Exactly How Safe Is the 2024 Kia Sportage?
More than 140,000 new Kia Sportages were sold in the U.S. in 2023. That explains why every parking lot at any family-oriented locale seems chock-full of Kia emblems. The entry-level price for the compact SUV is an inclusive $27,190. This is slightly cheaper than the Honda CR-V’s $29,500 starting price. But just how safe is the Kia Sportage for those looking for a small but dependable family hauler?
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) releases test rating results for makes and models sold in the U.S. In 2023, the Kia Sportage won its Top Safety Pick.
Overall, the 2024 model year has earned “Good” and “Superior” scores for crashworthiness. However, there were a few areas where the 2024 Sportage fell short of perfect.
Crash avoidance and mitigation
The 2024 Kia Sportage has an “Acceptable” score for its headlights. IIHS tests cited high beam visibility as fair on the right-hand side on a straightaway. Visibility was inadequate on a gradual left curve.
The 2024 model also has an “Advanced” score for vehicle-to-pedestrian (night) front crash prevention, which is a notch down from “Superior.”
Side crash test
The IIHS reported the 2024 Kia Sportage EX side accident test results provided by Kia. The driver and rear passenger torso injury measures were “Acceptable.” Other aspects, like head, neck, and pelvis injury measures, received “Good” scores, granting the overall side crash results a “Good” score.
Child seat anchors
The 2024 Kia Sportage child seat anchors get an “Acceptable” score. The IIHS cited that the rear window seats’ anchors were too deep. Otherwise, all child seat anchors were easy to find and properly use.
Of note, some of the posted 2024 model year safety tests were performed on a 2022 Hyundai Tucson. The IIHS states exactly where its posted ratings for the 2023 and 2024 Sportage model years are based on those test results.
