Kia Sportage Battery: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

On the Sportage, leaving a fog light switched on before turning off the ignition genuinely leaves the switch itself drawing power.

Illustration for editorial purposes

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OEM Part Number: Type 096 AGM

Accuracy note: The Sportage (2010 on) is mostly a 278 mm type 096 car — AGM (70Ah / 760A, Varta A7) on the 1.6 GDi, 1.6 T-GDi and the 2022-on mild hybrid, standard (74Ah / 680A, Varta E11) on the Mk4 1.6 CRDi without ISG — but the Mk3 1.7 CRDi was fitted with a 315 mm type 115 AGM (80Ah / 800A, Varta A6) or 110 standard (95Ah / 830A), and the Mk4 2.0 CRDi AWD with a 242 mm 027 AGM (60Ah / 680A) or 110 standard. Mild and full hybrids also carry a separate lithium pack. Check the three-digit type code, Ah and CCA printed on the battery you are removing before ordering — this model was built in more than one size. Stop-start cars must have an EFB or AGM battery, never a standard one.

Mk3 SL (2010–2016), 1.6 GDi	Type 096 AGM (70Ah / 760A, Varta A7); 075-class standard (Varta D47) on non-ISG. Aftermarket: Yuasa YBX9096 AGM (70Ah / 760A); Varta A7; Bosch S5A 080
Mk3 SL, 1.7 CRDi	Type 115 AGM (80Ah / 800A, Varta A6) or 110 standard (95Ah / 830A, Varta G8). Aftermarket: Yuasa YBX9115 AGM (80Ah / 800A); Varta A6 / F21; Bosch S5A 110
Mk4 QL (2016–2022), 1.6 GDi / 1.6 T-GDi	Type 096 AGM (70Ah / 760A, Varta A7). Aftermarket: Yuasa YBX9096 AGM (70Ah / 760A); Varta A7; Bosch S5A 080
Mk4 QL, 1.6 CRDi 115 / 136	Type 096 standard (74Ah / 680A, Varta E11) — AGM 80Ah / 800A (Varta A6, type 115) recommended on ISG cars. Aftermarket: Yuasa YBX7096 EFB (75Ah / 700A) or YBX9096 AGM (70Ah / 760A); Varta N70 EFB / A7 AGM; Bosch S4E 081 / S5A 080
Mk4 QL, 2.0 CRDi AWD	Type 027 AGM (60Ah / 680A, Varta A8) or 110 standard (95Ah / 830A, Varta G7). Aftermarket: Yuasa YBX7027 EFB (65Ah / 600A) or YBX9027 AGM (60Ah / 640A); Varta N60 EFB / A8 AGM; Bosch S4E 051 / S5A 050
Mk5 NQ5 (2022 on), 1.6 T-GDi mild hybrid, Hybrid and PHEV	Type 096 AGM (70Ah / 760A, Varta A7). Aftermarket: Yuasa YBX9096 AGM (70Ah / 760A); Varta A7; Bosch S5A 080

A Genuinely Distinctive, Real Wiring Quirk Worth Knowing — Kia Sportage Battery

This is genuinely worth knowing if your battery keeps going flat after short trips involving fog lights: a documented, real quirk in some Kia wiring means that if you use the front fog light and don't switch it off before turning the ignition off, the light itself goes dark, but the switch continues to draw a small amount of power regardless.

A genuinely specific, real setting worth checking: on some models, leaving the main light switch set to "off" specifically, rather than "Auto," has been confirmed by multiple owners through their dealer as a genuine cause of battery drain while parked.

It's also worth knowing a genuinely useful warranty fact: genuine Kia batteries are covered for 24 months from the date of registration specifically for manufacturing defects.

Kia Sportage Battery: The Part Everyone Blames First, Not Always Correctly

When a Kia Sportage won't start, the battery is the first suspect more often than anything else, and it's right often enough that checking it first is a reasonable move. It isn't always the actual cause though, which is worth knowing before paying for a replacement that solves nothing.

Kia Sportage Battery: Watch: Replacing It

🎬 Watch: Kia Sportage QL (2016–2022) battery replacement

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Filmed on a fourth-generation Sportage.

Before you buy: battery size, capacity and type (standard vs AGM/EFB for stop-start systems) vary by trim and engine. Always confirm against your VIN before ordering.

Kia Sportage Battery: What It Does

Starting the engine and running electrical systems whenever the engine isn't turning — that's the Kia Sportage's 12V battery job. If it has stop-start, it works much harder than older designs, since the engine cuts out and restarts constantly, which is exactly why it needs a specific AGM or EFB battery rather than a standard one.

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Kia Sportage Battery: Warning Signs, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice

These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Battery Guide for warning signs to watch for, confirming fitment against your VIN, and matching the right technology (standard, EFB, AGM) when buying aftermarket.

More Kia Battery

The same part, covered across other Kia models.