Home › Kia › Kia Sportage 2016

Kia Sportage 2016 review

SUV Diesel

Kia Sportage 2016 — front three-quarter view

Overview

The fourth-generation Kia Sportage (QL) reached the UK on 5 February 2016, and it was the car that cemented the Sportage as one of Britain's favourite family SUVs. The launch range spanned 18 variants from the £17,995 1.6 GDi '1' to the £31,645 First Edition, with four engines: the 1.6 GDi and 1.6 T-GDi petrols and the 1.7 CRDi and 2.0 CRDi diesels. Kia expected diesels to take around 84% of UK sales — and the 1.7 CRDi 114PS was the volume car, the one this page covers.

The 1.7 CRDi produces 115PS and 280Nm, drives the front wheels through a six-speed manual — note there was no automatic option for the 1.7 on 2016 cars; the seven-speed DCT was reserved for the GT-Line 1.6 T-GDi — and officially returns 61.4mpg combined with 119g/km of CO2. That meant £35-a-year VED under the old CO2 banding, and as a Euro 6 diesel it is ULEZ-compliant. The boot grew 27 litres over the old car to 491 litres (1,480 litres seats folded), comfortably ahead of a Qashqai's. Trim grades '1' through '4' covered the range, with '2' the sweet spot — 17-inch alloys, 7-inch sat-nav, reversing camera and rear sensors — while '4' added bi-xenon adaptive headlights, a panoramic sunroof and autonomous emergency braking.

As a used buy the 2016 Sportage is compelling: five-star Euro NCAP (2015), a cabin that still feels generous and well equipped, and typical asking prices of £6,500–£11,000. But two caveats matter. First, the diesel suits motorway miles — the 1.7 CRDi's DPF clogs on town-only use, so buy on service history and driving pattern; town-heavy buyers should pick the 1.6 GDi petrol instead. Second, the famous seven-year/100,000-mile warranty has expired on 2016 cars (it ran out in 2023), so condition and the 20,000-mile/12-month service record are everything. The 1.7 CRDi was replaced by a 1.6 CRDi in the 2018 facelift, which makes the later cars the cleaner choice if you can stretch.

On the road it is a relaxed, refined family tool rather than a driver's car — 11.1 seconds to 62mph feels leisurely fully loaded, and advanced safety kit like AEB was top-trims-only in 2016, so check the spec of the exact car. Against it stands the Mk4's stellar reputation: it topped the 2019 Driver Power used-car survey. A well-kept 1.7 CRDi '2' or '3' remains one of the smartest used family-SUV buys in Britain.

UK price from: £17,995

Specifications

Engine	1.7L 4-cylinder turbo diesel (CRDi)
Power	115 PS (114 bhp) @ 4,000 rpm
Torque	280 Nm (207 lb-ft)
Gearbox	6-speed manual
Drive	Front-wheel drive
0-62 mph	11.1 seconds
Top speed	109 mph
Fuel economy (NEDC)	61.4 mpg combined
CO2 emissions	119 g/km
Boot space	491 litres (1,480 litres seats folded)
Fuel tank	62 litres
Towing	1,400 kg braked
Euro NCAP	5 stars (2015 test)
Warranty	7 years / 100,000 miles (expired on 2016 cars)

Features

1.7-litre CRDi turbo diesel (115PS, 280Nm)
Six-speed manual gearbox, front-wheel drive
61.4mpg combined and 119g/km CO2 (NEDC); £35/year VED, Euro 6 ULEZ-compliant
491-litre boot (1,480 litres seats folded), two-position boot floor
Seven-inch touchscreen sat-nav with reversing camera ('2' grade and up)
Heated front and rear seats with leather upholstery ('3')
Bi-xenon adaptive headlights and panoramic sunroof ('4')
Autonomous emergency braking and front parking sensors ('4')

Common parts & prices

Part	Price (GBP)	Notes
Front brake pads (set)	£34.99	Typical retail band £25-£45
Oil filter	£10.99
Cabin pollen filter	£13.99
Front wiper blades (pair)	£16.99
12V battery	£109.99	096-type
Front brake discs (pair)	£54.99	Typical retail band £40-£70

Prices are typical UK aftermarket/OEM guide prices and may vary by supplier.

Pros

Five-star Euro NCAP (2015) with strong 90% adult / 83% child scores
Class-leading running costs when new: 61.4mpg, £35/year VED
Generous kit even in '1'/'2' — sat-nav and camera from '2' up
Topped the 2019 Driver Power used-car survey; huge boot and roomy cabin

Cons

The 1.7 CRDi's DPF clogs on town-only use — diesel suits motorway miles
No automatic option for the 1.7 in 2016 — manual only
The 7-year/100,000-mile warranty has expired on 2016 cars
Leisurely 11.1-second 0–62mph; AEB was top-trims-only in 2016

Frequently asked questions

Is a 2016 Sportage 1.7 CRDi ULEZ compliant?

Yes. It is a Euro 6 diesel, so it meets the London ULEZ standard and clean-air-zone schemes in other UK cities with no daily charge.

Is any of Kia's 7-year warranty left on a 2016 car?

No. The 7-year/100,000-mile warranty started at first registration in 2016, so it expired in 2023. Buy on condition and full service history (20,000 miles or 12-month intervals) instead.

How much is the road tax on a 2016 Sportage 1.7 CRDi?

£35 a year. The 1.7 CRDi emits 119g/km of CO2, putting it in VED Band C — this applies to cars first registered before 1 April 2017; check the V5.

Can I get the 1.7 diesel with an automatic gearbox?

Not on a 2016 car. The 1.7 CRDi was manual-only at launch; the seven-speed DCT was exclusive to the GT-Line 1.6 T-GDi. A 1.7 CRDi DCT appeared later, so only very late-2016 cars might have it — verify on the specific car.

I mostly do short town trips — is the 1.7 diesel still a good buy?

Probably not. The DPF needs regular longer, hotter runs to regenerate; a short-trip diesel risks DPF and EGR trouble with expensive repair bills. For town-heavy use, the 1.6 GDi petrol Sportage is the safer used buy.