Kia Sportage extended warranty: cost, coverage and plans
Why an extended warranty could make sense
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The Kia Sportage is known to have average reliability, meaning an extended warranty might be worthwhile for long-term ownership or high-mileage driving.
We’ll break down what a Kia Sportage warranty covers, how much it costs, what your options are and whether a warranty is worth it in the long run.
All new Kia Sportages come with a five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a ten-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty from the factory.
Jump to insightQuotes we received for an extended auto warranty on a 2021 Sportage ranged from $1,227.96 to $2,223.17 a year. That’s more expensive than the average cost of an extended warranty.
Jump to insightKia has average reliability compared with other vehicles.
Jump to insightGetting an extended warranty on a Sportage gives you peace of mind and protection against repair bills once the factory warranty expires.
Jump to insightKia Sportage extended warranty coverage
An extended auto warranty is an optional, paid extension of the factory warranty your Sportage comes with. For context, a new Kia Sportage comes with the following warranties from the factory:
- A five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty
- A ten-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty
Factory warranties follow the vehicle, not the owner. So if you buy a 4-year-old SUV with 20,000 miles on it, you still have one year or 40,000 miles worth of factory bumper-to-bumper warranty remaining.
For an extended warranty on your Kia Sportage, you have two options:
- Buy the official Kia extended warranty, called Kia Distinction VSC.
- Buy a plan from a third-party extended warranty company, which allows you to take your vehicle to any ASE-certified mechanic for repairs.
Only 41% of Americans have enough in savings to pay for a $1,000 car repair out of pocket, and 13% say they have no way to handle a bill that large — even by borrowing.
In either case, you’ll generally get the most value by purchasing whichever plan offers comprehensive, exclusionary protection (often called bumper-to-bumper or Platinum). These plans cover 90% or more of the parts on your vehicle. Less comprehensive Gold, Silver and powertrain plans may be cheaper, but they tend to cover fewer parts per dollar.
Auto warranties don't cover damage or accidents, and repairs generally aren't covered if you don't properly maintain the vehicle or you make aftermarket modifications. They only pay for repairs and replacements of specifically covered parts that fail from normal wear and tear.
In general, here are the differences between what a bumper-to-bumper warranty and a powertrain warranty cover:
| Warranty type | Typical coverage | Not covered |
|---|---|---|
| Bumper-to-bumper | ||
| Powertrain | Parts that create power and deliver it to the wheels | Parts not related to the engine, transmission or drive axle |
Note that some extended auto warranty plans fall somewhere between bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage.
» LEARN: What to know about manufacturers’ extended warranties
How much does a Kia Sportage extended warranty cost?
We were quoted $2,223.17 a year from olive for three years of bumper-to-bumper coverage for a 2021 Kia Sportage registered in Austin, Texas, with 65,000 miles. From Endurance, the quote for similar coverage was $1,227.96 annually for 30 months of coverage for the same vehicle with the same mileage. Both quotes assumed a $100 deductible. Note that both of these are third-party extended auto warranty companies.
The “official” Kia extended warranty is called Kia Distinction VSC, and it may cost less than a third-party option. Be sure to get a quote from your local Kia dealer to compare your options.
In general, quotes for extended auto warranties vary based on coverage, vehicle, deductible, location and other factors. A 2022 Sportage with zero miles typically has cheaper extended warranty options than a 2020 model with 50,000 miles, for example.
Shop around and get quotes from multiple warranty companies so you know you're getting the best deal for your Sportage.
For context, the average cost of an extended warranty is around $1,000 per year of coverage. The quotes we collected for our hypothetical 2021 Kia Sportage were more expensive by comparison.
Our quotes were for a base model vehicle, but a more expensive trim can raise the price of your plan. For a lower price, you can opt for a powertrain plan or one that covers less than a bumper-to-bumper warranty. Just be aware that coverage limits can lead to a frustrating situation in which you're left paying out of pocket for repairs.
Extended auto warranty providers may use varying language to describe plans. For example, Endurance provides 30 months and 40,000 miles of coverage with its plans — this is as of your vehicle's current age and mileage. Other providers may use the vehicle's original purchase date as the starting point for calculating coverage, so you'll have to subtract the age and mileage of your car (plus any remaining factory warranty) to determine the length of the coverage you're actually getting.
Is a Kia Sportage extended warranty worth it?
Yes, a Kia Sportage extended warranty is worth it. In general, an extended auto warranty is worth it if any of the following are true:
- Your vehicle has a bad reputation for reliability.
- The warranty costs less than you expect to spend on repairs.
- A big repair bill could hurt you financially.
- You don’t mind paying for peace of mind.
Kia as a brand has average reliability, with J.D. Power ranking Kia 8th out of 29 car brands for overall dependability. As for the Sportage specifically, RepairPal gave it a 4.0 out of 5.
Many ConsumerAffairs reviewers reported issues with their Kia Sportages.
“My 2015 Kia Sportage ex only had 46000 miles on it when the engine catastrophically failed,” said Mary in Montana. “Kia corporate wouldn't honor the powertrain 100,000 warranty.”
My 2015 Kia Sportage ex only had 46,000 miles on it when the engine catastrophically failed.”
—MARY, A CONSUMERAFFAIRS REVIEWER FROM MONTANA
Chantel in Alberta reported a few issues: “Oil consumption issue. I have a 2018 kia sportage- only 117 000 kms. … They said it had to be very 5k km.... I haven't never heard of there to be an exact number for oil changes. I still went more than 4 times a year. Another issue! Is a misfire. Just spent $3700 in repairs for a brand new valve!!”
“I purchased a 2017 Kia Sportage which began to give me engine issues 2 years ago,” said Amanda, a reviewer from Kentucky. “I am out tons of money in repair bills, tons of time in phone calls, missed work and a lot of stress.”
While Kia maintenance isn’t too expensive, Kia has historically been seen as a budget brand with frequent early-life costly repairs. While the brand has made strides, an extended warranty remains advisable due to its history and the potential for expensive repairs, making it a worthwhile investment for buyers.
Article sources
ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this article include:
- J.D. Power, “Vehicle Dependability Slumps as Rate of Deterioration Increases, J.D. Power Finds.” Accessed Aug. 14, 2024.
- RepairPal, “Kia Sportage Reliability Rating.” Accessed Aug. 14, 2024.
