IIHS Crash Test
Acceptable
MPG (up to)
19 City / 23 HWY
Horsepower
173
Seats
5
Front angle medium view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Mark G
It has some charm. I've had it since I was 16 and has been very reliable
Bought it used, it gets me where I need to go. The stereo was a bit outdated but I ended up buying a new one that works with Bluetooth. Otherwise no problems!
accountCircle Dana P
Kia Sportage is a reliable affordable vehicle.
I have had my Kia Sportage for 10 years now. I haven't had any major problems with it and she's still running strong. It looks nice while still affordable. I've used it a lot for hauling things that you could never do with a car. I live in the north and experience a lot of cold and snowy weather. My Kia Sportage has four wheel drive and it has been a life saver in our cold and snowy dangerous conditions. She has always started right up in the cold too. Never has failed me there. I also have a sunroof that my family loves in the summer.
accountCircle Tom C
It's very reliable and has a very smooth drive! You'll love it
I really love this car is a day-to-day car. It's reliable and gets me from my job when I need to get there. I've never had any problems with this car before and I'm absolutely in love with it. Would highly recommend
accountCircle Ronald P
It's a very dependable vehicle.
Best motor vehicle I have ever owned. Has a V6 engine that gets 24 mpg everyday driving and 28 mpg highway miles. Very comfortable seats and very roomy in the cab. No complaints about this vehicle whatsoever.
accountCircle Reagan B
The leg room is large, the blind spots are minimal.
It is not reliable because of the wear and tear it is taken but it is my favorite car and a perfect size.
accountCircle Lynne S
Reliable. It is ten years old and has high mileage but it has not had any major issues. It does get the routine maintenance but nothing else.
I love the versatility of the car. It has been able to haul or move whatever I have needed. It has good space for what my family's needs are. Decent gas mileage but could be better.
accountCircle Margaret H
Never breaks down. Has been running perfectly for 13 years
I have never had any issues with my car other than what has been caused by other people. It has always run great and is the perfect size. The only thing I would change would be better gas mileage
accountCircle Sharon G
The durability has been fantastic! It has had only 1 or 2 repairs in 13 years.
I have no complaints about my car. I have been driving it for 13 years and it still runs great! The exterior needs work but the overall vehicle is great.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Alec C
It has lasted a long time, kea has made a great vehicle in the Sportage.
It has a lot of extra features, like reclining seats, sunroof, and four wheel drive but do not like the gas mileage.
accountCircle Linda H
It is comfortable. It drives nice. It has a nice storage area in the back for groceries or whatever.
I like that is it an automatic and not too bad on gas. I like that it is paid for, I like that it is a 4 door. No complaints.
accountCircle Joan W
Buying a used Kia has its ups and downs.
I got it used and I have had problems with steering and breaks and breaks, and breaks. I have only had it for about 4. 5 months, not sure about reliability and overall performance yet. As for comfort it is good. A\c works great, which is a must in the Houston heat and humidity.
accountCircle Jennifer D
Good family vehicle as far as space
Well I wouldn't really say it's the vehicle maybe just company I purchased from. The front end knocks, ac doesn't work after not even a year of having it. Overall very space good family SUV. Had to replace a lot of parts but half the parts fit a 2008. No I wouldn't purchase another in the future
accountCircle Tara R
The seats are uncomfortable.
It is true luxury. It features automatic high beams that turn off when a car or bright light comes your way, the backup camera has 2 so you can see a 360 of who is around you, the dim lighting inside the car at night is beautiful, the drivers cup holder has a cupholder feature that keeps it hot or cold. The only negative is I do not think Mercedes Benz in general thinks of the moms who drive these cars. Car seats do not fit well in any told their cars, headrests do not move up and down easily and the seats are at an angle never really letting the car seat lay flat down and making the child always at a recline which they do not always want.
accountCircle Amy D
Plenty of room for passengers and extras.
I like the roomy back. Easy to load packages, groceries, or boxes. I dislike the miles to the gallon of gas also its an older model and needs upgrades.
accountCircle Amy R
I still would say the room available for driver, passengers and cargo is best.
I really like the room inside. Also the ability to just open the back and load packages, groceries, etc. Even great for loading up luggage for trips. I am not crazy about the gas miles per gallon. I did buy it used and I feel if it was taken better care of by previous owners the maintenance would not be as much as it is.

Kia Sportage Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
LX
173 HP 21-21 MPG 5 Seats
car
EX
173 HP 21-21 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2005 Kia Sportage Owner Reviews

4.39
44 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 55%
4 stars 30%
3 stars 16%
2 stars 0%
1 star 0%
accountCircle Lynne S on February 10, 2021
Reliable. It is ten years old and has high mileage but it has not had any major issues. It does get the routine maintenance but nothing else.
I love the versatility of the car. It has been able to haul or move whatever I have needed. It has good space for what my family's needs are. Decent gas mileage but could be better.
accountCircle Bobbie S on February 10, 2021
Bobbie's beauty: looks great on the outside, but even greater under the hood.
My Kia is black, 4 door, gear middle at seat, gray interior seat, gray leather dash, bucket seats, am/FM radio, with disk player. Run good, smooth ride, good on gas, do not burn oil, great set of tires, reliable, dependable. Equipped with air conditioner, works well, heater works well also. A great "eye catcher" bought her used, but hadn't any problems. Right now she has 12500 miles, still spurs like a cat on the open road. Love my Kia!

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Claire H.

My car is equipped with all wheel drive. The car also has great visibility through the exterior design. I also enjoy the sleek interior trim package. My biggest pro is the sunroof. It also works great despite its old age.

likeFilled Miranda D.

All wheel drive and space in back, good gas mileage and nice having back windshield wipers. The radio is ok, and the tires for this vehicle are priced well. Nice having seats that fold down in back seat.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Claire H.

The cons are non leather seats. There is also no safety features, as the features were too advanced for a 2005. The car has also been totally redone with new spark plugs, new parts, and a new air conditioning system.

dislikeFilled Miranda D.

The cost of some maintenance is expensive for this vehicle. The trunk could be a bit bigger but other than that it is the a good vehicle and there are not many cons that I can list other than the ones I have already listed.

Ranks #5 Compact SUV by Owners

The 2005 Kia Sportage has an average owner rating of 4.39 out of 5 which ranks it #5 of 20 other Compact SUVs.

1
car
5
2
car
4.64
5
Tie
car
4.39

Ranks #11 Compact SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2005 Kia Sportage has a combined MPG of 25 which ranks it #11 of 20 other Compact SUVs.

1
car
38 MPG
2
car
35 MPG
11
Tie
car
23 MPG

Is The 2005 Kia Sportage A Good Car?

Love this car. It's my first reliable car I have ever owned. As long as you keep up on the maintenance.
Jennifer M.
Yes very dependable. Runs smooth. Lots of room. Love the available room for package and great use in moving
Sarah Z.
Yes, it has been a good vehicle. Just had to have brake rotors replaced. Had some issues with the Sportage stalling.
Mike M.
Yes, it has lasted me years and takes wear and tear well. For a 14 year old vehicle it is extremely reliable and a great first car
Kayla R.

How Reliable Is The 2005 Kia Sportage?

I haven't had any problems with it. Just keep up on the oil change brakes all that good stuff. I want to get a new Kia.
Jennifer M.
Power steering fluid leaking. Also not very good gas mileage. Purchased used and layer found out no 4 wheel drive shaft
Brandon B.
It is pretty reliable. It has had some issues with stalling and brake rotors. I had the rotors replaced.
Amber M.
Yes it is reliable. I have had some problems such as the back windshield wiper battery and some rust, but overall nothing surprising
Diane M.

Is The 2005 Kia Sportage A Good Value?

I spent 5 thousand.. I think it was a very good value. I only owe 447 and she will be mine and I won't have one more payment.
Jennifer M.
Very good value for a used purchase. Did need minor repairs after I bought it but could of been avoided if previous owner kept up with good maintenance
Tae J.
When it was purchased around 5 years ago, it was approximately $8000 and its overall value has been worth it
Tony G.

Related Articles for 2005 Kia Sportage

From the Vehicle History blog

car
2019 Kia Sportage Review: Reliable Compact SUV With Reasonable Ownership Costs
car
2018 Kia Sportage Review: Unreliable Compact SUV With Expensive Repair Costs As It Ages
car
2009 Kia Sportage Review: An Excellent Budget-Friendly SUV, or It Was a Few Years Ago
car
2017 Kia Sportage Review: Unreliable Small SUV With Expensive Repair Costs
car
2007 Kia Sportage Review: An Affordable, Reliable, and Very Basic SUV

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2005 Kia Sportage fuel filter location?

Answer: The 2005 Kia Sportage fuel filter is located inside the fuel pump module and is listed by the manufacturer as a non-serviceable part. In essence, this means that the fuel filter can last for the life of the...

What's the 2005 kia sportage wiper blade size?

Answer: The wiper blade sizes on the 2005 Kia Sportage are 24 inches for the driver side and 16 inches for the passenger side. The rear of the vehicle has a blade size of 12 inches. If You want to install wiper blades...

What's the 2005 kia sportage battery size?

Answer: The battery in Your 2005 Kia Sportage belongs to the Group Size 124R and haS700 CCA (Cold Cranking Amps). The CCA value is the most important spec that You need to make sure of because this is how much power it...

2005 Kia Sportage: What is the size of the trunk and cargo space?

Answer: The size of the trunk and cargo space on the 2005 Kia Sportage is 23.6 ft, 66.6 ft with seat area. The larger number is the size of the space with the seats folded down, while the smaller number is the seats...

What kind of oil does the 2005 Kia Sportage use?

Answer: It's recommended to use Mobil 1 synthetic engine oil in the 2005 Kia Sportage. For optimal fuel efficiency, it is recommended to use an engine oil with a viscosity grade SAE 5W-20 or 5W-30. An alternative oil...

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test
(Not Rated)
*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety