What changed? · Kia Sportage

SL → QL

Kia Sportage (SL) (2010–2015) compared with its successor, the Kia Sportage (QL) (2015–2021).

Kia Sportage (SL), pre- or post-facelift not identified · front three-quarter Photo: M 93 · CC BY-SA 3.0 de · Wikimedia Commons · licence

Kia Sportage (QL), pre- or post-facelift not identified · front three-quarter Photo: Elise240SX · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · licence

Changes stated by the sources

Design Kia said the styling's sharp edges and smooth surfaces were inspired by fighter jets.^[1]
Design A larger-looking body with a bolder grille.^[2]
Powertrain A 1.6 T-GDi turbo-petrol with an optional seven-speed dual-clutch automatic was offered.^[1]

Size

Not compared: the sources give no figures for the same stated market and standard body, so differences are not calculated. The figures are listed separately in the table below.

From the documented specifications

Powertrain Powertrain types in the sourced lists: petrol and diesel (SL); petrol, diesel and mild hybrid (QL). A type missing from a list is not documented here — that does not show it was dropped or new.

Derived by comparing the sourced lists on the two generation pages; a type missing from a list may also mean it is not documented here yet.

Side by side

Item	Kia Sportage (SL) Third generation	Kia Sportage (QL) Fourth generation
Production	2010–2015^[1]	2015–2021^[1]
First shown	Not documented here	September 2015^[1]
Model years	2011–2016 (unstated)^[1]	2017–(end not documented) (NA)^[1] 2017–2022 (unstated)^[1]
Codes	SL^[1]	QL^[1]
Platform	Not documented here	Not documented here
Body styles	5-door SUV^[1]	5-door SUV^[1]
Seating	Not documented here	Not documented here
Drivetrain	FWD^[3], AWD^[3]	FWD^[1], AWD^[1]
Powertrain types documented	Petrol, Diesel	Petrol, Diesel, Mild hybrid
Dimensions — shown separately, not compared
Figures as published	market not stated, Kia figures: width 1,855 mm (73.0 in), height 1,635 mm (64.4 in)^[3] market not stated: width 1,855 mm (73.0 in), wheelbase 2,640 mm (103.9 in)^[1]	market not stated: length 4,480 mm (176.4 in), width 1,855 mm (73.0 in), wheelbase 2,670 mm (105.1 in)^[1] China, Kia KX5: length 4,550 mm (179.1 in), height 1,655 mm (65.2 in)^[1] Europe, Kia Austria, as the predecessor in the 2021 Sportage press kit: length 4,485 mm (176.6 in), width 1,855 mm (73.0 in), height 1,645 mm (64.8 in), wheelbase 2,670 mm (105.1 in)^[4]
Why not compared	These generations have no figures for the same stated market and standard body (a market that is not stated cannot be matched), so no differences are calculated.
Luggage capacity	Not documented here	503 L behind 2nd row, Europe, not stated^[4]
Highest output documented	184 hp (137 kW) 2.0 R diesel (184 hp), market not stated^[1]	240 hp (179 kW) 2.0 turbo (North America), North America^[1]

Differences in brackets are against the column to the left. Dimensions are compared only for the same market and the standard body; luggage figures are shown with their market and measuring method because they are often not comparable.

Add a third generation to this comparison

Sources

Kia Sportage — Wikipedia Reference work (read 9 October 2026)
Shaping the Sportage | The Evolution of an Urban SUV — Kia Corporation Manufacturer (read 9 October 2026)
Sportage R | Urban SUV with Kia's Family Look, 2010 | Kia Heritage Archive — Kia Corporation Manufacturer (read 9 October 2026)
Pressemappe Kia Sportage — Kia Austria press Manufacturer (read 9 October 2026)

Wikipedia sources link to the exact revision that was read. Specifications differ between markets, years and versions; each figure is shown with the market and version its source states.