Most 2024 Sportage diesels use Kia’s modern CRDi diesel engines (commonly the 1.6 CRDi) with a 6‑speed manual; those engines are efficient on long runs but have DPF and EGR systems that prefer regular longer drives. Kia’s long warranty can still cover a 2‑year old example if it was dealer‑registered and maintained, so check remaining warranty and authorised-dealer work if you can. Manual cars mean clutch wear is the main drivetrain wear item — cheaper to maintain than many automatic units but worth checking.

• DPF/EGR behaviour — look for repeated regen events, warning lights or heavy soot in the tailpipe, especially if the car was used for short urban trips
• Clutch bite and freeplay — test for slipping or a high bite point under load and listen for judder during take-off
• Turbo and oil consumption — listen for whining/lag and check for smoke on start-up or under load indicating oil leaks into the intake
• Any AdBlue fault/warning history (if fitted) and evidence of resolved faults — SCR dosing issues can show as dashboard warnings
• Suspension bushes and underbody condition around the wheelarches and subframe if the car shows signs of light off-road or tow use