11th Jul 2009, 19:14
I bought a 2002 4X4 Kia Sportage as a used vehicle... with 120,000 miles on it and have had virtually NO problems although I took it into the shop for any necessary maintenance it may have needed. The interior/exterior were in great condition, but I did need to do some brake work and replace the struts. Not bad for a car which you knew nothing about. I really like it's tight cornering capabilities. And though mine is a 5 speed, once it's up and going it has plenty of life. Thanks KIA, a great little SUV.
18th Sep 2009, 17:20
For use, even if the Sportage will drop value after buying... the look and uses of this Kia Sportage more than realizable. The geography of our country is helped by this model. MALAYSIA - SABAH MOUNT KINABALU.
30th Sep 2009, 19:39
I bought a 2002 Sportage. Gas tank had a severe hole in it where it was seamed together, and the fuel pump is leaking out of the cheap plastic hose outlets. This tank has two other parts (breather ports) that screw into. Tank $400, pump $500, breather ports $80 each. It would be nice to buy something for this car and have everything plug and play.
If I had to pay a dealer to fix it, I would rather set it a fire in the guy's driveway that I bought it from. Dealers look and act like they just opened for business, clueless.
I like the look and the way it drives, but because of the repairs and the amateur dealerships, I'm a bit bitter at the moment.
26th Oct 2009, 16:12
I bought my 2002 KIA Sportage EX new, and have to say this is the hardest working, best little car I have ever owned. Troubles in the 205,000 hard-driving kms on the odometer now have been few and far between - the car owes me not one cent. It's done everything I've asked of it, gone everywhere I've wanted it to, whether city or snow-country. Emission testing comes up with only 0 to minor tracing reading. It's a surprisingly comfortable ride, a good solid vehicle, and I'd recommend KIA to anyone who asks. I'm about to sell it (almost breaks my heart)... but replacing with the new Koup, so staying with the KIA family. For outstanding value, they can't be beat.
29th Aug 2010, 19:16
"Fact is, A CRV and a Rav4 have reputation and long term durability."
I think that reputation is due more to ad hype than actual reliability. One of our friends just traded their very poorly built and unreliable CRV for a new Ford Escape. The CRV had rattles galore and felt very cheap and tinny.
Another friend has a RAV-4 that makes so much noise inside on the highway that conversation is difficult, and it gets a whopping 19 MPG on the highway. Our big GM SUV gets 24.
I have one friend who bought a new Kia in 2003 and it has been totally flawless thus far (much better than any Honda or Toyota for sure), but he readily admits that it is very cheaply made compared to any domestic small SUV.
5th Dec 2010, 14:43
I bought a 2002 Sportage from an auto impound, with 81000 miles, for only $2800. It runs great and is very easy to move around in city traffic. So far the only problem is the auto door locks and activity alarm upon entering the vehicle. I pulled the auto lock fuse and all is great. Not bad for a used little SUV.
5th Apr 2005, 23:04
I have been looking at buying a Kia Sportage. Unfortunately I cannot afford the 2002 model. If one reads through the reviews of people that have had basically a Sportage from 1996-2001 - it would seem foolish to purchase one of these cars. Virtually without exception - most people are enraged by this car. I agree - this review seems to be written by a dealer! I think it is inappropriate to highlight a vehicle by constantly (and repetitively) under-mining other makes of similar cars. Why not just talk about the car in isolation? Also - there is a very big difference in slagging off other cars without ever having owned and driven one for an extended period of time. If you read some of the original reviews of new Kia Sportage's when they are tested - they are all glowing. But read those reviews of people who owned them, drove them for EXTENDED periods and you find totally different opinions coming through. I am grateful to have found this site where personal, long term experience of a motor vehicle is expressed.