Kia Sportage Remote Start: The Full Rundown
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The Kia Sportage is one of the most popular compact SUVs for feature lovers. Designed to come with a wide range of different features and functions at any trim level, this SUV is meant to give consumers a lot of bang for their buck, which is great considering how expensive and competitive the car market is getting to be.
But what about the Kia Sportage remote start? Does this vehicle come with one, and is it effective?
Remote starters are one of the most popular accessories for modern vehicles. Users love that they make it easier to warm up their vehicles in the winter, and even the vehicles themselves can benefit from getting some warmup time before driving.
Fortunately, like most modern vehicles, the Kia Sportage does have a remote starter available, and the most recent releases have compatible remote starters for all four trim levels.
Let’s take a closer look and see how well the remote start works.
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Which Model Years Kia Sportage Have Remote Start?
Right now, if you’re looking for a consistent and effective remote starter for the Kia Sportage, consider the model years from 2017 to 2022.
While remote starters have been available for longer, these models can have an effective remote starter installed without needing to make any modifications to the vehicle. Earlier models might need modifications or a more complicated install to make remote starters effective.
The most modern remote starters (read, the most effective, and reliable) are for the 2020, 2021, and 2022 models. And, like most remote starter systems, they’re pretty much only available for automatic vehicles.
If you’re getting an aftermarket remote start as opposed to one that comes with your Kia Sportage, you’ll need your VIN to verify compatibility. Most aftermarket Kia Sportage remote starters require push-to-start ignition, keyless entry, and an automatic transmission.
Thankfully, most Kia Sportage will meet those requirements without any problems.
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What You Need To Know About Kia Sportage Remote Start
Not all remote starts are made equal, so it’s important to know the details of your specific remote start if you want to get the best results.
That said, we can talk about most Kia Sportage remote starts in general terms, so you can get a good idea of what the options are and know what kind of features to look for when you’re choosing between different options.
There are three important features you should consider when you’re getting a remote start. The range is important because it tells you how far away you can be from the vehicle.
Durability is important because you don’t want to have to replace your Kia Sportage remote start every year.
Lastly, the effectiveness, or consistency, of your remote start is important because it tells you how easily the remote start works or how often it’s likely to fail.
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Range
Kia Sportage remote starts have a reasonable range for most consumers. The older models tend to have a shorter range, between 600-1,200 ft, while new models are typically between 1,000-2,000 ft.
That’s more than far enough for most people to start their Kia Sportage from inside their home. Even detached garages should be within range for a standard single-family home.
However, this isn’t long enough to start a vehicle that’s further away in apartment or condo parking and may mean that you can’t start your vehicle from the office.
The good news is that a 1,000 ft range, roughly middle of the road for all compatible Kia Sportage, will still give your vehicle some time to warm up as you’re walking closer. Even if it’s out of range from your home or office space, you can protect your car by starting it on the walk to get in.
Durability
Durability is one of the most important features of a remote start. After all, they aren’t going to do you much good if the fob breaks the first month you own them.
Thankfully, most remote start manufacturers understand that their fobs are likely to be on a keychain next to traditional car keys, job access cards, and other items. That also means they’re likely to be exposed to the elements, banged around a bit, and otherwise vulnerable to damage.
With that in mind, most fobs are designed to be durable, low energy use, and easy to replace. So, your fob should easily last 1-3 years and should be replaceable with a simple pairing process to connect it to your vehicle’s remote system.
Effectiveness
When it comes to effectiveness, this is one of the biggest differences between older versions of the Kia Sportage remote start and newer models.
New models are almost always going to start your vehicle, assuming you’re within the effective range.
Older models are typically effective, but they do have a slightly higher failure rate and may be impeded by certain building materials (like glass and steel) or other objects between the starter and the vehicle.
So, in short, while both options are fairly effective, overall the newest models will give you more flexibility with where you start your Sportage, making them the more effective option overall.
For reference, the most recent models include anything released from 2020-2022.
Advantages Of Having A Remote Start For Your Vehicle
There are a lot of reasons you might consider getting a remote start for your Kia Sportage. For one thing, hands-free starting can be a big help for just about anyone, whether you’re settling kids into the back or want to start your vehicle while you’re loading groceries.
Starting your vehicle a few minutes before you actually start driving can also be a lot easier on your vehicle, especially in the winter. Starting cold is hard on your engine and doesn’t give the engine oil a chance to heat up and fully lubricate the engine.
That means that using your remote starter consistently, especially in cold or bad weather, is one way to help your vehicle last longer.
Beyond just convenience or durability, remote starts also make it easier to stay organized on the go, make sure the vehicle is comfortable when you get in, and even make it easier on passengers, pets, and anyone else riding in your vehicle.
Plus, since most Kia Sportage remote starts will also automatically shut your vehicle off if you don’t get in within a certain amount of time, you don’t have to worry about burning through too much fuel if you turn it on and accidentally get sidetracked on your way out the door!
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