When buying a new or used vehicle, safety is one of the main concerns most people have. If you are shopping for a Kia Sportage, you’ll be happy to know that the Sportage lineup has some of the safest models on the market.
How safe is the 2020 and 2021 Kia Sportage?
The 2021 Kia Sportage received a 5-Star rating from the NHTSA and the 2020 Sportage received the highest score of “Good” by the IIHS. The IIHS has not rated the 2021 model yet.
Combine that with a 4.53-Star Owner and 4.4 Expert Review Ratings for the 2020 Sportage from Vehicle History for a winning combination.
The safety a vehicle offers is much more than the results of a crash test. Other factors, such as the type of headlights, the standard or available safety options, and other factors influence the vehicle’s safety as well.
Kia Sportage Crash Test Rating
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Test/Results
The IIHS rated the 2020 Kia Sportage with a “Good” rating for the following crashworthiness tests:
- Driver’s side and Passenger’s side small overlap front crash test
- Moderate overlap front crash test
- Side crash test
- Roof strength
- Head restraints and seat
The ratings for headlights vary by trim levels and are as follows:
- SX Turbo trim with LED projector lights and high-beam assist; built after September 2019, received an “Acceptable” rating.
- The LX, S, and EX trim levels with halogen projector lights and high-beam assist received a “Poor” rating.
- The SX Turbo trim, built before Apr. 2019, with LED projector lights and high-beam assist received a “Good” rating.
- The SX Turbo trim, build after Mar. 2019 and prior to Oct. 2019, with LED projector lights and high-beam assist, received a “Poor” rating.
As for crash avoidance and mitigation, the Sportage’s optional vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system received a “Superior” rating. The optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system received an “Advanced” rating.
The LATCH system for child seats received an “Acceptable” rating.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Test/Results
The NHTSA rated the 2021 Kia Sportage with four stars overall in its frontal crash test results. The front driver’s side received four stars and the front passenger’s side received five stars.
The Sportage received five stars overall for the side crash test. The front seat and rear seat received five stars for the combined side barrier and pole ratings. The driver and rear passenger also received five stars for the side barrier crash test.
The overall side pole crash test netted the Kia Sportage five stars.
Kia Sportage Safety Tech
The 2021 Kia Sportage has four trim levels: The LX, S, EX, and SX Turbo. All four trim levels have the following safety features:
- Forward collision avoidance-assist with pedestrian detection
- Lane keeping assist
- Diver attention warning
- Dual front advanced airbags, dual front seat-mounted side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, and a rollover sensor for the airbags
- Four-wheel ABS disc brakes, and downhill brake control
- Electronic stability control, traction control, and hill start assist
The S, EX, and SX Turbo get blind-spot collision warning and rear traffic collision warning as standard equipment, while those features are optional on the LX.
Smart cruise with stop-and-go is standard equipment on the SX Turbo, optional on the S and EX trim levels, and not available on the LX.
Buying a Used Car? Here’s How to Do it Safely
Research new and used vehicles to make sure they have the safety equipment you want for the price you want, and to check their reliability. You can also visit Vehicle History, a one-stop shop to learn more about your favorite model’s features and quirks by reading customer comments, professional reviews and more.
We partner with some of the biggest names in the business, including KBB, the NHTSA, and more to provide you with a no-cost tool you can use on the go.
