Skip advert
Advertisement

Kia Sportage (2010-2015) review - MPG and running costs

Kia's Sportage looks good, is sensibly priced and spacious too.

Evo rating
RRP
from £17,500
  • Distinctive looks, plenty of space, excellent warranty
  • Engines outclassed by rivals', ride a bit busy

MPG and running costs

Revisions in 2014 were implemented to improve the Sportage’s efficiency compared to newer rivals, but they only achieved so much. The lowest emitting car in the range is the 114bhp 1.7 CRDi front-wheel drive model with a combined economy figure of 54.3mpg and emissions of 135g/km. That’s achieved with the help of a stop-start system, which switches off the engine when it would otherwise be idling at standstill. Given a Nissan Qashqai 1.5 dCi 110 can offer a combined economy figure of 74.3mpg and emissions of 99g/km, that’s some way off the pace, particularly when you consider that the same, most parsimonious Qashqai matches the Sportage 1.7 CDTi’s 11.9-second 0-62mph time.

Advertisement - Article continues below

That gap is largely echoed across the entire Sportage range, the Kia not able to match its newer rivals when it comes to consumption and emissions. Add the six-speed automatic to the AWD 2.0-litre CRDi engine and things get worse too, it seeing the most powerful Sportage diesel’s economy decrease from 46.3- to 39.2mpg, and emissions rise from 158- to 189g/km - that’s bettered by a big, heavy, full-sized SUV like the Range Rover TDV6… 

The Sportage does at least counter with a sizeable standard equipment list, while Kia’s standard seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty gives buyers real peace of mind. Kia offers inexpensive servicing plans too, with the first three for £329 or a five-service pack for £609.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Best cars of the 1980s – performance icons from the decade of excess
Best '80s cars
Best cars

Best cars of the 1980s – performance icons from the decade of excess

The performance car as we’ve come to adore it has its origins in the 1980s. Family cars got fast, fast cars got faster, all of them were huge fun
19 Aug 2025
Mercedes-Benz EQS 2025 review – electric S-class takes aim at the BMW i7
Mercedes EQS – front
In-depth reviews

Mercedes-Benz EQS 2025 review – electric S-class takes aim at the BMW i7

Mercedes put all of its resources into creating a bespoke all-electric flagship, but it’s not quite worthy of replacing the S-class yet
18 Aug 2025
Gordon Murray has built two new supercars, and one of them looks just like a McLaren F1
GMSV S1 LM and Le Mans GTR
News

Gordon Murray has built two new supercars, and one of them looks just like a McLaren F1

Gordon Murray has announced the Le Mans GTR and S1 LM – a pair of track-oriented spin-off supercars from a new Special Vehicles division
15 Aug 2025