Kia Sportage JE (2004–2010)

From ladder-frame off-roader to Tucson-based crossover

The JE has almost nothing in common with the first Sportage. The original JA was a body-on-frame vehicle with selectable four-wheel drive and a low-range transfer box. Its successor uses a steel monocoque, independent suspension on both axles and an automatically engaged all-wheel-drive system, and front-wheel-drive versions were sold for the first time.

The change followed Hyundai's takeover of Kia in 1998. Instead of a Kia-only design, the new Sportage shared its floorpan, engines and many components with the Hyundai Tucson, itself derived from the Elantra saloon. Critics noted that it was considerably larger than the original but had given up most of its off-road ability.

The styling has drop-shaped headlights, a twin-bar grille and roof rails. How the JE sits between the JA and the SL is shown in the overview of every Kia Sportage generation.

Monocoque, multi-plate clutch and the V6 option

Front suspension uses MacPherson struts; at the rear, Italian sources describe a double-wishbone layout that replaced the rigid axle of the JA. Brakes, power steering and the main mechanical parts are common with the Tucson.

The all-wheel-drive system is permanent in the sense that it needs no driver input. An electronically controlled multi-plate clutch, supplied by BorgWarner according to Italian Wikipedia, normally drives the front wheels and can send up to half of the torque to the rear axle when grip is good. The V6 came only with all-wheel drive and a four-speed automatic; the 2.0 petrol and diesel could be ordered with either drive layout.

Kia's Italian importer also sold a factory LPG version of the 2.0 petrol, called EcoSuv, rated at 141 PS on petrol and 137 PS on gas.

JE engines and gearboxes

The table gives European outputs in kW first, with the PS figure quoted by Kia and German sources. Torque values come from published spec data.

One English-language source quotes the V6 at 127 kW (173 PS) instead of 175 PS. The first diesel had no particulate filter; the 140 PS version gained a variable-geometry turbocharger, a standard filter and a new six-speed manual gearbox.

Published figures put the V6 at about 10.5 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h and 180 km/h (112 mph), with 10.0 L/100 km (28.2 mpg UK) on the NEDC combined cycle. The front-drive 2.0 CRDi with 140 PS is quoted at 11.1 seconds, about 178 km/h (111 mph) and 7.0 L/100 km (40.4 mpg UK), which made it the sensible choice for most European buyers.

JE dimensions and weights

The table shows a European five-door from the first production years. Spec databases round the figures slightly differently between versions.

German Wikipedia reports that the 2007 update raised the braked towing limit by 12.5% to 1,800 kg.

Two facelifts and Slovak production

The first update arrived in 2007. Italian-market cars from August that year received revised front lights, the option of body-coloured bumpers, new alloy wheels, firmer suspension and an MP3-capable stereo. German sources also mention a wider chrome strip above the number plate from the turn of 2006 and 2007.

The second, more visible facelift was shown at the London Motor Show in summer 2008 and reached German dealers in September 2008 for the 2009 model year. It brought angular headlights, a grille in the style of the Kia Cee'd, trapezoidal air intakes, round fog lights, chrome exhaust tips and AUX and USB inputs. In Germany the trim names changed at the same time, with LX becoming Cup and EX becoming Champ.

European production moved to Kia's new plant in Slovakia in 2007. German Wikipedia gives June 2007, Italian Wikipedia October 2007 and English Wikipedia 2006, so the exact start is uncertain. The car was also built in South Korea and China, where a locally facelifted version stayed in production long after 2010.

Sales tables in English Wikipedia show European registrations peaking at 38,631 in 2005, the first full year, and settling at roughly 22,000 to 32,000 a year afterwards. The United States took its highest total, 49,393, in 2007.

JE crash tests: IIHS, no Euro NCAP

We found no Euro NCAP result for the JE, so no European star rating should be attributed to it. The rating of the later SL belongs to that car only.

The IIHS in the United States applies the following results to 2005–2010 Sportage models:

Italian-market cars listed ABS, front, side and curtain airbags, stability control and traction control as standard.

What to know before buying a JE

Hard reliability data for this generation are scarce in Europe. English Wikipedia notes that Consumer Reports named the Sportage among the most reliable vehicles in its 2009 survey, but that is a US result. Kia's 7-year warranty was introduced during this generation's run, so every surviving car is now well outside it.

Practical points for a car of this age:

• Diesel choice: the 140 PS and 150 PS versions have a particulate filter and six-speed gearbox; the original 113 PS diesel has neither.
• V6: smooth but thirsty, and tied to the four-speed automatic.
• Front-wheel drive: fine for buyers who do not tow or drive on snow.
• Recalls: run the VIN through a recall database such as the KBA in Germany or the NHTSA in the US.

Rivals at the time included the Suzuki Grand Vitara and, from 2007, the Nissan Qashqai, which offered more modern packaging but no V6. Diesel versions sit alongside other diesel SUVs in our catalogue.