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2013 Kia Sportage

Rating8.0

Ranked #2 in

Compact SUV

Write Review

$19,000 - $28,400

Starting Price

Year

Nathan Dyer

Senior Editor,

Updated on July 18, 2024

Pros	Cons	What's New
Nice ride and handling	Fuel economy is not great	New and bigger engine
Powerful engines	Touchscreen can cause distraction	Refreshed exterior styling
Styling looks neat	Modest back seats	Better equipment

Specs & Features

$19,000

price

176 hp @ 6000 rpm

horsepower

168 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm

torque

6-Speed Manual

transmission

2.4L 4cyl FWD 6M

engine

basic warranty

Overview

The second-generation Kia Sportage is a compact crossover SUV which is relatively unchanged for the 2013 model year. For an affordable price tag, the 2013 Sportage packs great styling, convenience, and features. You can have it with an all-wheel drive. Four-cylinder engines are all that's offered on the Sportage. The base engine's a 2.4-liter four with 176 horsepower while the top-spec turbocharged SX's output rises to a sporty 260 hp. Backed by a class-leading warranty, The Sportage is IIHS's Top Safety Pick for 2013, too. Inside, the Sportage's cabin offers modern styling with adequate passenger room to accommodate five. Cargo space measures 26.1 cubic feet, decent for the class.

2013 Kia Sportage Buying Advice

The 2013 Kia Sportage sees no significant changes and is a second-generation model spanning from 2011 to 2016. Kia gave the 2014 model a minor refresh and upgraded the base engine which see a slight spike in power output. Buying a used 2011 or 2012 model will get you the same features as the 2013 Sportage, but mostly for a cheaper price. We recommend you go with the front-drive Sportage LX trim that offers the best value here, with standard features like satellite radio, a USB port, and Bluetooth and not to mention the best fuel economy of all.

The Kia Sportage is an excellent SUV that comes as an amalgamation of good looks, excellent features, great interior space, and modern features. It has enjoyed a fair share of the market, thanks to its fun to drive nature as well. It is definitely an interesting choice as well due to the nature of the brand now being established as a worthy automobile manufacturer. The 2013 Kia Sportage faces major competition from the newer Ford Escape and Honda CR-V.

2013 Kia Sportage for sale

The price of a used 2013 Sportage ranges from about $11,500 for a base model to around $16,600 for a Sportage SX model with an all-wheel drive. The financing options for this second-generation 2013 Kia Sportage base model start at around $250 per month, with a total interest payment of around $3,359 over the period of the loan.

Buying Advice

We find the EX trim level to be the pick of the lot as it strikes a good balance between value for money as well as the equipment level offered. Unless one wants a more powerful engine, this is the one to go for. It has better features, like a rear camera display, automatic headlights, rear parking sensors, heated side-view mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, an upgraded Infinity sound system, and more.

Comparative Analysis against Competition

New for the 2013 Kia Sportage include standard LED lights on the LX and EX trims, while the range-topping SX receives daytime running lights. All trims get Sunvisor extenders as a standard feature. A Blue interior package has been added for the EX that features dark blue cloth seats, interior accents, and a blackout headliner. Kia badges on the hood, liftgate and steering wheel have been slightly tweaked. Kia offers the 2013 Sportage with two engine options. The Sportage base, LX, and EX models have a four-cylinder engine with 176 horsepower. The engine hustles the SUV up to speed confidently while returning up to 21 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

With the sport-tuned SX models, users complain of stiff ride quality. The Kia Sportage can tow up to 2,000 pounds when properly equipped. The price of a used 2013 Sportage ranges from about $11,500 for a base model to around $16,600 for a Sportage SX model with an all-wheel drive. For this year, the Sportage price starts at an original MSRP of $21,600, and it competes against the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Ford Escape.

Buying Advice

We find the EX trim level to be the pick of the lot as it strikes a good balance between value for money as well as the equipment level offered. Unless one wants a more powerful engine, this is the one to go for. It has better features, like a rear-camera display, automatic headlights, rear parking sensors, heated side-view mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, an upgraded Infinity sound system, and more.

Features
9.0/10

There are three trim levels available on the 2013 Kia Sportage: base, LX, EX, and SX. Prices start at $19,000 for the entry-level 2013 Sportage base model without options. Standard features on this trim level include Base models that have standard AM/FM and satellite radio, a CD player, Bluetooth, USB and auxiliary audio inputs, power windows and doors, air conditioning, cruise control, cloth seats, and alloy wheels.

The 2013 Sportage LX begins from $21,200 and is available with both FWD and AWD configurations. It has a remote-keyless entry, 17-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, height-adjustable driver seat, full power accessories, and so on, which itself is plenty.

The mid-level EX trim starts from $24,200 and adds a rearview camera, rear parking sensors, a 4.3-inch touch screen, voice recognition, dual-zone climate control, and fog lights. The Kia Sportage SX trim is the most-equipped model starting at a price of $26,900 with front-wheel drive. It features a more powerful turbocharged engine and adds leather upholstery, push-button start, and proximity keyless entry.

Trim	Base	LX	EX	SX
MSRP (FWD)	$19,000	$21,200	$24,200	$26,900
MSRP(AWD)	N/A	$22,700	$25,700	$28,400
Key Features	AM/FM	17-inch alloy wheels	18-inch alloy wheels	Upgraded front grille
	Satellite radio	Rear privacy glass	Chrome exterior trim	LED DRL headlights and tail lights
	Power windows and doors	Full power accessories	Keyless entry and ignition	Dual exhaust outlets
	Cruise control	Tilt and telescoping steering wheel	Ventilated front seats	Aluminum scuff plates
	Alloy wheels	60/40-split folding and reclining rear seats	Cooled glove-box
		Standard tilt and telescopic steering wheel	Heated power-folding mirrors

Available features include a sunroof, heated front seats, a ventilated driver’s seat, and a navigation system with a larger 7-inch touch screen. You may want to consider a certified pre-owned Kia Sportage. Kia’s certified pre-owned vehicles receive the balance of the original 10-year/100,000-mile new-car powertrain warranty, plus a one-year/12,000-mile Platinum warranty for non-powertrain parts.

Fuel Economy
8.0/10

The 2013 Sportage with the base 2.4-liter engine and front-wheel-drive returns EPA estimated 21 MPG in the city, 28 MPG on the highway, and 25 MPG combined. Apart from this, it has a fuel tank of 15.3 gallons, resulting in a subpar driving range among all its peers. The range figures are 321 miles in the city, 428 miles on the highway, and 383 miles combined.

The Sportage AWD drops the gas mileage ratings to 20/27 mpg city/highway. If you opt for the turbo SX models, the fuel economy dips to 21/28 mpg city/highway (20/25 mpg with AWD).

Model	2013 Kia Sportage	2013 Honda CR-V	2013 Toyota RAV4	2013 Ford Escape
MPG (City)	21	27	24	22
MPG (Highway)	28	34	31	31
MPG (Combined)	25	29	26	25
Fuel Capacity	15.3	15.3	15.9	15.5
Range (City/Highway/Combined)	321/428/383	413/520/466	382/493/437	341/481/411

Fuel efficiency is single-handedly the department of the Honda CR-V because even though it does not have the largest fuel tank, it has the best efficiency and the greatest range. The Toyota RAV4 has the largest fuel tank in the class, but its fuel efficiency numbers are not exactly as good as the rivals. The Ford Escape comes next, leaving the Kia Sportage at the back with the worst numbers overall.

Interior
7.0/10

The interior of the Kia Sportage is an excellent place to be in. Its design shows the same kind of panache that its exterior has. It has a very nice space inside, offers a capacity for five people, and performs well in terms of cargo capacity with 26.1 ft.³ of storage. There are some hard plastics, but that is only necessary padding where required.

In terms of interior space, it performs better than we expected as well. There is enough room for adults of all sizes and seats five passengers with ease. There are enough storage spaces inside for most stuff, and the cargo capacity can be adjusted by folding the seats and making room for more. Even though the cargo capacity can feel a bit low in comparison, it is still good enough for practical use.

Model	2013 Kia Sportage	2013 Honda CR-V	2013 Toyota RAV4	2013 Ford Escape
Seating Capacity	5	5	5	5
Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	39.3/57.1/41.5	39.9/58.6/41.3	39.8/57.3/42.6	39.9/56/43.1
Rear Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	39.1/55.1/38.2	38.6/56.4/38.3	38.9/55.4/37.2	39/55.3/36.8
Cargo Capacity (cu-ft)	26.1	35.2	38.4	34.3

We find that most cars in this category offer a decent amount of interior space, but the Ford Escape is the most spacious in the front row. All cars offer seating only for five passengers but do so with adequate cargo space. Like we mentioned before, Kia has a bit of an issue in terms of cargo space, whereas the Toyota RAV4 manages to offer the class-leading capacity of 38.4 cubic feet. Some standard features include:

Auto-Dimming Mirror
Power Windows
Cruise Control
Air Conditioning
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel
Bucket Front Seats
6-way manually adjustable driver seat

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The infotainment features on this car are not exactly the best in the category but remain good. There is an optional navigation system, but it is not exactly on par with many of its competitors. The touchscreen interface is also optional, unlike several competitors. This year sees the addition of more features, but there is still room for improvement. Some features of the infotainment system include:

Six-speaker stereo,
Satellite radio
Bluetooth
USB port
Infinity premium stereo(optional)
Panoramic sunroof
UVO eServices infotainment system
A 7-inch touch screen
Navigation

Exterior
8.0/10

The Kia Sportage has an extremely dashing exterior design, which is very much one of its plus points. It not only gives the impression that it is a much larger car, but it also provides a very modern and sophisticated take on the crossover SUV trend. In terms of dimensions too, it is not too small. One will definitely be impressed by the exteriors of this car as it is a proper looker.

Model	2013 Kia Sportage	2013 Honda CR-V	2013 Toyota RAV4	2013 Ford Escape
Curb Weight (lbs)	3596	3358	3435	3598
Length (in)	176.3	179.4	179.9	178.1
Width (in)	73.0	71.6	72.6	72.4
Height (in)	64.4	64.7	65.4	66.3
Ground Clearance (in)	6.4	8	6.3	7.9
Wheelbase (in)	105.1	103.1	104.7	105.9

We find that the Kia Sportage is on the heavier side of this category, while the Honda CR-V happens to be the lightest. The CR-V is an incredibly light car and offers class-leading ground clearance as well. The Toyota RAV4 is the largest car out of the lot, while the Ford Escape is the heaviest. The Kia has a relatively long wheelbase but is short in terms of the overall dimensions. Some standout features include:

Body-colored door handles
Black bumper claddings
Roofline spoiler
Halogen headlamps
Fog lamps
Power mirrors

Safety
8.0/10

In terms of safety, different versions of this SUV scored differently. The front-wheel-drive Sportage version scored an overall four-star rating in the NHTSA crash tests, while the all-wheel-drive version scored a perfect five stars in the same tests. It also performs very well in the IIHS crash tests, the 2013 Kia Sportage has been named a Top Safety Pick. It only has passive safety features as most active safety features are either available as options or are not available at all. Some of the standout safety features include:

Driver, Passenger, Head, and Side Airbags
4-Wheel ABS
4-Wheel Disc Brakes
Brake Assist
Electronic Stability Control
Child Safety Locks
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors
Traction Control

Competition
9.0/10

2013 Kia Sportage vs 2013 Toyota Rav4

In the above-mentioned contest, the Two SUVs showcase distinct strengths and weaknesses. As for the Sportage, Kia brings in a fully equipped features-focused SUV. Whereas, considering the case of the Toyota RAV4, the SUV emphasizes a rugged drive. The Toyota Rav4 inclines more towards touring and taking on the trails. However, the Kia Sportage offers a composed and reliable drive for the city commute.

Despite showcasing distinct characteristics, both the SUVs offer a versatile and reliable drive. However, the Kia Sportage comes out on top with higher practicality and an economic price tag.

2013 Kia Sportage vs 2013 Ford Escape

The Kia Sportage and the Ford Escape offer closely relatable experiences. Both the SUVs offer a practical and versatile and reliable ride. Furthermore, the Escape, as well as the Sportage both, suit the city commute more than touring.

The two SUVs offer a comparable range of features, driver aids, and tech. However, the Kia Sportage comes out on top with a wider range of features. Although, users can save about $2000 going ahead with the Ford here. All in all, the two SUVs eventually deadlock in a stalemate.

2013 Kia Sportage vs 2013 Honda CR-V

The Kia Sportage and the Honda CR-V offer very distinct experiences with a few similarities. As the Sportage offers compactness and agility for the city commute, the CR-V offers space and utility for touring. The Kia equips the Sportage with a wider array of features compared to the CR-V. However, Honda counts on the high standards of reliability and safety with the CR-V. The Kia Sportage list prices range reasonably from $11,145 to $14,276. In the case of CR-V, the SUV prices vary from $14,448 - $16,917.

The Sportage does fair justice to the price tag with a respectable package on offer. However, the Honda CR-V fails to justify the price tag with mediocre cabin interiors. On the whole, the CR-V comes out on top as a well-rounded and value-for-money investment.

Final Verdict

The Kia Sportage is an excellent buy in 2013. The car has managed to bring a facelift and also introduces a whole host of amazing powertrains. It promises to be a very capable car that also manages to be very modern. It is a bit behind in terms of fuel efficiency and cargo space, but these things aside, it manages to impress us in every way possible. It makes for an excellent buy for a family looking for a crossover SUV.

Trims

Base
$19,000 onwards

16-inch silver aluminum Wheels
A-Spec Sport Seats
Cloth Seat trim
Front manual air conditioning
Seek-Scan Radio
Sirius AM/FM/Satellite

LX
$21,200 onwards

17-inch silver aluminum Wheels
Remote keyless entry

EX
$24,200 onwards

18-inch machined aluminum Wheels
1St row LCD monitor
Driver Lumbar support
Dual zone automatic front air conditioning
Front Fog/driving lights
Parking assist
Sirius AM/FM/HD/Satellite

SX
$26,900 onwards

Leather Seat trim

Compare to similar cars

8.0

2013 Kia Sportage

Price

$19,000- $28,400

Engine

Gasoline

Rating

8.03

Horsepower

260 hp @ 6000 rpm

Torque

269 lb.-ft. @ 1850 rpm

Capacity

Read Review

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2013 Buick Encore

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148 lb.-ft. @ 1850 rpm

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2013 Chevrolet Equinox

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2013 Chevrolet Captiva Sport

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7.8

2013 Ford Escape

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7.75

168 hp @ 6000 rpm

170 lb.-ft. @ 4500 rpm

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7.7

2013 Ford Edge

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285 hp @ 6500 rpm

253 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm

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8.3

2013 GMC Terrain

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2013 Hyundai Tucson

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7.7

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe

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7.73

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7.0

2013 Jeep Wrangler

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6.98

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260 lb.-ft. @ 4800 rpm

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2013 Kia Sportage vs competitor's 0-60

Car Name	0-60 MPH	Quarter Mile	Top Speed
2013 Kia Sportage Ranked #8	8.8 sec	17.3 sec	112 mph
2013 Ford Edge Ranked #1	6.8 sec	15.4 sec	122 mph
2013 Jeep Wrangler Ranked #2	6.9 sec	-	-
2013 Volkswagen Tiguan Ranked #3	7.3 sec	15.5 sec	-
2013 Nissan Xterra Ranked #3	7.3 sec	15.6 sec	-
2013 Toyota RAV4 Ranked #4	8.2 sec	16.6 sec	113 mph

Car Name	MPG City	MPG Highway	MPG Combined	Fuel Tank Capacity	Range (C/H)	Source
2013 Kia Sportage Ranked #6	20 mpg	27 mpg	23 mpg	14.5 gal.	306/413.1 mi.
2013 Mazda CX-5 Ranked #1	26 mpg	35 mpg	29 mpg	14.8 gal.	384.8/518 mi.
2013 Buick Encore Ranked #2	25 mpg	33 mpg	28 mpg	14 gal.	350/462 mi.
2013 GMC Terrain Ranked #3	22 mpg	32 mpg	26 mpg	18 gal.	396/576 mi.
2013 Jeep Compass Ranked #3	23 mpg	30 mpg	26 mpg	13.6 gal.	312.8/408 mi.	Jeep USA
2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek Ranked #3	23 mpg	30 mpg	26 mpg	15.9 gal.	365.7/477 mi.

2013 Kia Sportage vs competitor's dimensions

Car Name	Length	Width	Height	Ground Clearance	Wheelbase
2013 Kia Sportage Ranked #15	174.8 in.	73 in.	64.4 in.	6.8 in.	103.9 in.
2013 Chevrolet Equinox Ranked #1	187.8 in.	72.5 in.	66.3 in.	6.9 in.	112.5 in.
2013 GMC Terrain Ranked #2	185.3 in.	72.8 in.	66.3 in.	6.9 in.	112.5 in.
2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Ranked #3	184.6 in.	74 in.	66.1 in.	7.3 in.	106.3 in.
2013 Ford Edge Ranked #4	184.2 in.	76 in.	67 in.	7.9 in.	111.2 in.
2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Ranked #5	183.7 in.	70.9 in.	66.1 in.	8.5 in.	105.1 in.

2013 Kia Sportage vs competitor's trunk space

Car Name	Trunk Capacity	Passenger Volume	Max Trunk Volume
2013 Kia Sportage Ranked #13	26.1 cu.ft.	100 cu.ft.	54.6 cu.ft.
2013 Ford Edge Ranked #1	32.2 cu.ft.	108.4 cu.ft.	68.9 cu.ft.
2013 Ford Escape Ranked #1	34.3 cu.ft.	98.1 cu.ft.	68.1 cu.ft.
2013 Toyota RAV4 Ranked #2	38.4 cu.ft.	101.9 cu.ft.	73.4 cu.ft.
2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Ranked #3	35.4 cu.ft.	108 cu.ft.	71.5 cu.ft.
2013 Suzuki Grand Vitara Ranked #4	28.4 cu.ft.	111.1 cu.ft.	70.8 cu.ft.

2013 Kia Sportage vs competitor's cargo space

Car Name	Cargo Volume	Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area	Max Cargo Volume	Bed Length	Source
2013 Kia Sportage Ranked #1	47.4 cu.ft.	26.1 cu.ft.	54.6 cu.ft.	-
2013 Jeep Wrangler Ranked #2	34 cu.ft.	17.2 cu.ft.	34 cu.ft.	-	Jeep USA
2013 Ford Escape Ranked #3	83.1 cu.ft.	34.3 cu.ft.	68.1 cu.ft.	-
2013 Buick Encore Ranked #4	39.6 cu.ft.	18.8 cu.ft.	48.4 cu.ft.	61 ft.
2013 Chevrolet Captiva Sport Ranked #5	61 cu.ft.	29.2 cu.ft.	56.4 cu.ft.	79 ft.
2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Ranked #6	53 cu.ft.	36.2 cu.ft.	72.6 cu.ft.	-

2013 Kia Sportage vs competitor's towing capacity

Car Name	Towing Capacity	Payload Capacity	Weight
2013 Kia Sportage Ranked #5	2000 lbs.	1311 lbs.	3157 lbs.
2013 Buick Encore Ranked #1	5000 lbs.	1065 lbs.	3190 lbs.
2013 Nissan Xterra Ranked #1	5000 lbs.	1058 lbs.	4148 lbs.
2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Ranked #2	3500 lbs.	1338 lbs.	3459 lbs.
2013 Ford Edge Ranked #2	3500 lbs.	1324 lbs.	4056 lbs.
2013 Suzuki Grand Vitara Ranked #3	3000 lbs.	1162 lbs.	3468 lbs.

2013 Kia Sportage SUV Problems, Issues, Complaints, Recalls, and which year to avoid?

Recalls

Investigations

373

Complaints

Overall Safety Rating

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2013 Kia Sportage User Reviews

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Malerie Harris

2013 Kia Sportage

4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6M)

Not Rated

User Overall Rating

Posted On: July 4, 2024

Imagine Buying a Car and Loving Every Minute of It

Pros - ["It's a suv", "Drive smooth"]

Cons - ["Sometimes have to push to give it speed", "Sometimes gas mileage"]

Pleasant to drive for the most part, with well-controlled body motions through turns and a fairly comfortable ride. There isn't much steering response, so the car lacks true sportiness, but the SUV tracks straight and true, and the brakes provide sufficient stopping power. On the downside, the Sportage's easygoing ride starts to feel disconnected over large bumps in the road or broken pavement. ...