The compact frame SUV Kia Sportage, launched into mass production in 1993, had several modifications: the usual five-door, extended, called Grand, and two-door with an open body. The car was equipped with Mazda's two-liter engines, gasoline (117-128 hp) and diesel (83 hp), the gearbox was manual or automatic. Kia Sportage had good off-road abilities: it had an all-wheel drive transmission with a hard-wired front end and a reduction gear.

From 1995 until 1998, versions for the European market were produced in Germany by Karmann. And cars for sale in Russia were made at Avtotor in Kaliningrad: at first it was a screwdriver assembly, later - production with welding and body painting.

2nd generation (KM), 2004–2010

The second generation Kia Sportage, produced from 2004 to 2010, became larger than its predecessor and “moved” into the crossover class, having lost its frame structure and received an all-wheel drive transmission with an electromagnetic clutch in the rear wheel drive. In addition, in the lineup there was an exclusively front-wheel drive modification. The base was a two-liter gasoline engine (142 hp), the version with a V6 2.7 engine had a power of 175 hp. The turbodiesel Kia Sportage was equipped with a two-liter power unit that developed 112 hp. With.

In 2007, the production of cars began at a plant in Slovakia, Sportage for the Russian market continued to be made in Kaliningrad.

3rd generation (SL), 2010–2016

The compact crossover Kia Sportage of the third generation was produced from 2010 to 2016 in South Korea, cars for the Russian market are assembled using the “screwdriver” method at Avtotor in Kaliningrad. In 2014, the car underwent modernization.

On the Russian market, the car was offered with 2.0 petrol and diesel engines, with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Gearbox - "mechanics" or "automatic". The cost of the most affordable version was 1,129,900 rubles.

The Sportage is an iconic model for Kia. This name has existed for a quarter of a century, and the car itself has changed 4 generations.

I generation Sportage engines

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Kia Sportage debuted in 1993. This is the first and only time the Sportage has had multiple body styles. In addition to the standard five-door version, an open-top three-door and a car with an extended rear overhang (Sportage Grand) were offered.

The Korean manufacturer created its first SUV on the basis of a Mazda car. Sportage uses a frame structure. Most of the time, the SUV is rear-wheel drive, the front end is hard-wired.

Engines were also transferred from the Japanese. Under the hood of the Sportage, one could find a two-liter gasoline engine in three different versions and two diesel engines: 2.0 and 2.2 liters.

F.E.

ICE series FE Kia began to produce under license from Mazda in 1992. This is a four-cylinder naturally aspirated unit with a cast iron block and an aluminum cylinder head. Before being installed in the Sportage, the motor was slightly modified, in particular, the intake receiver was changed, a different camshaft was installed and the compression ratio was lowered.

There were two versions: with 8- and 16-valve block head. The first could only be found on Korean-assembled cars until 1999. This motor develops only 95 horsepower compared to the 118 horsepower of the 16-valve. In addition, it has a record low compression ratio - 8.6.

Starting in 1995, engines with FE-DOHC with a double camshaft appeared under the hood. The cylinder diameter and piston stroke were left unchanged.

Engine	FE SOHC (DOHC) 16V
A type	Petrol, atmospheric
Volume	1998 cm³
Cylinder diameter	86 mm
piston stroke	86 mm
Compression ratio	9.2
Torque	166 (173) Nm at 4500 rpm
Power	118 (128) hp
Overclocking	14.7 s
Max speed	166 (172) km/h
Average consumption	11.8 l

R2 and RF

The first generation Sportage was equipped with two diesel engines. One of them is the 2.2-liter R2 without turbocharging. It produces only 63 horsepower and 127 Nm of torque. This power unit could previously be found on the Mazda Bongo minibus. It was installed on the Sportage until 2002.

The second motor is a diesel modification of the FE series unit. The block itself has not undergone any changes, but the cylinder head is completely different. The Korean designers themselves have already added a turbine to it, thanks to which the power has increased to 83 horses. In terms of reliability, this engine is less preferable than gasoline ones. The diesel engine operates under greater load, plus it has a more complex design (prechamber ignition, turbine, intercooler).

Engine	RF
A type	Diesel, turbocharged
Volume	1998 cm³
Cylinder diameter	86 mm
piston stroke	86 mm
Compression ratio	21
Torque	193 Nm at 4500 rpm
Power	85 HP
Overclocking	20.5 s
Max speed	145 km/h
Average consumption	9.1 l

Second generation Sportage engines

In 2004 there was a change of generations. And at the same time, the concept of the car itself has changed. Sportage has ceased to be a frame SUV, moving into the crossover class. It is based on a new monocoque body and Elantra platform.

G4GC

The most common engine on the second-generation Sportage was the two-liter four-cylinder petrol. This is a simple and unpretentious unit. Cast iron block, aluminum cylinder head. In the timing drive, there is a belt that needs to be changed every 50-70 thousand to avoid breakage and damage to the valves on the cylinders. A single phase shifter is installed in the head, which changes the phase angles of the intake valves.
But due to the lack of hydraulic lifters, valve clearances need to be adjusted every 90 thousand km.

Engine	G4GC
A type	Petrol, atmospheric
Volume	1975 cm³
Cylinder diameter	82 mm
piston stroke	93.5 mm
Compression ratio	10.1
Torque	184 Nm at 4500 rpm
Power	141 HP
Overclocking	11.3 s
Max speed	176
Average consumption	9.3

D4EA

There are two modifications of the D4EA motor. They differ only in the turbine and attachments. The lower version uses a WGT supercharger and produces 112 horsepower. On a more powerful modification, a VGT turbine and another high-performance fuel pump are used. The engine is considered quite reliable, but expensive components and the considerable age of cars make buying second-generation diesel Sportage a risky business.

Engine	D4EA
A type	Diesel, turbocharged
Volume	1991 cm³
Cylinder diameter	83 mm
piston stroke	92 mm
Compression ratio	17.3
Torque	246 (305) Nm at 1800 rpm
Power	112 (140) hp
Overclocking	16.1 (11.1) s
Max speed	167 (178)
Average consumption	7

G6BA

The top-end second-generation Sportage engine is a 2.7-liter V6. This motor could only be obtained in a configuration with a 4-speed "automatic" and all-wheel drive. Of its features, one can distinguish an aluminum block and cylinder head and a small piston stroke. Hydraulic compensators are installed, but there is no phase change system.
It is advisable to change the timing belt in advance; when it breaks, the pistons bend the valves.

Engine	G6BA
A type	Petrol, atmospheric
Volume	2656 cm³
Cylinder diameter	86.7 mm
piston stroke	75 mm
Compression ratio	10.1
Torque	250 Nm at 4000 rpm
Power	175 HP
Overclocking	10 s
Max speed	180
Average consumption	10

3rd generation Sportage engines

The third generation was released in 2010. The crossover received a bright and dynamic design, in which there was not a hint of the calm appearance of its predecessors. Like the Sportage 2, the new car had front-wheel drive as standard. Four-wheel drive is available for a surcharge, but its task is not to increase cross-country ability, yet the crossover has become purely asphalt, but to make behavior on slippery types of coverage more confident.

G4KD

G4KD - two-liter gasoline engine. Met on Sportage most often and was the only gasoline engine in the line. There were frequent complaints about this motor related to noisy operation. Diesel sound on a cold engine indicates scuffing on the cylinder walls. Chirring is a feature of the nozzles.

After restyling in 2014, instead of the G4KD engine, they began to install the G4NU engine. It differs in block geometry and timing drive.

Engine	G4KD
A type	Petrol, atmospheric
Volume	1998 cm³
Cylinder diameter	86 mm
piston stroke	86 mm
Compression ratio	10.5
Torque
Power	150 HP
Overclocking	10.7 s
Max speed	182
Average consumption	7.6

D4FD

The 1.7 liter diesel engine is the D4FD engine, which was introduced only in 2010. This is the largest engine in Hyundai's new U series of units. It is equipped with a timing chain drive, two camshafts, each of which has a phase regulator. In addition, a variable geometry VGT turbine is installed.

There are two versions of this engine. On Sportage, only the least powerful one with a return of 115 horses is used. This engine is sensitive to fuel quality. Low-grade diesel fuel quickly disables the injectors, causing the engine to run unevenly.
If the thrust disappeared and jerks appeared, then most likely the fine or coarse filters were clogged.

Engine	G4KD
A type	Petrol, atmospheric
Volume	1998 cm³
Cylinder diameter	86 mm
piston stroke	86 mm
Compression ratio	10.5
Torque	197 Nm at 4600 rpm
Power	150 HP
Overclocking	10.7 s
Max speed	182
Average consumption	7.6

D4HA

Diesel two-liter engine appeared in 2009. Unlike the 1.7 liter engine, its block is cast from aluminum, not cast iron. The timing drive uses a chain. Hydraulic compensators independently adjust valve clearances. The pressurization system uses a turbine with variable geometry. Just like the junior diesel engine, the D4HA is demanding on fuel quality. In addition, when driving dynamically at high speeds, a small oil consumption appears, it is advisable to monitor its level.

The D4HA engine has two versions: standard and forced up to 184 horses. Both can be found under the hood of the Sportage.

Engine	D4HA
A type	Diesel, turbocharged
Volume	1995 cm³
Cylinder diameter	84 mm
piston stroke	90 mm
Compression ratio	16.5
Torque	373 (392) Nm at 1800 rpm
Power	136 (184) hp
Overclocking	12.1 (9.8) s
Max speed	180 (195)
Average consumption	6,9 (7,1)

IV generation Sportage engines

The fourth generation Kia Sportage arrived in Russia in 2016, six months after the official premiere in Frankfurt. Technically, the car has not changed much, the crossover is built on a modified platform of its predecessor and inherited engines from it. For example, the diesel engine migrated from under the hood of the Sportage 3 without any changes at all.

G4NA

The base engine for the Sportage is still a 2-liter in-line four-cylinder four. The new unit was designated G4NA, it belongs to the Nu family, which was introduced in 2010. Following current trends, the designers preferred an aluminum block and cylinder head. Both camshafts are equipped with phase shifters for better filling of the cylinders at different speeds.
Hydraulic compensators are also provided, they will save you from manually adjusting the valves every 90 thousand km. The timing chain is used.

Engine	G4GC
A type	Petrol, atmospheric
Volume	1999 cm³
Cylinder diameter	81 mm
piston stroke	97 mm
Compression ratio	10.3
Torque	192 Nm at 4000 rpm
Power	150 HP
Overclocking	11.1 s
Max speed	184
Average consumption	8.2

G4FJ

The only truly new unit is a petrol turbo four. Fashionable downsizing has reached the Kia crossover. This 1.6-liter engine produces 177 horsepower, which is 27 horses more than its two-liter gasoline counterpart. In addition to the turbine, they are distinguished by a fuel supply system. The G4FJ uses direct injection. The CVVT phase control system is available on both the intake and exhaust shafts.
Hydraulic compensators are not provided, it is necessary to manually adjust the valves every 90 thousand km. Timing chain drive. From the factory, there are three versions of different power: 177, 186 and 204 horsepower.

Much of the credit for improved dynamics belongs to the new dual-clutch robotic transmission. Only paired with it and all-wheel drive is a turbocharged engine available.

Engine	G4FJ
A type	Petrol, turbocharged
Volume	1591 cm³
Cylinder diameter	77 mm
piston stroke	85.4 mm
Compression ratio	10
Torque	265 Nm at 1500-4500 rpm
Power	177 HP
Overclocking	9.1 s
Max speed	201
Average consumption	7.5

Kia Sportage engines

	Sportage I	Sportage II	Sportage III	Sportage IV
Engines	2	2	2	2
	F.E.	G4GC	G4KD/G4NU	G4NA
	2.2d	2.7	1.7d	1.6t
	R2	G6BA	D4FD	G4FJ
	2.0d	2.0d	2.0d	2.0d
	RF	D4EA	D4HA	D4HA

The example of Kia Sportage clearly shows how the development of engines takes place. From unpretentious units of a simple design, which produced little power and consumed a lot of fuel, evolution gradually comes to more efficient and complex internal combustion engines with a shorter resource.

Sportage release from 1994 - 2006. ( Sportage 1)

Motors petrol - 2 l. - 8 cells, 2 years old - 16cl,

Diesel engines 2l. TD, 2.2.l. D

The boxes were both automatic and manual.

There were versions of all-wheel drive 4WD and rear-wheel drive 2WD

There were convertible versions with three doors, there were versions of the Grand (elongated), there were ordinary short ones with four doors.

The Kia Sportage was first introduced to the world community in 1993, becoming the first SUV in the South Korean automaker's lineup. The car was produced in several versions of the body, survived the restyling (1999) and safely passed into the past in 2004, freeing the conveyor to the second generation of the Kia Sportage. Meanwhile, in the domestic used car market, the first generation of the Kia Sportage is still in great demand, and therefore it is worth considering this SUV in more detail. The appearance of the 1st generation KIA Sportage does not shine with originality and sophistication. The first generation of the SUV is distinguished by the simplicity of harmonious lines that create a friendly look and inspire additional confidence in the driver. The length of the body varies in the range of 3760 - 4340 mm and depends on the modification of the car. The width is 1735 mm and its height is 1650 mm. Depending on the version, the weight of the car varies from 1513 to 1543 kg. The ground clearance of the SUV is 200 mm. The body is fixed to the frame and made of durable metal, but still manages to rust in some places, especially in the lower parts of the doors and at the rear arches. In this case, most often rust is reliably hidden under a plastic body kit, so additional anti-corrosion treatment will not interfere.

The interior of the first generation Kia Sportage is very spacious and comfortable. The front panel is very functional and ergonomic, but over time it starts to rattle, and sometimes quite strongly. The front and rear seats provide a decent level of ride comfort over all distances, and the feel and feel of the interior materials will impress even today. A significant disadvantage of the cabin is the low level of sound insulation. However, this is due only to an insufficient level of technology at the time of the release of the car, and not to the negligence of the manufacturer.

If we talk about technical characteristics, then five engines are provided for at once: three gasoline and two diesel engines. Most often in Russia there are cars with a 4-cylinder gasoline power unit with a volume of 2.0 liters and a power of 118 or 128 hp. On cars manufactured before 1999, a 2.0-liter gasoline unit with a capacity of 95 hp prevails. The diesel range is represented by a 2.2-liter naturally aspirated engine with 63 hp provided by Mazda, and a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 83 hp.

The maximum speed developed by the SUV does not exceed 172 km / h, while acceleration to 100 km / h takes from 14.7 to 20.5 seconds, depending on the type of engine installed. Average fuel consumption: 9 - 14.7 liters.

The first generation Kia Sportage is equipped with either a 5-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic transmission. The car has a front-engine layout and could be produced in an all-wheel drive version using a transmission with a hard-wired front axle. The lack of a center differential limits the ability to use the benefits of all-wheel drive only in icy or off-road conditions. In addition, a chain drive is used in the razdatka, which begins to make noise over time.

At the front, the first generation of the KIA Sportage is equipped with an independent spring suspension with a very reliable durability resource. The only exception is the stabilizer bushings, which can hardly withstand 40 thousand km. run. At the rear, the 1st generation Kia Sportage is equipped with a very reliable dependent spring suspension, which has a long service life (up to 200 thousand km). All modifications of the Kia Sportage I are equipped with power steering, but on models manufactured before 1999, there are serious problems with the reliability of the “return” tube, which often breaks. The front wheels are equipped with disc brakes, and the rear wheels are equipped with drums, which is typical for most cars of that time. There are no complaints about the braking system, it works perfectly.

For its time, the Kia Sportage had a fairly extensive package. Already in the basic version, the car was equipped with a central lock, full power accessories, an immobilizer, a digital clock, an adjustable steering column and many other equipment. For 2012, the price of the first generation Kia Sportage in the Russian used car market averages 100,000 - 300,000 rubles. Further, posted earlier, a comparative review of the Chevrolet Niva and KIA Sportage I.

KIA Sportage was chosen as a background for assessing the consumer qualities of Chevrolet Niva. This is not only one of the closest analogues, but also the most affordable and popular Chevrolet Niva among foreign competitors. Note that we do not call the KIA Sportage Russian, although formally it is a domestic car, but developed in Korea and assembled on the territory of the Russian Federation from Korean components.

For the mass Russian buyer, the determining factor is the combination of price and quality. It is clear that in a short test it is impossible to determine the reliability of the car and the assessment of the quality of workmanship is based on an external examination. But everything is clear with the price - eight and a half thousand US dollars for a far from primitive modern SUV - this simply does not happen anywhere in the world, so it is useless to look for a purchase as profitable as the Chevrolet Niva.

Of course, in the Chevrolet Niva, neither ABS, nor airbags, nor air conditioning are offered even for an additional fee, but our motorist will not be discouraged by the absence of such frills. And the fact that the standard equipment includes a ZF power steering can be considered a gift of fate. Considered a bargain, a Kia Sportage car with similar equipment, but with a two-liter engine and two airbags, costs from $16,900, and this is already a twofold difference. In a word, if the price distance between, say, VAZ-211x and the closest import competitors has almost disappeared, then Chevrolet Niva retains a two-fold “margin of safety”. So, in terms of money - a clear victory for the Chevrolet Niva. Now let's see what it's worth.

The construction and design of the first "Niva" 27 years ago became a revelation not only for compatriots "hungry" for cars, but for the whole world. Suffice it to say that the Niva was even exported to Japan, albeit in small quantities. In our opinion, Chevrolet Niva's design cannot be as highly appreciated. The car has its own “face”, and it is quite harmoniously complex, but its appearance has already become outdated, and most importantly, it makes an unnecessarily frivolous impression. However, tastes differ, and we will not impose our point of view, but as an objective criticism, we note that on the test car, the gaps between the headlights and the hood turned out to be too large and uneven from left to right. Subsequently, having examined several samples at a car dealership, we did not find this drawback - either they were specially prepared, or the defect is “floating”. In comparison with the Chevrolet Niva, the appearance of the KIA Sportage is modest and concise, although it is less expressive and recognizable, but you can’t find fault with the cracks and gaps.

Even more contrast in the interior trim of cars. The main detail of the front panel of the Chevrolet Niva interior is made of soft plastic with a pleasant texture and is quite worthy of a good European car, but the greater the dissonance with the “heap” of minor flaws: the door handles are defiantly rude, the self-tapping screws at the bottom of the center console are open, the push-button switches are not very neat and deflectors, inconsistency with the color of the plastic of the front panel and inner door panels. In fact, it's just a shame when little things spoil a high-quality base. On the KIA Sportage, the main part of the front panel is made of hard inexpensive plastic, but everything is done evenly with high quality and it is difficult to find fault with the little things. KIA Sportage is an inexpensive car, especially the Chevrolet Niva, and the lack of height adjustment of the front seats and longitudinal adjustment of the steering wheel is quite understandable, at least the tilt of the steering column changes well. There is nothing to say about the driver's seat of the KIA Sportage, and this is already a virtue, since it is impossible to pass over in silence the shortcomings of the Chevrolet Niva seat - we have not yet met such an amorphous, falling through like an old sofa chair. It seems to cover the body, but does not hold it at all. We do not exclude at all that this is a shortcoming of a limited batch of Chevrolet Niva front seats, since the technology for manufacturing parts from “foam” is very capricious, and in domestic practice, similar results have already been encountered in violation of it.

With equal width and height, the Chevrolet Niva is shorter than the KIA Sportage by 400 mm in overall dimensions and 200 mm in the base. It would seem that the rear passengers of the KIA Sportage should benefit, but the opposite is true - the interior of the Chevrolet Niva is more spacious. The secret of this is simple - a significant part of the useful body height of the KIA is occupied by the frame, and the people in it are seated more horizontally, with outstretched legs, which requires a greater cabin length than with a vertical landing in the Chevrolet Niva. Even beyond comparison with the Sportage, the new Chevrolet Niva pleases with a full-fledged five-seat interior capacity. The trunk, however, is not particularly large, but you can’t blame this, since a further increase in the rear overhang would “kill” the geometric cross. The rear seat folds in parts in a ratio of 60 to 40%, leaving room for two or one passenger. At Sportage the pillow develops only entirely. In general, the Chevrolet Niva is an example of a much more efficient layout than the KIA.

In terms of acceleration dynamics, KIA Sportage naturally wins, Chevrolet Niva needs a modern two-liter engine in all respects. The disadvantage of KIA is a higher level of engine noise during intensive acceleration. Chevrolet Niva, on the other hand, entertains passengers with traditional transmission howls and vibrations - the higher the speed, the stronger.

We approached the assessment of the Chevrolet Niva's handling with a little apprehension, given the rich experience of communicating with its predecessor, but very soon we became convinced that a relatively light steering wheel still brings the minimum necessary information to the driver, and the car, despite body roll, very accurately prescribes turns and imperturbably stable on a straight line. The sensitivity is really low, but quite acceptable. The KIA Sportage also behaves well, but is slightly less accurate in corners and not as stable on a high-speed straight line with uneven surfaces. We are sure that on winter icy asphalt, the advantage of Chevrolet Niva in handling will be more pronounced due to the permanent all-wheel drive. There is no doubt about the superiority of the Chevrolet Niva in cross-country ability. In terms of traction, both cars are approximately the same - the KIA has a hard-wired front-wheel drive, the Chevrolet Niva has a center differential lock, both have a reduction gear, so basically everything depends on the tires.

But in terms of geometric cross-country ability, the KIA Sportage lags behind - it's not even a centimeter less clearance, but low-lying elements of the supporting frame and a protruding front bumper. In terms of smoothness, both rivals are approximately equal. Chevrolet Niva sways a little more on bumps, but its suspension is more energy-intensive and allows you to more confidently overcome large obstacles, but on small things the KIA Sportage is a little more comfortable. In order not to repeat ourselves, we will make the most concentrated conclusion - the Chevrolet Niva is certainly a more talented car, which is deprived of a proper engine and attention to small problems. With the KIA Sportage, everything is exactly the opposite: it is polished in detail to a shine, and the engine is suitable, but the car is without the “spark of God”. Given the price advantage, the Chevrolet Niva may become a bestseller for a long time, at least in our market, unless that fly in the ointment emerges, which has already spoiled more than one barrel of honey in Russia - extremely low reliability. However, I really want to believe that thanks to Western quality control, the GM-VAZ joint venture will bring it to the required level.

Sales market: Russia.

Kia Sportage, which appeared in 1993, became the first model of the South Korean company in the off-road segment and was on the Kia conveyor until 2004, having survived restyling in 1999. Close cooperation with Mazda allowed the developers to use the Mazda Bongo family of minibuses and light trucks as the basis for the Sportage, from which the chassis, engine and transmission elements were borrowed. The Kia Sportage line was provided with different versions: a standard 5-door model with a body length of 4245 mm and an extended (Grand or Wagon) version with a rear overhang increased by 120 mm. There is also a three-door version with a short base (2360 mm) and a removable soft top (Soft Top), which was positioned as an inexpensive beach SUV - with an eye on youth and mainly for the American market. For some time, Sportage in five-door bodies was assembled in Russia at the Avtotor Kaliningrad plant - here it lasted until 2006. It was equipped with both petrol and diesel two-liter "fours" (83-128 hp). Transmission - mechanical 5-speed or 4-speed automatic. The drive is full, with a hard connection of the front axle and a two-stage transfer case.

The interior of the 1993 Sportage is quite comfortable, although not so spacious. The front panel looks quite simple, but functional - there was even a handle for the passenger and a built-in digital clock, wood-like inserts are required in more expensive trim levels. Already in the basic configuration, the car had a hydraulic booster, vertical adjustment of the steering column, central locking, power windows for the front and rear doors, and electric exterior mirrors. The main difference between the Grand version is that the trunk is much larger here and the spare wheel moved into it, which found a place under the floor, and not on a separate bracket outside, like the regular version. After restyling, both the appearance of the model and the interior were refreshed. For example, the front panel received a different design and became more consistent with the style of a modern passenger car, the clock moved to the climate control unit, the shape of the air ducts changed, the instrument panel was updated, the car also received a new steering wheel and other changes.

The Kia Sportage powertrain lineup included two options for gasoline engines - the base 2.0-liter SOHC with 95 hp. (removed after modernization) and a more powerful 16-valve DOHC with a return of 128 hp. The diesel 2.0-liter engine has a power reserve of 83 hp. Standard Sportage was equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission, and a 4-band "automatic" was offered for a surcharge. Kia Sportage cannot boast of high dynamic performance. Even in the most powerful version with a 128-horsepower petrol engine, it takes 14.7 seconds to accelerate from standstill to 100 km / h, and even more time for the diesel version - 21.7 seconds. The maximum speed is 172 km/h and 145 km/h respectively. In terms of consumption, the efficiency is also not high. Gasoline Kia Sportage fuel consumption in the combined cycle is 10.2-12.6 l / 100 km, diesel - 9.1-11 l / 100 km. The volume of the fuel tank is 60-63 liters.

The first generation Kia Sportage has an independent front suspension with MacPherson strut struts, the rear suspension of all cars is dependent, with a continuous axle. A powerful spar frame gives increased reliability to the chassis design. Kia Sportage has a plug-in front axle (optionally with a self-locking differential) and a two-speed transfer case. However, there is no center differential in the car, so all-wheel drive can only be used temporarily on off-road or slippery roads. A clearance of 200 mm more than covers the needs necessary for everyday use. The overall dimensions of the five-door Kia Sportage are: length - 4245 mm (for the Grand - 4435 mm), width - 1730 mm, height - 1650 mm. The wheelbase has a size of 2650 mm. The minimum turning radius is 5.6 m. The luggage compartment for the standard 5-door modification is 373 liters, for the Grand version - 483 liters.

The range of first generation Kia Sportage security systems may differ depending on the model year and trim level. So, in the cars of the initial phase of production, the anti-lock braking system was installed only for a surcharge, and there were no airbags at all. The situation changed after the restyling of the model in 1999 - the ABS system became standard for all versions, as well as the presence of two pillows (for driver and passenger). The level of passive safety leaves much to be desired - in the ANCAP crash test, the car received one star out of five.

Kia Sportage, which appeared on the Russian market in the 90s, favorably differed from domestic cars (it acted as an alternative to the Chevrolet Niva) with a higher level of equipment and build quality. Plus the presence of a frame, general unpretentiousness and simplicity of design. However, at the moment, most of the used Kia Sportage are far from being in the best technical condition, and the availability of spare parts is already coming to the fore, which may cause problems. The car also has characteristic drawbacks, such as short-lived vacuum clutches (hubs) for turning on and off the front-wheel drive, which usually change to mechanical reinforced structures. The body is subject to corrosion, and the owners often note that the frame is also rusting (it happens that the number on it may become unreadable).

Read completely What is the purchase of the first generation Kia Sportage?

Today, the first-generation Kia Sportage SUVs that have already been discontinued are in fairly high demand in our secondary market. This is not surprising, because their cost, with comparable consumer qualities, is much lower than that of their classmates. And among the offers for used cars there are not only cars of Russian origin, but also more packaged “Americans” or purebred “Koreans” with rich equipment in their arsenal

The off-road model Sportrage from the Korean automaker Kia debuted in 1993. For that time, the car had not only an original and quite attractive appearance, but also a comfortable interior. Until 1995, the car was produced with one three-door body. However, this version, just like the version with a convertible body, is a very rare guest on the Russian market.

The most massive five-door modification appeared only in 1995. An interesting fact, but the assembly of this car for three years was carried out in Germany, after which it was transferred to the Avtotor enterprise in Kaliningrad. In 1999, the model underwent a slight external restyling, and the range of body modifications was replenished with the Grand version with an extended rear overhang and a significantly increased luggage compartment. After the second generation Kia Sportage appeared in 2004, thanks to the steady demand for the old model, its release, including in Russia, continued for another two years.

Body and interior

Already in the basic configuration, the car is equipped with a remote-controlled central lock, an immobilizer, power windows for the front and rear doors, vertical adjustment of the steering column, power steering, electric exterior mirrors and a digital clock.

Corrosion of the body of a frame car, in principle, is not so terrible, but the Sportage still rusts. The first foci appear in the fourth or fifth year of operation in the lower parts of the doors and at the rear arches. Often, rust is hidden under the plastic body kit, so beloved by Korean manufacturers.

There are almost no complaints about the quality of the interior, except that the front panel on many copies begins to rattle very strongly over time. Moreover, this annoying nuisance occurs both on cars produced before restyling and after. The main drawback of the cabin, which has a rather strong effect on the comfort of the crew, is poor sound insulation. This is mainly due to the lack of modern noise-absorbing materials in it. Due to an insufficiently thought-out interior ventilation system in wet weather, the rear, and often the front side windows, constantly fog up.

Engine

The vast majority of cars on the Russian secondary market are equipped with a four-cylinder 2.0-liter 16-valve gasoline engine with 118 or 128 hp. In addition, on cars manufactured before 1999 in Korea, an eight-valve gasoline engine with a displacement of 2.0 liters (95 hp) was installed. There were only two diesel engines - its own two-liter turbocharged unit (83 hp) and a 2.2-liter naturally aspirated engine borrowed from Mazda (63 hp).

Motors installed on American copies of 2000-2002 are designed for more stringent environmental standards and, accordingly, are more picky about fuel quality than options for the Russian market. Therefore, some problems may arise with the power supply system of machines that arrived from the North American market.

On all engines, the engine oil and oil filter are prescribed to be replaced every 12 thousand km. At the same mileage, it is recommended to change the engine air filter (when driving in very dusty conditions, with long periods of idling, or during constant operation in a metropolis, the frequency of this procedure should be reduced to 6-8 thousand km).

Based on the Russian specifics of car operation, service specialists strongly recommend replacing the toothed belt in the timing drive every 60 - 80 thousand km, and not after 100 thousand km, as indicated in the manufacturer's recommendations. Approximately to 100 thousand km of run, the hydraulic clearance compensators in the valve drive begin to tap. This malfunction is treated only by replacing them.

In order to avoid overheating of the engine (this is especially true for gasoline 16-valve engines), it is necessary to flush the radiators of the cooling system and air conditioning once every two years by dismantling the bumper and one of the radiators. In the event of frequent overheating, the coolant pump must be replaced. The replacement of the coolant itself must be carried out every 40 - 50 thousand km.

Spark plugs in gasoline engines regularly serve 50 thousand km, but it is better to reduce this period to 30 thousand km.

On diesel engines, every 60 thousand km, it is necessary to check the glow plugs and, if necessary, install new ones.

Transmission

Either a five-speed manual gearbox or a four-speed automatic was installed on the model. Both types of transmission are durable and sometimes do not require intervention for the entire life of the car.

The Kia Sportage uses an all-wheel drive transmission scheme with a hard-wired front axle. Due to the lack of a center differential, all-wheel drive can only be used in off-road or icy conditions. With high mileage, noise from the chain drive may appear in the transfer case. Most often, it does not progress over time and is considered safe.

The clutch in a transmission with a manual transmission lasts up to 150 thousand km. By the same time, the oil seal in the gear shift drive may also wear out. It is necessary to change the oil in all transmission units, regardless of its design, every 40 thousand km. By the way, it is recommended that the injection of the spline connection of the front driveshaft be carried out at each maintenance.

The clutches installed in the front wheel hubs on the Kia Sportage are of three types: mechanical (to connect the front axle, the driver must turn the clutch flag manually), freewheel (turn on and off automatically due to the difference in the angular speeds of the drive and the wheel) and vacuum (work for pressure change). The latter are considered unreliable - due to leaky seals, their bearings fail after 20 thousand km. At the same time, the seats of the needle bearings of the CV joints also suffer - where the shaft enters the hub. In this case, the assembly changes only as a whole, so it makes sense to replace the vacuum hubs with mechanical ones, which are considered more durable, at the first repair. It is also worth remembering that in order to completely turn off the front axle, transferring the transfer case selector to monodrive mode is not enough to ensure complete opening of the clutches, you need to stop and turn back a couple of meters. It is recommended to turn on the all-wheel drive mode only when the car is in a static state, otherwise the breakdown of the mechanism will be inevitable.

As a matter of fact, the car's cross-country ability is very modest, despite the relatively decent (200 mm) ground clearance and the presence of a lowering row in the transmission, the Sportage confidently overcomes only small hillocks and fords.

On parts of Korean-assembled cars with “automatic machines”, a limited slip differential was installed in the rear axle, into which special oil is poured. Cars with manual transmissions are usually equipped with axles without any blocking.

Chassis

The chassis of the Kia Sportage has a traditional design for most all-wheel drive vehicles. The front suspension is independent spring, the rear is dependent and also spring. The upper arm of the front suspension assembly with a ball joint is almost eternal. The lower one often has to be changed due to the soured axis of the stabilizer strut (the assembly is non-separable). The rack hinge serves about 150 thousand km. But the stabilizer bushings, as well as the rear shock absorbers, are barely enough for 40 thousand kilometers. The remaining parts of the chassis, with proper operation, easily survive the milestone of more than 100 thousand km, and the rear suspension arms - even 200 thousand. With frequent trips on broken roads with serious luggage in the trunk, the rear springs break along extremely thin coils, and the front ones sag. Tie rods are usually to be replaced after 100 thousand km. By the way, you have to be careful off-road: if the front suspension breaks down, the tie rod can simply break off! The steering is equipped with hydraulic booster, and the problem with it often occurs on instances before 1999 of release. The reason is the poor-quality manufacture of the "return" tube of the hydraulic booster, as a result of which the connecting elements between it and the hose break.

Brake system

The model is equipped with front disc and rear drum brakes. When replacing the front pads, it is necessary to clean and lubricate their guides, and at every second maintenance, remove the rear drums and check the operation of the auto-advance mechanism. Typically, the front brake pads wear out after a run of 30 - 40 thousand km. Brake discs require replacement by 60 - 70 thousand km, however, under unfavorable circumstances, they can be warped after 15 - 20 thousand km. On pre-styling cars with a run of 100 - 150 thousand km, a leak of the rear brake hoses could appear. In 1999, the assembly was upgraded and the defect disappeared. The fluid in the brake system must be replaced every 40 thousand km.

On some cars of the first years of production, a separate rotation sensor was installed in the rear axle gearbox, connected to the electronic control unit for the brake system. When the rear wheels were locked, the electronics relieved pressure in the rear circuit of the brake system - a cross between the ABS system and a mechanical pressure regulator (popularly referred to as a "sorcerer"). Later, the car got two additional sensors on the front wheels. Both options work smoothly and accurately, despite their age, but the sensor connector on the gearbox can be broken off the road, since nothing protects it.

electrical equipment

The electrics of the car are quite reliable, but it is better to keep the floor dry - under the feet of the front passenger is the engine control unit. On some modifications, due to the ingress of moisture under the trim of the front driver's door, a short circuit of the power window control unit occurred. Interior lighting and a regular immobilizer can refuse dampness. In order to restore the operability of electrical equipment for a short time, sometimes it is enough just to dry the interior. However, this does not help for long - most often the wet block still fails. High-voltage wires are subject to replacement at the onset of a run of 100 thousand km. With a high mileage, the contacts of the battery wires are oxidized, which leads to an increase in resistance and a voltage drop in the circuit. As a result, the terminals need to be replaced.

Finally, we can say that in the secondary market, the first generation Kia Sportage has a clear advantage over its competitors - this is the price!

Main technical characteristics of Kia Sportage

Modifications	Kia Sportage 5-door					Kia Sportage Grand
GEOMETRIC PARAMETERS
Length x width x height, mm	4314 x 1764 x 1650					4435 x 1765 x 1695
Wheel base, mm	2650					2650
Track front / rear, mm	1440/1400					1440/1440
Ground clearance, mm	216					200
Turning diameter, m	11,2					11,2
Entry angle	n.a.					n.a.
exit angle	n.a.					n.a.
ramp angle	n.a.					n.a.
Standard tires	205/70 R15					205/70 R15
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Modification	2.0i 8V	2.0i 16V	2.0i 16V	2.0TD	2.2D	2.0i 16V	2.0i 16V	2.0TD
Engine volume, cm 3	1996	1996	1996	1998	2184	1996	1996	1998
Power, kW (hp) at rpm	70 (95) at 5000	87 (118) at 5300	94 (128) at 5300	61 (83) at 4000	46 (63) at 4050	87 (118) at 5300	94 (128) at 5300	61 (83) at 4000
Torque, Nm at rpm	157 at 2500	166 at 4500	175 at 4700	195 at 2000	127 at 2500	166 at 4500	175 at 4700	195 at 2000
Transmission	5 MCP	5 MCP	5 manual gearboxes (4 automatic gearboxes)	5 MCP	5 MCP	5 MCP	5 MCP	5 MCP
Maximum speed, km/h	160	172	172 (163)	145	130	172	172	145
Acceleration time, s	18,8	14,7	14,7 (15,0)	19,4	20,5	14,7	n.a.	n.a.
Fuel consumption city/highway, l/100 km	16,2/10,2	14,6/9,0	13,6 (14,7)/8,3 (8,9)	11,6/7,7	12,0/9,0	11,5/7,7	14,6/9,0	12,2/7,9
Curb weight, kg	1420	1440	1440(1485)	1470	1465	1505	1505	1540
Gross weight, kg	1930	1930	1930	1930	1930	2060	2060	2090
Fuel/tank capacity, l	AI-95/66	AI-95/60	AI-95/60	D/53	D/60	AI-95/65	AI-95/65	D/65

Approximate prices for spare parts*, rub.

SPARE PARTS	ORIGINAL	NON-ORIGINAL
Front wing	4200	2300
Front bumper	5400	4200
Farah	3750	2800
Windshield	4750	3100
timing belt	1130	510
Ignition coil	640	500
Spark plug	100	70
fuel injector	3100	2300
Wheel hubs (mechanical)	8000	3000
Tie rod end	1400	900
Front shock absorber	3500	3500
Front stabilizer	1400	700
stabilizer bushing	80	50
Brake pads front	1150	730
Brake pads rear	1730	830
Brake discs front	4100	1600
Brake drums rear	4850	3200

* For modification of Kia Sportage 2.0i 5MKP