Kia Sportage History

Kia Sportage

The first generation Kia Sportage was produced as a compact SUV, but the second generation Sportage was produced as a crossover SUV.

First generation (1995-2001)

The first generation Sportage was a compact or "toy" sport-utility vehicle (SUV) which was based on a Mazda Bongo platform.

Sportage was sold in either a four-door, two-door hardtop, and a two-door soft-top. The first-generation Sportage was discontinued in 2001, in favor (for the United States market) of the Sorento. The four-door model comes in just a quarter of one inch longer and the same width as the Geo Tracker, but boasts 145 hp (108 kW) and optional four wheel drive.

After the 1997 Hyundai takeover of Kia, the vehicle was produced with major defects including an axle that broke loose at high speeds, and various annoyances.

Second generation (2005-present)

The 2005 Sportage shares its Elantra-based platform with the 2005 Hyundai Tucson. The Sportage will also have a 2.0 L Diesel engine available in the United States. Pricing is expected to start at just over US$17,000. Critics and fans of the original, pre-Hyundai Sportage complain that it's considerably larger than the original Sportage and has none of the offroad capability, the two pieces that made the original Sportage such a hit.