Sportage vs its rivals

The Kia Sportage is the ambitious overachiever of the SUV group — priced at £36,215, a full £5,755 above the £30,460 segment average. What justifies the premium? Power, mainly: its 215 PS hybrid drivetrain is the strongest of any non-electric SUV here, well clear of the 182 PS average, and 8.3 seconds to 62 mph feels properly quick. Economy is respectable too at 49.6 mpg against a 44.3 mpg average, costing about £1,063 a year in fuel at 8,000 miles. The five-year true cost reaches £35,005 (£583 a month), one of the highest in the class. So the Sportage charges more than average in exchange for more than average — top-tier performance with decent efficiency, wrapped in Kia's generous equipment levels.

Sportage vs the SUV segment average

Kia SportageSegment average (8 cars)
Price from£36,215£30,958.13
Power215 PS177 PS
Fuel economy49.6 mpg50.7 mpg
Est. 5-year true cost£35,004—

Segment average is computed from 8 popular suv models on DrivePedia. True-cost figure is an estimate.

The Sportage is for the buyer who wants SUV presence with real pace. The enthusiast family driver gets 215 PS — the most powerful hybrid here — plus a cabin that feels a class above its price. The equipment-hunter wins too: Kias traditionally pack in kit that costs extra elsewhere, softening that £5,755 above-average price. The strict budget buyer, though, gets 90% of the practicality from a Qashqai for £9,215 less, with better economy to boot. Verdict: the Sportage is not a value play — it is a performance-and-kit play. If you want the quickest, best-equipped mainstream SUV in this comparison and can stomach the premium, it earns its price; if you want maximum value, look at Nissan's offering instead.

Full Kia Sportage review →

Frequently asked questions

How does the Kia Sportage compare to rivals on price?
The Sportage costs £36,215, which is £5,755 above the £30,460 SUV average. It is the second-priciest SUV here after the Tesla Model Y (£45,000), costing roughly £9,000 more than the Nissan Qashqai (£27,000). You are paying for the most powerful hybrid drivetrain in the group and Kia's traditionally generous standard equipment.
How does the Sportage compare on running costs and economy?
At 49.6 mpg it beats the 44.3 mpg SUV average, with annual fuel costs around £1,063 at 8,000 miles — decent for a 215 PS SUV, though pricier to fuel than the Qashqai (53.3 mpg). Its five-year true cost of £35,005 (£583 a month) is high for the class, driven mainly by the steep purchase price rather than running costs.
Is the Kia Sportage good value?
It depends on your priorities. As a pure value proposition it struggles: it costs £5,755 more than the SUV average while the Qashqai does the family job for far less. But as a package of pace, space, equipment and Kia's long warranty, the Sportage justifies its premium for buyers who want the most complete mainstream SUV here rather than the cheapest.