The towball won't be affected by the rear parking sensors on any vehicle fitted with a fixed flange towbar. However, what will be detected by the parking sensors is the towing socket if it's fitted in the wrong place so needs to be adressed by the towbar fitter on installation.
If you do a search on UKCS for previous threads on this topic you will find that it has been covered previously with answers identical to my post above although they may not be specific to the KIA Sportage. I just thought it was worth mentioning due to there being no further posts on this thread. However, if you put your question to a professional towbar fitter rather than a dealer (who knows very little about towing) you should get the confirmation you require before having a towbar installed.
Quote: Originally posted by Paul B on 06/11/2017
Has anyone any experience of a mk 4 Sportage with a fixed towbar? Any issues with it upsetting the reversing sensors?
Thanks
i have a 2017 kx-4 sportage with a fixed swan neck towbar which was fitted by kia and the reverse sensors are unaffected
If it is a fixed flanged towbar you have had fitted they can upset your parking sensors. Most companies advise agains fitting such bar if car has sensors, As neil and iena say a swan neck fixed is fine for cars with sensors.
Most towbar sites will advise this aswell.
This is off Towbar Express website.
KIA SPORTAGE FLANGE TOWBAR
(Sportage (Mk 4))
2016 - Present
Versatile
Can be used with all accessories
Can be used with a bumper guard
Fits with all cycle carriers.
Not recommended if your vehicle has reverse parking sensors
The thing to remember is the sensors only work when in reverse , most vehicles should also have a distance display on the radio screen so you can see how far you have left, if you have a lowball that affects it when in reverse look at the outer edge displays when reversing they will or should keep you right, plus if you want you should also be able to turn the beeping sound off in the radio settings
I have a mark 4 Sportage with a dealer fitted (Kia branded) swan neck towbar. No problems with reversing sensors and the little reversing camera is great when hitching up on my own.