Kia Sportage review: the compact SUV that finally looks the part
MotorsSouq Editorial Team
The Sportage is the compact SUV to cross-shop against the RAV4 and Tucson rather than settle for as the cheaper option. The 2.0-litre entry grade is honestly a little breathless for a family of four with luggage in July heat; stretch to the 2.5 if the budget allows it. Either way, the warranty and the cabin quality make the case Kia has been trying to make in this segment for a decade.
Pros
- Cabin quality and design are a genuine step above the previous Sportage
- Softer ride tuning than the Tucson suits Bahrain's patched roads
- Five-year, typically unlimited-kilometre warranty
- Physical climate controls retained alongside the touchscreen
Cons
- 2.0-litre entry engine feels breathless with a full load in summer heat
- Smaller dealer network than Toyota or Nissan
- Resale trails the RAV4
- All-wheel drive is a paid option, not standard
Kia redesigned the Sportage's cabin more than its mechanicals for the NQ5 generation, and it shows the moment you sit inside. The dual-curved display, physical climate controls that survive the switch to touch-only rivals, and materials a class above what the previous Sportage used are the reason to walk into a Kia showroom rather than a Toyota one.
Driving it in Bahrain
The 2.0-litre entry engine is the one most Bahrain buyers will end up with, and it is adequate rather than eager — acceptable merging onto the Sheikh Isa causeway approach, noticeably less so overtaking with the air conditioning working hard against a 45 °C afternoon. The 2.5-litre available on higher grades removes that hesitation and is worth the step up if the budget allows it.
Ride quality is the pleasant surprise: Kia has tuned the suspension softer than the sharper-riding Tucson it shares a platform lineage with, which suits Bahrain's patched secondary roads better than a firmer setup would.
Ownership realities
Kia's dealer network in Bahrain is smaller than Toyota's or Nissan's, though service quality at the main distributor is solid and the five-year warranty removes most of the anxiety a first-time SUV buyer would otherwise have. Resale sits behind the RAV4 but ahead of most other non-Japanese rivals, which is a fair trade for a genuinely nicer cabin at a similar price point.