7.0/10 Competition
2020 Kia Sportage Pricing and Features
5.7/10
Kia has slightly reshuffled the nomenclature of the trims of the 2020 Sportage. The base LX, S and the EX trim, source their power from a 2.4L Naturally aspirated Motor and the New Top of the Line SX Turbo trim, sources its power from the powerful 2.0L Turbocharged 4 Cylinder motor. You will get an 8” Touchscreen Infotainment system as standard across the range, as well as Apple Car Play and Android Auto. You can opt for the AWD on all of the trims and an FWD setup is standard across the range.
Trim
LX
S
EX
SX Turbo
MSRP (FWD)
$23,990
$26,140
$27,290
$33,590
MSRP (AWD)
$25,490
$27,840
$28,790
$35,090
Key Features
Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, Lane Keep Assist
Adds/Upgrades to LX
Adds/Upgrades to S
Adds/Upgrades to EX
8” Touchscreen with Rear View Camera
Flat Bottom Steering wheel with paddle shifters
Dual-Zone Auto Temperature Control
8” Touchscreen Infotainment System with Navigation, Wireless Charger
Android Auto, Apple Car Play
Power Folding ORVM’s and Roof Rails
Smart power liftgate
Panoramic Sunroof
Fog Lights with Gloss Black Trim and Black Chrome Bar
Dark Chrome Trim 18” Alloy Wheels
Smart Key with Push-Button Start and Smart Welcome
Front and Rear Parking Assist System
The unique front fascia on AWD version with 28 Degree approach angle
Blind Spot Collision Warning with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision warning
Auto De-Fog System
Harman Kardon Audio System with Subwoofer
Sofino Premium Leatherette Seats with Heated Front Seats
Heated Front Seats, 10 Way Power Adjust Driver’s Seat with 2 Way Power Lumbar
Leather Seat Trim with Ventilated Front Seats, Front Power passenger seats
Which trim to choose?
If you are not a performance-hungry guy and want a well balanced and decently powerful SUV, the S trim will suit your bill the best. It offers a good mix of creature comforts and convenience features and is loaded with Safety tech.
2020 Kia Sportage Engine and Performance
6.0/10
Mechanically, the 2020 Kia Sportage remains unchanged over its predecessor. The Sportage continues to be offered with 2 Engine Options- A Naturally Aspirated 2.4L Motor and a 2.0L Turbocharged Motor. However, unlike last year, the Powerful 2.0L Turbocharged Inline-4 Motor that pushes out 240hp and 260lbs.-ft. Of torque can be just found on the top of the line SX Turbo trim only.
The Turbocharged Motor feels the punchier of the two motors on offer and is definitely the one to go for if you are looking to make your office commutes, a tad more exciting. The Base 2.4L Naturally Aspirated Motor feels decently powerful and offers decent power delivery for your daily commutes.
The 2020 Kia Sportage continues to be offered with 2 Engine Options
All the trims and the Engines come paired to the same 6 Speed electronically controlled Automatic transmission with overdrive mode. The unit feels decently quick to respond although, not as quick as the DSG’s found in the VW’s.
Models
Kia Sportage LX
Honda CR-V LX*
Mazda CX-5 sport*
Volkswagen Tiguan S*
MSRP
$25,490
$25,395
$25,395
$25,290
Engine
2.4L Naturally Aspirated Inline-4
2.4L I-4 16-Valve DOHC i-VTEC
2.5L DOHC 16-Valve 4-Cylinder
2.0L TSI DOHC Turbocharged 4-Cylinder
Drivetrain
AWD
AWD
AWD
AWD
Transmission
6-speed automatic
CVT automatic
6-speed automatic
6-speed automatic
Power (hp @ rpm)
181@6,000
184@6400
187@6,000
184@4,400
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm)
175@4,000
180@3,900
185@3,250
221@1,600
*2019 Figures used for reference purposes only
In comparison with its rivals, the Sportage stands at par with the others in the segment. The CX-5 offers the most power among the base trims of all the cars and is followed by the VW and Honda. The Kia stands the last in terms of power but not by a big margin. The VW offers the most torque, considering the turbocharged motor as standard. The Mazda comes in next and is followed by the Honda and the Kia respectively.
How fast is it?
The Sportage lives up to its athletic name and doesn’t really disappoint us when it comes to sportiness and vigor. Despite having lower power and torque figures than it’s rivals, the 2020 Kia Sportage is much faster than its competitors. The juicy acceleration of the Sportage allows it to go from 0 to 60 mph in just 8.0 seconds. Moreover, the quarter-mile time of the Kia Sportage is the best at 16.0 seconds followed by 16.6 seconds of the Mazda CX-3 Sport.
2020 Kia Sportage is much faster than its competitors
Models
Kia Sportage LX
Honda CR-V LX*
Mazda CX-5 sport*
Volkswagen Tiguan S*
0-60 MPH (sec)
8.0
8.6
8.9
8.3
Quarter Mile (sec)
16.0
16.7
16.6
17.0
Top Speed (MPH)
125
130
130
N/A
Engine
2.4L Naturally Aspirated Inline-4
2.4L I-4 16-Valve DOHC i-VTEC
2.5L DOHC 16-Valve 4-Cylinder
2.0L TSI DOHC Turbocharged 4-Cylinder
Emission
(Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)
6.8
6.3
6.5
8.0
From the emissions point of view, the Kia Sportage is at 3rd less polluting vehicle with 6.8 tons/year emissions. On the other hand, Honda CR-V LX is titled as the least polluting car among the competition with an annual emission of 6.3 tons.
What about Ride and Handling?
One of the main features of the Sportage is that it handles like a charm. The South Korean car offers a sweet balance between the ride and handling quality. Along with a responsive throttle response, the SUV performs extremely well while talking on corners.
2020 Kia Sportage SUV Side View
Additionally, in comparison with the previous models of the Kia Sportage, the suspension system of the 2020 version gets modified and eliminates typical impacts from reaching inside the cabin. Moreover, the SUV’s AWD variants are braced very well to tackle off-road challenges and snowy road conditions.
What about the Braking performance?
With a low curb weight on hands and a good braking setup, the 2020 Sportage from Kia manages to stop from 60-0 mph in just 114 ft. This is made possible by the highly efficient 12.0-inch brakes at the front and 11.9-inch brakes at the rear. Moreover, the 60-0 mph distance of Sportage is better than both the Honda’s CR-V LX and Mazda’s CX-5 Sport.
2020 Kia Sportage SUV Has Front Brake Rotor is 12.0 in
Model
Kia Sportage LX
Honda CR-V LX*
Mazda CX-5 sport*
Volkswagen Tiguan S*
Brake Rotors Front (in)
12.0
11.1
11.7
12.3
Brake Rotors Rear (in)
11.9
10.2
11.9
11.1
Curb Weight (lbs)
3305
3307
3541
3721
60-0 MPH (ft)
114
117
126
124
Taking the rivals into the picture, you will find that the Sportage, clearly beats all its adversaries by a comfortable margin. That is partly due to the low curb weight and the big brakes on the Kia. The Honda stays true to its dynamic nature and comes in 2nd, in the braking department. The CX-5, comes in a distant 3rd, despite its good dynamics.
How much can you tow with the Kia Sportage?
While Cargo Capacity may not be a big buying factor for customers looking for vehicles of these segments, the Sportage won’t disappoint people looking for the same. The 2000lbs towing capacity ranks as one of the best in class and the Kia doesn’t run out of breath while towing similar loads.
Model
Kia Sportage LX
Honda CR-V LX*
Mazda CX-5 sport*
Volkswagen Tiguan S*
Towing Capacity (lbs)
2000
1500
2000
2200
The VW Tiguan offers the most towing ability and is followed by the Mazda and the Kia, who are on the same page. The CR-V is the least potent of the lot and offers the least towing capacity.
2020 Kia Sportage Fuel Economy
7.1/10
While Naturally, Aspirated Motors offer unadulterated performance and little lag in power delivery, they tend to be less economical than their Turbocharged Counterparts. The Sportage is a classic example of the same and in terms of numbers, it’s the weakest when compared to its adversaries.
What comes to Kia’s aid, however, is its massive 16.4-gallon fuel tank capacity that allows it to traverse a distance of 377 miles on the city and 492 miles on the highway.
Model
Kia Sportage LX
Honda CR-V LX*
Mazda CX-5 sport*
Volkswagen Tiguan S*
MPG (City)
23
26
25
22
MPG (Highway)
30
32
31
29
MPG (Combined)
26
28
28
25
Fuel Capacity (Gallon)
16.4
14
14.8
15.3
Range (City/Hwy/Combined) (mi)
377/492/426
364/448/392
370/459/414
337/444/382
Speaking of rivals, none of the crossovers can match the range of the Kia. However, for specs enthusiasts, the Honda and the Mazda return the best MPG figures. The Kia follows them next and is surprisingly followed by the Turbocharged VW.
2020 Kia Sportage Interior
7.2/10
The cabin of the 2020 Sportage is subtly inclined towards the driver, with a clean and well laid out set of controls. The Sportage can manage to seat 5 people with a lot of ease and comfort. The space available for passengers in the first row of Sportage corresponds to 39.3 inches of headroom, 57.1 inches of shoulder room and 41.5 inches legroom. However, the headroom and shoulder room offered by the Honda CR-V is the highest.
2020 Kia Sportage seating and comfort
Model
Kia Sportage LX
Honda CR-V LX*
Mazda CX-5 sport*
Volkswagen Tiguan S*
Seating Capacity
5
5
5
5
Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)
39.3/57.1/41.5
40.1/57.9/41.3
39.7/57.1/41.0
39.1/56.2/40.1
Rear Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)
39.1/55.1/38.2
39.2/55.6/40.4
39.0/54.8/39.6
39.0/55.0/35.8
The Ride Quality of the Kia is sublime for the most part and even the biggest of bumps and undulations are handled with utmost authority by its suspension. The Noise Insulation from the outside ranks as one of the best in the segment and commuters will be not tired while doing long distances in the Kia.
Infotainment System
In terms of the Infotainment System, Kia's UVO unit comes loaded to the hilt with a plethora of bells and whistles. The system easily connects to all multimedia devices and the easy to navigate menus makes things easier for the users. Other than a bit of lag in the interface, we can't find many flaws with this Infotainment system.
2020 Kia Sportage Infotainment System
8” UVO powered touchscreen interface with navigation and voice recognition support
Android Auto, Apple Car Play compatibility
SiriusXM Radio and Traffic
8 Speaker 320W Harman/Kardon music system with Clari-Fi
Rear Camera Display
AUX, USB Inputs, and USB 2.1 Charging port
Wireless Charging Pad
Steering Mounted Audio, Cruise and Phone Controls
How much Cargo can you carry in the Sportage?
With the rear seat up, the 2020 Kia Sportage accommodates 30.7 cubic feet of cargo that increases to 60.1 cubic feet after folding down the rear seat. Analyzing the rivals, The Mazda CX-5 has a similar capacity as that of the Kia Sportage. However, the cargo capacity of the Honda’s CR-V LX is the highest, which is about 39.2 cubic feet with the rear seat up and 75.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The VW seats 5 people and thus offers the least cargo space, with all the seats up.
Model
Kia Sportage LX
Honda CR-V LX*
Mazda CX-5 sport*
Volkswagen Tiguan S*
Cargo Capacity (rear seat up) (ft3)
30.7
39.2
30.9
12
Cargo Capacity (rear seat folded) (ft3)
60.1
75.8
59.6
56.1
Interior Features
Like the Infotainment system, the Kia Sportage comes loaded to the hilt with a plethora of features on the inside. Like all Kias, you get access to a number of creature comforts as standard like
Tilt and Telescopic Adjust Steering Wheel
12V Power Outlets
One-Touch Up/Down Driver’s power windows
Smart Key with Push-button Start
Dual Zone Auto Climate Control with Auto De-Fog
Auto-Dimming RVM with Homelink
LED Interior Lighting
Leather Seating
10 Way Power adjust driver seat with 2 Way power lumbar support and 8-way power-adjustable front passenger seat
Ventilated Front Seats
60/40 Split-folding rear seats
Leather Wrapped Heated Steering Wheel and Gear Knob
2020 Kia Sportage SUV Dashboard2020 Kia Sportage SUV Front Seats2020 Kia Sportage SUV Steering Wheel2020 Kia sportage front seat2020 Kia sportage interior
2020 Kia Sportage Exterior
6.8/10
Speaking of Design, Kia Engineers have tweaked the Styling of the Sportage to make it look a bit more sporty and fresh. Kia has tweaked the Exhaust tips of the Sportage and has made some design changes to the Headlights and the Foglights as well. The Front and Rear Bumpers have been redesigned as well, adding to the aesthetics of the Sportage. The New Shade for the Alloys, makes the Kia look a bit more appealing than the previous model and adds to the sporty appeal as well.
2020 Kia Sportage Exterior Design
Model
Kia Sportage LX
Honda CR-V LX*
Mazda CX-5 sport*
Volkswagen Tiguan S*
Curb Weight (lbs)
3305
3307
3541
3721
Length (in)
176.4
180.6
179.1
174.5
Width (in)
73.0
73.0
72.5
71.2
Height (in)
64.4
66.1
65.3
67.1
Ground Clearance (in)
6.4
7.8
7.6
6.9
Wheelbase (in)
105.1
104.7
106.3
102.5
Coming to the dimensions of the Kia Sportage, it is 176.4 inches long, 73.0 inches wide and 64.4 inches tall. Among the rivalry, the Volkswagen Tiguan S has the minimum length as well as width while the Kia Sportage is the shortest in terms of height. The ground clearance offered by Kia Sportage measures about 6.4 inches whereas the ground clearance of both the Volkswagen Tiguan S and Mazda CX-5 is higher with 6.9 and 7.6 inches respectively.
The most Drool-worthy features on offer?
LED Rear Taillights and Front Foglights
LED Headlights with LED DRL’s with Auto headlight control and high beam assist
Variable Intermittent Windshield wipers and De-icer
Heated Rear Glass
Panoramic Sunroof with Power Sunshade
Heated and Power adjust ORVM’s with integrated LED Turn Signals
Roof Rails and Rear Spoiler
19” Alloy Wheels
2020 Kia Sportage2020 Kia Sportage side view2020 Kia Sportage exterior2020 Kia Sportage2020 Kia Sportage
2020 Kia Sportage Safety
8.6/10
One of the key changes in the 2020 Sportage, comes in the form of the addition of a large number of Safety Features. You do get a lot of driver aids and assistance features as standard across the range. Some of the noteworthy features include
Dual Front, Seat-Mounted Side, and Full-length side-mounted airbags
4 Wheel ABS with ESC and Traction Control
Hill Start Assist and Downhill brake control
LATCH support in seats and High Line TPMS
Forward Collision Avoidance Assistance
Front and Rear Parking Assist
Lane Keep Assist, Driver Attention Warning and Blind-Spot Collision Warning
Smart Cruise Control with Stop/Go
2020 Kia Sportage Competition
7.0/10
Kia Sportage vs. Honda CR-V LX
The Honda CR-V has been a global bestseller for Honda for a variety of reasons. The CR-V offers a lot of space for its occupants, comes loaded with a good set of features and comes with Honda’s Reliability and sturdy build quality. The Kia on the other hand, offers a sportier handling character than the Honda, is the better to be driven in and has a bunch of Interior Features. There is not much separating the duo but if we were to put our money’s on, we would go for the Sportage because of its versatility and a long list of features.
2020 Honda CR-V
Kia Sportage vs. Mazda CX-5 sport
The Mazda CX-5 has been the go to Car for people, who wanted a crossover that had the handling of a sporty sedan. The Mazda comes with a powerful motor and has superb road manners. In terms of features as well, there is very little seperation between the Kia and the Mazda. Then, of course, you have Mazda reliability and sturdy built as well. The Kia beats the Mazda in terms of features and is more spacious than the Mazda as well. If you prefer a sporty crossover, the Mazda should be your choice but for everything else, the Sportage is a better choice.
2020 Mazda CX-5 Sport
Kia Sportage vs. Volkswagen Tiguan S
he last but not the least SUV that puts up a challenge to the Kia Sportage is the Volkswagen Tiguan S. Considering the price, the Tiguan is expensive than the Sportage by a small margin. Nevertheless, for the additional price, the Tiguan S offers more engine power, torque and towing capacity than the Sportage. On the other side, it lags way behind the Kia Sportage in various parameters like mileage, acceleration, interior space, and cargo capacity.
2020 Volkswagen Tiguan
2020 Kia Sportage Final Verdict
The Kia Sportage has been a bestseller for Kia for quite some time now. For 2020, Kia has not changed the success recipe but added some more spice and flavor to it. The 2020 Sportage comes with a long list of Interior Features, Driver Assistance Features, and multiple engine options. Add to all these, a well-insulated cabin with a rich and premium feel and what you have on your hands, is a crossover that will suit your daily driving as well as touring needs. The Sportage offers a good blend of performance, features and it’s attractive pricing, makes it a compelling reason for anybody to visit their nearest Kia dealership atleast once.
