IIHS Crash Test
Good
MPG (up to)
21 City / 25 -29 HWY
Horsepower
176 -256
Seats
5
Front passenger 3/4 w/ wheels turned.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Alessandra L
I am so glad that my Kia is orange, it is the perfect statement color.
This vehicle has been a reliable mode of transportation for me for the last three years. There have been no major problems with it. It is only shortcoming is that mine does not include all wheel drive, which in the winter can be a nuisance. However, the vehicle has been comfortable and convenient with its dual setting for air, it is ability to fold down the back seats, alert when cars come to close, and the hidden spare tire feature.
accountCircle Ashlee T
It has all the safety features that every car needs.
It feels a lot larger inside than it looks. It is a comfortable drive. I feel it has good gas mileage for the year it was made.
accountCircle Jean G
Easily tipped over and can get out from under you very quickly.
Easy to drive, park and handle. Will get out from under you very easily. Not for young beginning drivers.
accountCircle Sidney J
My car is bright red so it stands out.
It is easy to get my baby's car seat in and out and it has enough room to put the stroller and everything in. Also it is a push to start and I have never had a car like that. So it is really nice. Also it has Bluetooth and a navigation system in it. So instead of having to use my phone. It is all hands free.
accountCircle Anna C
Love my 2011 Kia Sportage.
I love my 2011 Kia Sportage! I have had no major mechanical issues with this car. It is very reliable and fun to drive! It gets very good gas mileage for a small SUV. The interior is nice and comfortable, even on long trips. My only negative is the back seat cup holders, if there are 3 passengers in the back, there is no cup holder.
accountCircle Earl W
My Kia Sportage is fun to drive has great space and is good on gas.
My vehicle drives effortlessly and is very good on fuel. There is plenty of legroom and I am 6’4 and 315 pounds. Me and my wife love to travel and my car has plenty of get up and go. There is plenty of room for groceries when we go shopping. Finally we haven't had a lot of maintenance.
accountCircle Deanna J
I love my sun/moon roof the whole roof is glass and window.
I love my Kia. It get great mileage it is super comfortable and for the size I can transport a lot of things in it. The back seat comfortably seats adults and I love my sunroof. It is a really smooth drive I have taken it on many long trips and do not have a complaint.
accountCircle Jessica H
Blind spots are notable issues.
We bought our Sportage used and have had no major issues since our purchase. Our only complaints are notable blind spots between the front windshield and side windows and that the back seats don't fold completely flat. Our ex is comfortable, gets great gas mileage and has been very reliable.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Cristina M
My Kia was a lemon from the get go.
Multiple recalls. Turbo replaced, engine replaced, fuel line replaced. Air conditioner stopped working. Windows do not work properly. Too many repairs to be able to afford. I have had nothing but problems since financing this car. Even after getting the engine replaced, it still doesn't run right. Very disappointed but I am stuck for 3 more years until paid off.
accountCircle Jordan W
Old Reliable: slow and steady wins the race
The SUV is roomy, it's overall a reliable vehicle. But it constantly has minor problems that keep me in the mechanic shop. It is also the slowest vehicle I have ever owned.
accountCircle J Hester
Lemon - nothing but problems
This vehicle has been a lemon since day one. So much so the entire engine had to be replaced by Kia. Now I’ve had problems with the turbo, the windows, the door locks and the radio. My wife’s 2006 Honda has shined compared to this Kia. Very bad purchase.
accountCircle lisa s
Good gas mileage on long trips, but definitely needs more room
It's a good vehicle. Has decent gas mileage and is a pretty smooth ride. The only con is that it needs more space
accountCircle Stasia S
2011 Kia Sportage holds up.
Overall, good car. Comfortable & spacious interior. Wish had more power and better gas mileage. Nice safety features but have been locked out when battery goes out in the remote key. Not fun. Having issues with gas gauge reading correctly. Good stereo and speaker sound. Can play a few CD's in the turner.
accountCircle Jason P
Kia Sportage, good car, gets job complete.
Transmission gets stuck between gears every now and then. Rides smooth, interior is nice vibrant. Bought it brand new and have had minimum issues. Only real issues are normal wear and tear. I would recommend this car for anyone with a small family, plenty of room. But overall good truck.
accountCircle RICHARD C
BEEN A GOOD CAR WITH THE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR GOOD MILEAGE
BOUGHT IT USED SO INHERITED OTHER PEOPLE'S PROBLEMS LIKE THE CAR BUT REPLACED THE CLUTCH AND FIT ON DRIVER DOOR IS BAD TAKEN BACK TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT SUCCESS THE HOLD ON HILL SWITCH IS AN 800 $ REPAIR
accountCircle Shyann D
Kia Sportage: A cost efficient SUV
Ac breaks all the time, but the vehicle is roomy and gas efficient. Car runs really smoothly even when the roads are covered in snow since it's all wheel drive.

Kia Sportage Models

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

car
Base
176 HP 24 MPG 5 Seats
car
LX
176 HP 23 MPG 5 Seats
car
EX
176 HP 23 MPG 5 Seats
car
SX
256 HP 23-23 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2011 Kia Sportage Owner Reviews

4.25
170 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 46%
4 stars 38%
3 stars 14%
2 stars 1%
1 star 2%
accountCircle Shelby S on March 28, 2021
Kia Sportage gunmetal grey.
It can fit a lot in it. Good on gas. I travel a lot and it is always reliable. I need to fit the ac but that is the first problem. The brakes are good. And I think it is really pretty and convenient. I drive for hours at a time and it is comfortable. I love it.
accountCircle Nikki S on March 22, 2021
Great smaller reliable SUV.
Great smaller SUV. Very reliable and gets decent gas mileage. Very comfortable seats. Bluetooth is a bonus. Love the radio control is also in the steering wheel which is so convenient. Traction control is great especially in the winter. Dual temperature control is great so if your passenger is cold they can increase the temp on their side only.

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Janet C.

It has a great warranty. It was affordable. It is pretty reliable. It has some plastic components that in higher end vehicles is fiberglass or stronger material. It is safe. It is difficult to see out of the front of the windshield where the roof meets the hood.

likeFilled Emily R.

The 2011 Kia Sportage has been a great vehicle for me. The main pros of the vehicle are that it is affordable, sporty, reliable, and there are many extra add-ons available. The upgraded sound system is excellent and I can really jam out!

likeFilled Emily D.

My car has enough room for people, dog, cargo, decent gas mileage, and great to drive. It looks great, and wasn't terribly expensive. I bought it used, but it has held up nicely. I take my German Shepherd out all the time, and there is enough room for her in the back seat.

likeFilled Takeya S.

Good gas mileage. Lots of space in back for kids. Ac in glove department to keep items from overheating. Cheap car parts. Car was made in United States. No recalls, come with warranty from Kia. 4-cylinder car. Rides smooth and quietly.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Janet C.

It is hard to see out of the front passenger side windshield area where the roof meets the hood. (It is wide and can obstruct view of oncoming vehicle or pedestrian). It has some cheaper parts where higher end cars may have a pricier material (plastic vs. Metal).

dislikeFilled Emily R.

I feel like I have not encountered many cons with the 2011 Kia Sportage. Some of the repair costs seem pricey but I think that is because it is a foreign vehicle. My tire pressure light also seems to come on a lot when there is no actual tire issue but I am not sure if that is a vehicle issue or a personal issue.

dislikeFilled Emily D.

The main negative is the car easily falls apart when anything hits it. Someone opened a door next to my car and hit the side of my car. The ding is very noticeable. The lights also are not very bright during the night and make seeing hard.

dislikeFilled Takeya S.

The only few things wrong is I wished it had 3rd row seating. There is no sunroof or moonroof. There are no heated seats. No backup camera. Radio screen is small. Only comes in 3 different colors no matter the year of model.

Ranks #12 Compact SUV by Owners

The 2011 Kia Sportage has an average owner rating of 4.28 out of 5 which ranks it #12 of 26 other Compact SUVs.

1
car
4.67
2
Tie
car
4.56
12
car
4.25

Ranks #4 Compact SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2011 Kia Sportage has a combined MPG of 31 which ranks it #4 of 26 other Compact SUVs.

1
Tie
car
32 MPG
1
Tie
car
32 MPG
4
Tie
car
29 MPG

Is The 2011 Kia Sportage A Good Car?

It good for everyday use. Gets you too and from wherever you need to go on a daily basis. It is good on gas and long trips.
Nicole G.
Overall it's a pretty good car, it drives and handles really well. I wish the gas mileage was a little better but it drives well and I can fit my family in it spacious
Crystal H.

How Reliable Is The 2011 Kia Sportage?

It is very reliable thus far. I was very surprised because previous cars I have had tend to have issues within 6 months but the Kia is going strong.
Nicole G.
It has been reliable I have had no major issues and were close to 160,000 miles on it. I do wish the gas mileage was better I seem to be filling up the car a little more than I use to with my old car... Read More
Christi V.

Is The 2011 Kia Sportage A Good Value?

Not sure the exact price. But they do have very good values from me doing research in newer Sportage models.
Nicole G.
My Kia was bought certified pre-owned so I'm not really sure but considering what I paid for mine then yes it is a really good value. This vehicle so far has been dependable and my family can fit in... Read More
Marco D.

Related Articles for 2011 Kia Sportage

From the Vehicle History blog

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Kia Sportage Reliability: How Long Will It Last?

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2011 Kia Sportage map sensor location?

Answer: The 2011 Kia Sportage Map Sensor is located on the left, rear side of the throttle body. This is actually very simple to remove and replace: It's held to the intake manifold by two bolts, which just need to be...

How do i perform the 2011 Kia Sportage oil reset?

Answer: To reset the oil in the 2011 Kia Sportage begin by putting the key in the ignition and turning it to the on position, without starting it. Wait for the vehicle to do the system check and then press the trip...

2011 Kia Sportage: What is the towing capacity including torque, payload, and tongue weight?

Answer: The 2011 Kia Sportage will have a maximum towing capacity of just 1000 pounds. They did not offer any additional towing package to increase this and the capacity will be the same for all models of this vehicle....

2011 Kia Sportage: What is the tire size and pressure, and wheel size?

Answer: The base model wheel size for the 2011 Kia Sportage is a 16-inch wheel. The tire size for the car is 215/70r16 and the recommended tire pressure for the tires iS33 psi. If the tires are a little off in cold...

2011 Kia Sportage: What is the oil type and capacity?

Answer: The recommended engine oil for the 2011 Kia Sportage 2.4l engine is sae 5w-20 or 5w-30 and can hold 4.9 quarts. When performing an oil change on the car You will first want to make sure that the vehicle has...

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

*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety