Once a brand gets a bad reputation, it can be hard to convince people otherwise. That’s what Kia had to overcome as it improved its vehicles over the years. Rolling off production lines since the mid-’90s, the Kia Sportage compact SUV has benefited from the automaker’s improvements over the years. But how good is it? Let’s see how many miles you can expect one to last.

The Kia Sportage has become more reliable over the years

Kia used to be known for its bad vehicles. The first cars it sold in the United States in the 1990s were cheap and poorly built. So the company soon decided to invest billions in research, development, and manufacturing, The Drive reports.

Much has changed, and for more than 10 years, Kia vehicles have been well-made and dependable. The brand even rivals Toyota and Honda in reliability. Kia vehicles are also priced just slightly lower than Toyota, Honda, and sibling manufacturer Hyundai. But despite Kia vehicles’ higher quality, not all consumers are convinced of the brand’s improved reputation.

How long can a Kia Sportage last?

The Sportage, like most current Kia models, can travel more than 200,000 miles if its well-maintained. In fact, the Sportage is among the brand’s most reliable models today. But it wasn’t always that way. The Sportage debuted for the 1995 model year, and it’s the “longest continuously used model name from Kia,” Carfax reports. In its early years, the Sportage, like other Kia vehicles, had issues with quality and assembly. It also experienced some mechanical problems.

Now in its fourth generation, Sportage models from the most recent three generations don’t have the old problems. That means it’s best to skip the first generation, produced from 1995 through 2002. The second generation appeared in 2005. The third generation arrived in 2011, and the fourth generation came out in 2017.

Kia backs up the Sportage’s reliability with its five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and its 10-year/100,000-mile drivetrain warranty. Owners posting on CarGurus attest to high-mileage Sportage SUVs that still perform well. One owner boasts about a 2008 model with 215,000 miles. Another has a 2007 Sportage with 215,232 miles. A third owns a 2006 model with 240,000 miles.

Tips for making your Sportage last as long as possible

If you want your Kia Sportage to last 200,000 miles or more, you’ll need to schedule regular maintenance. Check the owner’s manual to see which services should be performed and when. Also, make sure to follow the oil change schedule to keep the engine in good shape.

And you should change various fluids and parts every 60,000 miles or 60 months. They include fuel filters, coolant, spark plugs, and brake fluid, Wilson Kia suggests. Change the air filter every 30,000 miles. And change the engine oil and oil filter every 6,000 miles or six months. But again, check your owner’s manual to be sure.

You should also take your Sportage to a service technician as soon as possible if you hear unusual noises or notice dents. Those sounds can turn into mechanical issues, and the dents can develop rust. Regular trips to the car wash can also help prevent rust by removing salt.

Your Kia Sportage will also last longer if you drive gently. That means not flooring it or braking hard. If you’re thinking of buying a used Sportage, have it checked out to confirm the previous owner took good care of it.

There’s no longer any concern with buying a new Kia vehicle. The Sportage is one of the brand’s most reliable models, and you can expect one to last for 200,000 miles or more. Owners who give their SUVs lots of love and care can expect it to live a long life.