Engine Types

The 2021 Kia Sportage comes in four trims – LX, S, EX, and SX Turbo. Keeping things simple, the first three trims all come with the same engine. Under the hood is a 2.4-liter inline DOHC 4-cylinder engine, able to generate up to 181 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. It’s a good start, but the real power is in the SX Turbo, equipped with a 2.0-liter inline DOHC 4-cylinder engine with a turbocharger. Able to boost to 240 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque.

Engineering

Able to come with front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), fuel economy differs a bit. On the SX Turbo, horsepower drops to 237 with AWD, but no other change in the rest of the lineup or specs. An electronically controlled 6-speed automatic transmission is tied to the engine in all trims. With FWD standard, the LX, S, and EX have a fuel economy of 23 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway, whereas the SX Turbo has a fuel economy of 20/28 mpg city/highway. If choosing AWD, the LX, S, and EX have a combined fuel economy of 23 mpg, and the SX Turbo gets 19/24 mpg city/highway.

Exterior Features

For the 2021 Sorento, lineup standard features are slim, with only automatic headlamps, LED tail lights, sound-absorbing windshield glass, privacy glass, heated rear glass with a timer, and rear wiper/washer standard. Past the base trim (LX), the Sportage comes with roof rails, heated outside mirrors with LED turn-signal indicators (optional add-on for LX), and projector beam front fog lights (optional add-on for LX). Smart Welcome comes standard on the EX and SX Turbo (optional on the S trim), as well as solar control glass (optional on LX and S trims). Lastly, a panoramic sunroof with power sunshade is only standard on the SX Turbo but is available for the S and EX trims. All that’s left is 17-inch wheels for the LX, 18-inch wheels for the S and EX, and 19-inch wheels for the SX Turbo.

Interior Features

The interior follows the same pattern with only a 60/40 split-folding rear seat and rear ventilation as the only standard features across the lineup. Cloth upholstery comes on the 2021 Kia Sportage LX trim, leatherette on the S and EX, and only the SX Turbo comes with that nice leather trim. Amenities like heated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control are standard in the EX and SX Turbo (optional on the LX and S); ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel come with the SX Turbo (optional on the EX). Surprisingly, under-rear-cargo-floor storage compartments can be found on all but the SX Turbo trim.

Entertainment

Technology is sprinkled around the 2021 Kia Sportage with varying degrees. An 8-inch touchscreen with A</FM radio, Bluetooth calling and music control with voice recognition technology comes standard on the LX, S, and EX. The S can upgrade to the same with UVO link and SiriusXM. The SX Turbo comes with all of the above plus UVO Link with navigation; the EX can upgrade to this. All trims come with Google Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capabilities, Siri Eyes Free, steering-wheel-mounted audio and phone controls, and Drive Mode Select. A six-speaker system is standard on all trims but the SX Turbo, equipped with a Harman Kardon premium surround sound system with eight speakers (available upgrade for EX). A wireless phone charger comes with the SX Turbo, but is an optional upgrade for the S and EX trims.

Safety Features and Warranty

The 2021 Kia Sportage has many standard safety features, such as dual front advanced airbags, dual front seat-mounted side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, a rollover sensor, an anti-lock brake system, stability and traction control systems, a rear occupant alert system, rear-camera display, and LATCH child-seat ready anchors. Advanced safety features like forward collision avoidance, a driver attention warning system, and lane keep assist are lineup standards. Blind-spot collision warning and rear-cross traffic collision warning come on all trims past the base (optional on the LX), and smart cruise control with stop and go is standard on the SX Turbo (available on S and EX). Parking assist with front and rear is also standard on the SX Turbo, optional on the EX.

Kia has a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty program. The Kia 10-year/100,000 mile warranty program consists of 10-year/1000,000 mile limited powertrain warranty, 5-year/60,000 mile limited basic warranty, 5-year/100,000 mile limited anti-perforation warranty, and 5-year/60,000 mile roadside assistance plan.