2022 Kia Sportage

Standard 2.4L naturally aspirated four on the LX/EX volume trims is well below segment norms for output.

Modest torque from the base 2.4L; the turbo option nearly doubles it but sits on the low-volume top trim.

No single authoritative instrumented test for the 2.4L was found, but multiple outlets and 0-60 databases place the base engine in the low-9s range, consistent with its modest power-to-weight ratio.

The base 2.4L is adequate but unremarkable — reviewers describe it as workmanlike rather than eager, with the 6-speed automatic sometimes slow to respond to throttle inputs at highway speeds. The optional turbo is smoother and stronger but sits on a narrow slice of the trim range.

Conventional 6-speed torque-converter automatic on the 2.4L shifts smoothly in normal driving but can hesitate on kickdown; no CVT drone since Kia uses a stepped automatic across the lineup.

Kia rates every 2022 Sportage configuration — 2.4L or turbo 2.0L, FWD or AWD — at the same modest 2,000 lb max tow, near the bottom of the compact-SUV band.

AWD is optional (not standard) across all four 2022 trims — LX, Nightfall, EX and SX Turbo — with a basic on-demand system and no low-range or true terrain-selectable modes on the volume trims.

Pavement-oriented crossover: 6.4-6.8 in of ground clearance depending on drivetrain, no skid plates, lockers or dedicated off-road trim/hardware.

For US model year 2022 specifically, the Sportage offers only two gas engines (2.4L and turbo 2.0L) with no electrified option — hybrid and PHEV variants did not arrive in the US until the redesigned 2023 model year.

EPA-rated combined economy for the volume 2.4L FWD configuration; AWD and the turbo engine both trail it.

EPA city figure for the volume 2.4L FWD configuration.

EPA highway figure for the volume 2.4L FWD configuration.

EPA-derived range for the volume 2.4L FWD configuration on its 16.4-gallon tank.

EPA annual fuel cost estimate at standard 15,000 mi/yr assumptions for the volume 2.4L FWD configuration.

Both the standard 2.4L and optional turbo 2.0L are spec'd for regular 87-octane unleaded — no premium requirement or recommendation on any 2022 trim.

NHTSA's overall 5-star rating for the 2022 Sportage (QL, US 4th generation, carryover year ahead of the MY2023 NQ5 redesign) is the top rating available.

Mostly Good crashworthiness (small overlap both sides, moderate overlap, original side test, roof strength, head restraints/seats all Good) but the updated side test came back Marginal overall with a Poor pelvis result, and headlights are Poor on the LX/Nightfall/EX halogen trims — good enough for a plain Top Safety Pick but not TSP+.

Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist w/ pedestrian detection, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Warning and High Beam Assist are standard on every trim including base LX, but Blind-Spot Collision Warning and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning are standard only on Nightfall Edition, EX and SX Turbo — the base LX needs the optional Value Edition Package to get them.

IIHS front crash prevention: both the standard and optional systems earned Superior vehicle-to-vehicle ratings, and the optional system also earned an Advanced daytime pedestrian rating; no nighttime pedestrian result is published, which keeps this below the top band.

Blind-Spot Collision Warning and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning are alert-only (no active steering/braking intervention on this generation) and standard on 3 of 4 trims, optional-package on the volume LX.

Lane Keeping Assist and Lane Departure Warning are standard fleet-wide, but this carryover 4th-generation platform uses reactive lane-keep correction rather than true lane-centering (Lane Following Assist), so it functions but isn't the smooth centering of newer systems.

Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go is available (not standard on LX) and reviewers describe it as smooth and effective in real-world driving, but the 2022 US Sportage does not offer a combined highway-driving-assist mode.

No hands-free supervised driving system (BlueCruise/Super Cruise/FSD-class) is offered on the 2022 Sportage in the US market.

IIHS rated the halogen headlights fitted to LX, Nightfall Edition and EX (the volume trims) Poor for inadequate curve visibility and excessive glare; only the SX Turbo's LED headlights rate Acceptable.

Reviewers describe rear and side visibility as difficult, with the dash-mounted touchscreen intruding on sightlines; Kia partly compensates with a rearview camera that can be left on while driving.

IIHS rates the LATCH system Acceptable (second-highest tier), with 2 rear positions carrying full lower-anchor-and-tether hardware plus a third tether-only position — workable but not top-tier ease of use.

The 2022 Sportage (final year of the 2017-2022 QL-generation body, carried over ahead of the redesigned 2023 model) is a strict two-row, 5-passenger compact SUV with no third-row option on any trim.

Volume EX trim is typically ordered without the panoramic sunroof, so the non-sunroof figure represents the representative configuration.

Standard across all 2022 Sportage trims.

Volume EX trim without the panoramic sunroof option is the representative configuration.

Standard across all 2022 Sportage trims; Consumer Reports and owner reviews note generously roomy rear seat for the class.

The 2022 Sportage is a two-row-only compact SUV with no third-row seating offered on any trim or option package, so this scores at the bottom of the low band.

Behind-second-row figure for all 2022 Sportage trims.

Max cargo figure with the 60/40-split rear seats folded flat.

Conventional but adequate cabin storage: console bin, door pockets, cargo net hooks, and three 12V outlets (front, second row, cargo area) on the base LX; nothing distinctive versus rivals with giga-consoles or fold-flat gimmicks.

Consumer Reports and owner feedback praise the power driver's seat's lumbar and thigh support and call the rear seat generously roomy; comfortable for most trips without being segment-leading.

Reviewers describe an appealingly smooth, easygoing ride around town that is a touch firmer and less cushioned than class leaders like the CX-5 or Forester, with some suspension sloppiness noted on twisty back roads.

Consumer Reports and owner reviews describe cabin noise as unobjectionable and well-insulated for the class, without singling it out as segment-leading.

Heated front seats and heated steering wheel are available starting on mid trims, with ventilated front seats and a heated wheel added on SX Turbo and via the EX Technology Package; no rear climate zone or rear seat heating is offered on any trim.

Entry LX FWD trim starting price for the 2022 model year, the final year of the outgoing (facelifted QL) generation before the 2023 full redesign.

EX is Edmunds' recommended 'best value' trim and the volume seller in the compact-SUV segment where AWD take rate is high; priced between the value-oriented LX/Nightfall and the performance-focused SX Turbo.

Extrapolated from CarEdge's 10-year maintenance-and-repair estimate; RepairPal's lower average-annual-cost figure corroborates a below-segment-average cost.

Averaged from two industry depreciation projections that bracket the figure; mid-pack for a mainstream compact SUV.

Kia's standard basic limited warranty, unchanged for 2022 and best-in-class alongside Hyundai.

Segment-leading powertrain coverage for the original owner, a core part of Kia's value proposition.

No standard nationwide complimentary scheduled-maintenance plan for 2022 (Kia's 'Kia Care' free-maintenance program is regional/promotional rather than a universal included benefit), but every new Sportage carries 5-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance matching the basic warranty term.

$29,890 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (53% retained, or about $15,842) leaves about $14,048 in depreciation. Add the projected $4,200 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $18,248 in total.

The 2022 Sportage is the second model year of the all-new fifth-generation (NQ5) platform launched for 2021. Consumer Reports rates the 2022 Sportage as more reliable than the average new vehicle, but the redesign resets its track record versus the long-proven prior generation, and the new 2.5L Smartstream engine had not yet accumulated a multi-year history at the time.

Kia ranked #1 of all automotive brands (145 PP100) in J.D. Power's 2022 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, the first time a non-premium brand topped the study, continuing a multi-year climb from a historically weaker reputation.

The 2022 Sportage is covered by a fire-risk recall (NHTSA/Kia SC249) for 2017-2022 Sportage models with an OEM or dealer-accessory tow hitch harness, where moisture/debris on the harness module's circuit board can short and ignite; owners were told to park outside until repaired. It is a real safety recall but limited to tow-hitch-equipped vehicles rather than the whole model line, so it lands in the typical-but-notable band rather than the low end.

The volume-trim 2.5L Smartstream (G4KN) naturally-aspirated four is a clean-sheet design that avoids the Theta II GDI engine-failure/rod-knock pattern that damaged Hyundai/Kia's reputation, but early-production 2021-2022 units show above-normal oil consumption (reports of roughly a quart per 1,000-2,000 miles on some units, attributed to piston ring tolerances/piston slap) without a formal recall yet issued. That's a newer powertrain with a known but not catastrophic red flag.

Reviewers consistently praised the redesigned cabin's soft-touch surfaces, contrast stitching and switchgear feel as upscale for a mainstream compact SUV, though lower touchpoints still use hard plastic as expected at this price point.

Launch reviews of the redesigned 2022 Sportage described assembly and panel fit as tight and consistent with no notable rattle or misalignment complaints, in line with Kia's improved initial-quality standing.

Kia's roughly 780-dealer US network gives adequate geographic coverage for a mainstream brand, but Kia ranked last among mass-market brands in J.D. Power's 2022 U.S. Sales Satisfaction Index, and the brand has a documented history of below-average dealer-experience scores, pulling the service-reputation half of this item down.

As a high-volume mainstream nameplate built on a shared Hyundai/Kia platform, parts supply and independent-shop familiarity are normal for the segment; aftermarket support is smaller than for Toyota/Honda but repair costs are not notably elevated.

The outgoing QL-generation 2022 Sportage carries a single 8-inch UVO touchscreen across LX, Nightfall, EX and SX Turbo; the larger dual-screen setup arrived only with the redesigned 2023 model.

The UVO-based 8-inch system is straightforward and reasonably responsive but visually dated next to rivals moving to larger, higher-resolution displays; reviewers describe it as competent rather than a highlight.

No 2022 Sportage trim offers wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto; Kia limited wireless projection to trims without factory navigation, and the volume EX trim (with the 8-inch nav-capable screen) is wired-only. Wireless projection did not arrive until the redesigned 2023 model.

UVO's built-in voice commands and the Technology Package's embedded navigation are functional but dated, and most owners bypass them in favor of wired phone projection once connected.

Base audio is adequate; the EX Technology Package and SX Turbo add a 320-watt 8-speaker Harman Kardon system with a powered subwoofer and Clari-Fi restoration, a genuine step up though not class-leading.

The base LX uses a 3.5-inch monochrome LCD trip computer flanked by analog gauges; EX and SX Turbo step up to a 4.2-inch color 'Supervision' LCD insert, but no trim offers a full reconfigurable digital cluster — that arrived with the 2023 redesign's 12.3-inch display.

The 2022 Sportage's UVO Link infotainment predates Kia's over-the-air-capable ccNC platform; map and software updates are handled via USB/dealer rather than whole-vehicle OTA push updates.

UVO Link (now Kia Access/Connect) provides remote start/climate, lock/unlock, and vehicle locate on 2022-and-newer Kias with a complimentary trial subscription, but lacks the digital-key phone-as-key function added on later models.

Base LX offers a single USB port plus three 12V outlets (front, second row, cargo area); EX adds a second, rear-seat USB port, and wireless charging is bundled only into the EX Technology Package or standard on SX Turbo — no USB-C anywhere in the lineup.

Proximity smart-key entry with push-button start and remote start is standard from EX up, though the base LX trim uses a traditional key; no phone-as-key digital key is offered on this generation.

A rear backup camera is standard across the lineup, and front/rear parking sensors are available via the EX Technology Package or standard on SX Turbo, but no 360-degree surround-view camera is offered on any 2022 trim.

No head-up display is offered on any 2022 Sportage trim; the feature was introduced only on later SX Prestige trims of the redesigned generation.

Conventional rear door openings and a roomy-for-class rear seat (38.2 in legroom) ease car-seat installs, but IIHS rated LATCH anchor ease-of-use only 'Acceptable' rather than 'Good', and there's no power liftgate on lower trims to help with stroller/gear loading.

Forward collision warning/AEB and lane-keeping assist are standard fleet-wide, and IIHS awarded a Top Safety Pick (with LED headlights and the optional front crash prevention system on upper trims), but the base LX lacks blind-spot monitoring/rear cross-traffic alert without the Value Edition package, and the IIHS updated side-impact test came back only 'Marginal'.

A quiet, well-insulated cabin and a roomy rear seat suit multi-hour family trips, but the 30.7 cu ft behind-seat cargo hold is modest with four occupants and gear aboard, and rear-seat amenities (no rear climate zone, limited USB provisions on lower trims) are thin.

Reviewers consistently note the 2.4L powertrain's brisk low-end torque, smooth brake tuning, and nicely weighted steering make it most at home in everyday traffic, even if it's less composed on a spirited back road.

The volume 2.4L engine's EPA-rated 25/32/28 mpg (city/highway/combined) is average for a mainstream gas compact SUV — not a penalty, but no efficiency advantage either, and the turbocharged SX Turbo trades further economy for power.

A 34.8 ft turning circle sits at the tighter end of the compact-SUV band, and a standard backup camera plus optional front/rear sensors make tight urban parking manageable, though there's no 360-degree camera on any trim to fully offset the size.

Maximum towing is only 2,000 lbs with trailer brakes (1,653 lbs without), and there's no factory payload rating or work-oriented cargo hardware — this is a passenger crossover, not a work tool.

Kia's mainstream reliability reputation has improved, but the Sportage is a consumer crossover with no fleet-duty pedigree, wear-resistant interior options, or heavy-use track record comparable to body-on-frame or fleet-oriented vehicles.

Beyond available roof rails for aftermarket racks and a handful of 12V outlets, the Sportage offers no onboard AC power, tie-down hardware, or upfit ecosystem aimed at trade or jobsite use.

A quiet cabin and a 16.4-gallon tank yield roughly 450 miles of highway range at the EPA combined rating, which is solid for the class, but adaptive cruise control is bundled only into the EX Technology Package rather than standard, limiting fatigue-reduction on lower trims.

AWD is optional (not standard) with a basic multi-plate-clutch system and a driver-selectable Snow mode, and ground clearance (6.4 in FWD / 6.8 in AWD) is modest for anything beyond gravel roads or light snow — capable for light adventure use but not a genuine off-road enabler.

Standard 60/40-split folding rear seats, 60.1 cu ft of max cargo volume, factory-available roof rails, and a 2,000 lb tow rating cover normal gear-hauling needs, though there's no underfloor storage or particularly clever fold-flat mechanism to call out.

Reviewers describe mildly sporty reflexes and a stable attitude around town and on the highway, but note the suspension feels sloppy when pushed on a twisty back road — secure but unremarkable dynamics for the class.

Steering is nicely weighted at low speeds around town, but multiple reviewers call it numb and short on feedback, wishing for quicker, sharper response on a spirited road.

Reviewers specifically praise smooth, confidence-inspiring brake tuning around town; no fade or long-stop complaints turned up in press or owner feedback.

The naturally aspirated 2.4L four-cylinder paired with a conventional 6-speed automatic delivers smooth, predictable everyday response with brisk low-end torque, without the lag or on-off delivery issues some reviewers flagged on the turbocharged SX Turbo.

The 2.4L four-cylinder is audible under hard acceleration but inoffensive at cruising speed, consistent with Consumer Reports' broader finding that cabin noise levels are unobjectionable and par for the class.

Standard across all 2022 Sportage trims; sits at the tight end of the compact-SUV band.

A raised seating position with good outward visibility and straightforward control layout make the Sportage easy to drive for a range of body types, per Consumer Reports' comments on the power driver's seat's adjustability.

Despite a sporty-looking suspension tune, reviewers conclude the Sportage is 'anything but sporty' overall, with numb steering and on-off power delivery undercutting any enthusiast appeal — a competent but forgettable drive.

Even the base LX bundles Kia's forward-collision-avoidance assist, lane-keep assist, and driver-attention warning as standard, a suite several 2022 compact-SUV rivals still charged extra for or reserved for upper trims.

Pricing undercuts most direct rivals by several thousand dollars and the warranty adds real value, but Edmunds' 7.2/10 verdict cites tire noise and unremarkable refinement, and KBB owner surveys flagged value as the model's weakest-rated attribute even as they praised styling and reliability.

Four trims (LX, Nightfall Edition, EX, SX Turbo) span a reasonable $24K–$35K range with FWD/AWD choice on most, but there is no electrified option in the US lineup for 2022 (hybrid arrives only with the 2023 redesign) and no work-oriented base-fleet trim.

124,244 units sold in 2022 made the Sportage Kia's best-selling nameplate in the US, a strong result for a model in the final, unchanged year of its generation, though still well behind segment leaders like the RAV4 and CR-V.

Kia's brand image was on a clear upswing by 2022 on the strength of design and warranty reputation, but it remained a mainstream value brand rather than an aspirational one.

2022 sat inside the pandemic-era inventory shortage, when the Sportage's strong demand and constrained supply meant thin discounts and frequent at-or-near-MSRP transactions rather than negotiating room.

2022 is the last, unchanged model year of the fourth-generation (QL) Sportage before a complete platform redesign arrives as the fifth-generation (NQ5) 2023 Sportage — about as aged and imminently superseded as a generation gets.

Reviewers treated the 2022 Sportage as a competent but unremarkable also-ran in its final year — roomy and easy to use, but with middling fuel economy and noticeable tire noise — with no major US comparison-test win for this outgoing generation.