Faults:

Ignition immobiliser failed at about 42000 km.

General Comments:

Plenty of power, never feels laboured, but not a sprinter.

Versatile - big enough to carry a reasonable load - with good folding seats etc, but small enough to be a city car and park easily.

Tows my boat and climbs up snowy mountain roads.

Faults:

Engine would turn over, but not start. After much research and frustration, this was traced to the fuel relay and ECI relay in the engine bay. Rather than replacing them, it was easier to carry a piece of 600grit wet+dry sand paper and clean the contact points on the relay. Then it would start straight away.

Front brake rotors became warped easily, only lasted about 5000km when replaced, got so bad the whole car shuddered, so had to replace again, just before selling.

Metal on metal banging noise on every bump you travel over, seems there was no rubber on a part of the front stabilizer bar, just got used to it.

Automatic locking front hubs would not work if the flimsy rubber vacuum hoses had any holes in them or had cracked, replaced them a few times.

General Comments:

Overall, it was an OK car with a few annoying things.

It could get going pretty quickly if the revs were kept up high from gear to gear.

The cabin was comfortable, and the rear seat folded down and forward, giving heaps of room in the back, nearly enough to lie down in.

Fuel economy was around 11.5 liters per 100 kilometres, but I didn't drive it gently.

Faults:

Electric window switches were replaced on the drivers and passenger door... Now faulty again... Cannot wind the passenger door down from the drivers door and intermittently won't go up.

Clutch burning smell for 18 months, dealer couldn't find a fault. Clutch went, was replaced and had ran out of warranty.

Noisy diff, bad bearings??? etc replaced 12 months ago. Same noise starting to come back... Advised may need complete diff assembly replacing, which will be expensive as diff needs to come from Korea.

Rear tailgate door lock rattles and doesn't close properly after the dealer decided to adjust, was working fine before hand.

Rear cab light blows glove as soon as replaced.

Brake transmission lines replaced as leaked fluid when vehicle was purchased in 2004. 2005 fan and fan assembly was replaced as had a crack in it.

Squeaky front drivers door, which has been adjusted oiled etc won't go away.

Radio/CD player has been replaced under warranty had very faded display and shuts off requiring reset and code to be re-entered. Replacement often shuts off, and requires reset and code to be entered also.

Front brakes recently replaced, rear ones also getting due for replacement too.

4x4 sometimes sticks when going back to 2x4, generally just reversing then going forward again disengages hubs.

General Comments:

For a small 4x4 it travels okay and has reasonable power.

For 4x4 side of things pretty average. Not much good in the sand, compared to other 4x4's I have owned.

For mechanical side, pretty poor with things that have gone wrong for a reasonably new car that has done less than 100 000 kms.

Have towed a small camper trailer approx 2000kms round trip, the vehicle handled and pulled it reasonable well, which was surprising. Was on a main highway.

I don't think I would buy another as I haven't been overly happy with this one. Really think the dealer should have repaired faults whilst the vehicle was under warranty, now out of warranty I am left to foot the bill.

Faults:

Battery failed when 2 days old, new battery required, batteries are not covered by warranty.

Rear differential, total failure at 3500k's, new diff required, fixed under warranty, but off the road for about 5 weeks.

Transfer case, total failure at 36000k's, complete rebuild required, cost me a fortune.

Oxygen sensor failed at 40000k's, more expense.

Rear diff failed again at about 45000k's, another big repair bill.

Fuel tank always leaked when full, never did figure out why, I just hoped it would catch fire.

The idle valve constantly needed servicing every 3000k's, otherwise the engine would rev its brains out if it wasn't kept clean.

General Comments:

First new car I'd ever bought, but absolutely the worst thing I ever owned and I've had over 50 vehicles to date. Some of then were dogs, but even the worst of them was still heaps better than the Sportage, I'd rank it worse than a Lada Niva.

In the first 3 years (the warranty period) it did about 30000k's and only the rear diff failed, but after this the real fun started.

Over the next couple of years I spent so much on repairing the thing that it made my local mechanic wealthy.

My experience with Kia was so bad it has soured me from all Korean vehicles; forever and ever.