Used 2021 Kia Sportage for Sale nearDallas, TX

How much does the 2021 Kia Sportage cost?

Prices have softened 7.88% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,788 listings available, which gives you a solid pool of options to compare.

Is the 2021 Kia Sportage a good car?

Yes — the 2021 Kia Sportage earns 4.8/5 from owners and 7.5/10 from our experts. The standout strength is Safety at 9/10.

Owners consistently praise its power, smooth ride, and feature content, and many also call out the AWD capability as a plus for everyday use. The overview also points to a compact crossover that feels well sized for city streets, with a stylish design and easy-to-use technology. On the trade-off side, the expert review notes fairly pedestrian performance, dated technology, and limited cargo space.

With its great warranty and straightforward tech, the Sportage makes the most sense if you want a compact SUV that’s easy to live with rather than especially exciting. The market also shows 32.8% of listings as good or great deals, which suggests there are still worthwhile opportunities if you shop carefully.

Is the 2021 Kia Sportage reliable?

Owners rate it 4.8/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The owner summary points to a vehicle many drivers feel good about keeping, with language centered on reliability, comfort, and a trouble-free everyday experience. The expert review also describes the Sportage as competent enough to stand up against competitors, and the powertrain is presented as a straightforward setup that should be easy to live with over time. Kia’s warranty is another ownership advantage that can help reduce worry during the early years.

For used buyers, the main long-term risk is making sure the specific vehicle has been maintained well, since condition and history matter more than the model’s broad reputation.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 Kia Sportage?

At 68% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and confirm whether any prior damage was repaired properly. A pre-purchase inspection is worth prioritizing, especially if you’re comparing multiple listings with similar prices. Focus on overall condition, signs of wear, and whether the features you want are actually present on the trim you’re considering.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The LX, EX, and SX Turbo each bring different equipment levels, and the base trim already includes a lot of safety content, while the top trim adds more convenience and premium touches.
• Powertrain: The LX and EX use a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder with 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque, while the SX Turbo uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged GDI four-cylinder with 240 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque.
• Safety package: Standard equipment includes forward-collision warning and pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, and a driver-monitoring system; adaptive cruise control is added on the SX Turbo.
• Infotainment: An 8-inch touchscreen is standard, along with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, USB ports, and UVO Link connected services on most trims; SX Turbo trims also add wireless charging and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.
• Fuel efficiency: FWD models with the 2.4-liter engine are rated at 23 mpg city, 30 highway, and 26 combined, while AWD versions are rated at 21/25/23; turbo FWD models are rated at 20/28/23 and turbo AWD models at 19/24/21.

Which 2021 Kia Sportage trim should I buy?

The 2021 Kia Sportage is offered in 3 trim levels: LX, EX, SX Turbo.

Here's the short version:

• LX: This is the value-focused starting point, and it already gives you the core safety and infotainment features that make the Sportage easy to live with.
• EX: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it keeps the same basic powertrain while adding more everyday comfort and convenience without jumping to the pricier turbo model.
• SX Turbo: This is the pick if you want the strongest performance and the most premium equipment, including the upgraded audio system and wireless charging.

The SX Turbo also gets the added adaptive cruise control feature, which is a useful safety-package upgrade over the lower trims.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 Kia Sportage?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop with some leverage if you’re patient.

• Deal availability: 32.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,788 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 7.88% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 68.0% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $15,904, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 Kia Sportage's resale value?

The current average of $15,920 sits slightly below last year's $17,282.

That decline suggests the Sportage has become more affordable for used buyers, but it also means a future seller may face a softer pricing environment than owners saw a year ago. If you buy at today’s lower average, you may have less room for appreciation later unless market conditions improve. Well-kept examples with strong equipment and clean history should still be easier to move than rougher listings.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.8/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 Kia Sportage safe?

The 2021 Kia Sportage earns Top Safety Pick status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and all trim levels do well in crash tests administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

It earns a 9/10 safety score from our experts.

The standard driver-assistance suite includes forward-collision warning and pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, and a driver-monitoring system. Adaptive cruise control is reserved for the SX Turbo, so lower trims miss that feature. The strong safety score and broad standard ADAS list make this one of the Sportage’s biggest strengths.

Should I buy a 2021 Kia Sportage or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 32.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 68% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 7.88% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.8/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2021 Sportage stands out for its easy-to-use technology and strong safety content.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $17,246, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $15,920 average.
• It adds a more up-to-date feel with a broader trim lineup and improved feature content.

The bottom line: Choose the 2021 if you want the lower price and a well-equipped compact SUV with strong safety and owner satisfaction. Consider the 2022 if you’re willing to pay more for a newer-feeling package and additional trim choices.

How does the 2021 Kia Sportage compare to the 2021 Hyundai Tucson?

Expert Pros & Cons (per CarGurus review team)

2021 Kia Sportage:

• Pros: Stylish design, Great warranty, Easy-to-use technology.
• Cons: Fairly pedestrian performance, Outdated technology, Not much cargo space.

2021 Hyundai Tucson:

• Pros: Stylish design, Comfortable, Easy-to-use technology.
• Cons: Sluggish performance, Underwhelming base engine, Noisy.

Our experts score the 2021 Kia Sportage 7.5/10 and the 2021 Hyundai Tucson 7.7/10. The Tucson edges ahead on overall score, but the Sportage counters with a stronger warranty and better performance character in the turbo setup. Both are easy to use and stylish, but the Sportage’s limited cargo space and dated tech are worth weighing against the Tucson’s weaker base engine and noisier demeanor.

Read our full side-by-side expert comparison here.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 3, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.