There are kits to put 302 Fords and 350 Chevys in Mazda Miata's. The Kia runs a Mazda FE3 engine, a little bigger than the Miata. If you can fit a V8 in a Miata you can fit one in a Sportage, someday I might try a 302 in mine.
If you look under your Kia you will find a fully boxed frame with the crossmembers passed through and welded on both sides, very strong. You will find that there is very little after market support for the Sportage, thats what is so great about this site. Most of us build our own parts and the stuff that works out we try to market them. I have been buildeng the strut spacers since 2000 and just passed them on to Everet because I ran out of time. Check out Dave Scott's Kia to see what can be done with enough engineuity. Have fun with your kia and what ever you do to it we love to see pics.

Dennis