What changed? · Kia Sportage

NB → JE/KM

Kia Sportage (NB) (1993–2005) compared with its successor, the Kia Sportage (JE/KM) (2004–2010).

Kia Sportage (NB) · front three-quarter Photo: MercurySable99 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · licence

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

Changes stated by the sources

Chassis Moved from a body-on-frame chassis to a unibody crossover platform.^[1]
Chassis Shared its Elantra-based platform with the first-generation Hyundai Tucson.^[1]
Design The boxy body gave way to rounded edges and smoother surfaces.^[2]
Powertrain A 173 PS V6 engine was available.^[1]

Size

Length 4,245 → 4,350 mm (+105 mm).

market not stated figures (neither source states the market): 5-door^[1] against as published^[1].

Side by side

Item	Kia Sportage (NB) First generation	Kia Sportage (JE/KM) Second generation
Production	1993–2005^[1]	2004–2010^[1]
First shown	October 1991^[3]	Not documented here
Model years	1995–2002 (NA)^[1]	2005–2010 (unstated)^[1]
Codes	NB^[1]	JE/KM^[1]
Platform	Mazda Bongo-based, body-on-frame^[1]	Unibody J platform, shared with the first-generation Hyundai Tucson (Elantra-based)^[1]
Body styles	5-door SUV^[1] 3-door soft-top convertible^[1] Extended-length wagon (Sportage Grand / Grand Wagon), 305 mm longer body on the same wheelbase^[1]	5-door SUV^[1]
Seating	Not documented here	Not documented here
Drivetrain	RWD^[1], AWD^[1]	FWD^[1], AWD^[1]
Powertrain types documented	Petrol, Diesel	Petrol, Diesel
Dimensions — market not stated (the sources do not state the market for any of these figures)
Version compared	5-door^[1]	as published^[1]
Length	4,245 mm	4,350 mm (+105 mm)
Luggage capacity	1,570 L behind unstated, market not stated, not stated, standard 5-door^[1] 2,220 L behind unstated, market not stated, not stated, Grand Wagon (extended)^[1]	Not documented here
Highest output documented	130 hp (97 kW) 2.0 FE DOHC (North America), North America^[1]	173 PS (127 kW) 2.7 V6 (G6BA), market not stated^[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)
A Renaissance Forged by Challenge and Grit | Kia Heritage Archive — Kia Corporation 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.