Kia Sportage Review 2025

It’s a measure of success that for a brand and model name once seen as something of a left-field choice has become so popular that you can’t make a journey without crossing paths with one of these capable family SUVs. Fresh from receiving a bold facelift, read our full Kia Sportage review to find out if it now possesses levels of desirability that go beyond its more practical qualities.

It was the Kia Sportage of two generations ago that turned the tide by upping style and quality without sacrificing its good value, a trend that’s continued with its successors. 

Introduced in 2022, this iteration of the Kia Sportage has now benefitted from a facelift which has centred on visual changes. The boomerang-shaped daytime-running lights have been replaced with what Kia calls Star Map lighting and the imposing front grille is even more in your face.

On the inside there’s a new two-spoke steering wheel, hidden air vents and new seat fabrics. It remains a bold design — whether it’s to your taste is another matter — but its looks haven’t prevented the Sportage from becoming Kia’s best-selling car.

Of greater interest to most buyers is the space on offer inside the Kia Sportage. You should have no issues fitting in five adults, even on models fitted with the panoramic sunroof, while the boot is larger than many key rivals, with a fair degree of flexibility with the rear seats too. It’s worth bearing in mind that Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid versions have slightly reduced load capacities thanks to their high-voltage batteries, but that’s a common occurrence across other SUVs of this size.

The mix of available engines is also likely to be a big plus point for buyers. The range starts with the 1.6 T-GDi turbocharged petrol engine with 149PS — which is no longer a mild hybrid — and a choice of six-speed manual and seven-speed dual clutch automatic gearboxes. 

Next up is the Kia Sportage Hybrid, which uses the same 1.6-litre T-GDi engine but adds an electric motor to give 238PS, linked to a six-speed automatic. A facelifted version of the Sportage Plug-in Hybrid is due imminently but Kia is yet to confirm its technical details.

Kia has also given the trim level hierarchy a minor refresh, which now kicks off with the Pure specification. With the petrol engine and a manual gearbox it starts at a shade under £31,000, which undercuts several key rivals as well as coming with good equipment levels. Features such as LED headlights, electric lumbar adjustment, a well-specified infotainment system and safety features are all standard.

Talking of rivals, the Kia Sportage has several — not least the Hyundai Tucson which is essentially the same car underneath its bodywork. Other alternatives include the sharp-suited Honda CR-V and the ever-popular Nissan Qashqai.

Broadening the scope even wider the Jaecoo 7 has chalked-up a high number of sales over a very short period of time and represents the cheaper end of the pricing scale that Kia used to occupy.

The Kia Sportage driving experience is more than satisfactory, sensibly focusing on comfort rather than pin-sharp handling. Even the non-hybrid versions have enough get up and go, although the 0-62mph headline figure of 9.4 seconds isn’t much to get excited about. 

It’s also a very comfortable car, only beaten in this respect by the Volvo XC40. Although it’s no entertainer it has enough grip and accurate steering to ensure taking the scenic route home is no chore.

The updated Kia Sportage hasn’t changed its recipe a great deal and that’s no bad thing. It does everything you could reasonably expect from a family SUV and won’t break the bank in the process.

The Kia Sportage’s 2025 facelift hasn’t included any tweaks to the suspension, so the driving experience is the same as before. That means an acceptable balance between comfort and any hint of sportiness which will suit most buyers. 

What it also means is that it isn’t so good as to be the best family SUV to drive in any particular area — the Volvo XC40 is more comfortable, while alternatives such as the Mazda CX-5 are more fun, relatively speaking.

Even so, the ride quality is sufficient good that only the very worst potholes and road imperfections will catch it out, although this is somewhat specification-dependent. Pure models ride on 17-inch wheels which give the most comfort, while GT-Line S time gets 19-inchers which can’t smother bumps as easily.

The steering is light, which is good at lower speeds, but does mean there’s not a great deal of feel at higher speeds or on twisty roads. Body-roll is kept in reasonable check and there’s more grip than you could reasonably need, there’s just not much fun to be had.

The Kia Sportage engine range is almost identical to the pre-facelift version, with a suite of 1.6-litre T-GDi petrol engines working either alone, as part of a self-charging hybrid set-up or with a plug-in hybrid arrangement. 

The cheapest option is the 1.6-litre T-GDi with a choice of a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, offering 149PS (marketed by Kia as 147bhp) and 250Nm of torque. There’s no 0-62mph time quoted so far but in this guise the Sportage has a 121mph top speed.

In pre-facelifted Kia Sportages this engine could be had without any electrical assistance or as mild hybrid — this latter option has been discontinued. Regardless, this engine doesn’t feel like a cheap makeweight — it’s punchy enough and works well with either gearbox option, although the automatic is inevitably less effort in traffic.

Next up is the Hybrid, which uses the same 1.6-litre TGD-i petrol unit together with an 87PS electric motor connected to a 1.49kWh battery for a total output of 238PS (235bhp in Kia’s publicity material) and 280Nm. That’s a small increase over the previous version and is enough to get it from 0-62mph in a sprightly 8.1 seconds, with an unchanged top speed from the non-hybrid models. 

It’s mated to a conventional six-speed automatic rather than a CVT or dual-clutch transmission, which is a plus in one sense, yet when pushed for acceleration the Sportage Hybrid is surprisingly vocal. 

If you want all-wheel drive (AWD) then the Hybrid is currently your only engine choice and then solely in conjunction with range-topping GT-Line S trim.

Kia will introduce a facelifted version of the Sportage Plug-in Hybrid at a later date. While its credentials are yet to be confirmed, it shouldn’t deviate too far from its predecessor’s 1.6-litre TGD-i, electric motor and 13.8kWh battery combination.

Euro NCAP tested the pre-facelift Kia Sportage in 2022 and awarded it the full five-star rating. It achieved impressive scores for adult occupant and child occupant protection at 87% and 86% respectively and 72% for safety assist, although its pedestrian mitigation score of 66% was less impressive.

Don’t be surprised if the updated model is re-tested to reflect any changes in its specification. Although the Kia Sportage’s core structure remains essentially as before, a more stringent method of testing has since been employed which might mean some of the scores fall.

When hauling an unbraked trailer the Kia Sportage can tow a maximum capacity of 750kg. Using a trailer with brakes the maximum capacities increase to 1650kg for the 1.6 TGD-i and 1510kg for the Hybrid. 

Figures for the facelifted Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid are to be confirmed.

Up front the available space in the Kia Sportage is competitive with other SUVs of a similar size. There’s plenty of seat adjustment, generous head- and legroom and a decent amount of elbow room, even with a centre console that is higher than many of its rivals.

In the rear it’s a similar story, although headroom is a little behind the most generous alternatives, particularly if you specify a trim with the panoramic sunroof. Taller adults may find headroom’s a little lacking, partially due to the relatively high seating position, but for those of average height or children it’s more than sufficient.

Boot space in the Kia Sportage is also competitive — the petrol version offers 591 litres behind the second row and only slightly less for the Hybrid model at 587 litres. While the boot loading lip is relatively high there’s a flat floor once you’ve got your luggage on board, with space underneath as well.

For added flexibility the rear seat’s split in a 40/20/40 arrangement. When folded over and measured to ceiling height, the Kia Sportage non-Hybrid has a maximum capacity of 1780 litres with the Hybrid version remaining the same degree behind at 1776 litres.

Kia has improved the quality of its interiors in recent years to the point where it is competitive with the major players, if not quite at the level of the premium-badged offerings — the latest Sportage continues this impressive run of form. 

It feels well-constructed, with tight-fitting panels and a pleasing mix of materials inside, both to look at and to touch. There are some cheap-feeling plastics lower down in the cabin but these are the areas that are most likely to suffer scuffs and scrapes so there’s some logic to that. 

Its 2025 facelift also swapped out faux piano black sections of glossy plastic for matte alternative which is easier on the eye and less hassle to keep clean.

All specification grades of the Kia Sportage come with a 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen screen that accesses the integral navigation, audio functions, Bluetooth connectivity plus wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There are also three USB-C ports for cabled smartphone charging.

It’s a smart-looking system with sharp graphics and good response to inputs which makes it easy to use, although it could be improved further if the icons were larger. Climate control functions aren’t handled by the main touchscreen which is a plus, but instead by a separate touchscreen panel below. While not as convenient to use on the move as physical buttons and knobs, it does mean you can avoid navigating around the bigger screen to alter the settings.

Pure and GT-Line models have a 4.2-inch digital instrument display, while top-spec GT-Line S versions have a larger 12.3-inch version to give a cockpit feel where it and the touchscreen flow together. GT-Line S also gets a head-up display system and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio package over the standard six-speaker setup.

In entry-level Pure trim with the 1.6-litre TGD-i petrol engine and a manual gearbox the Kia Sportage costs £30,885, with GT-Line specification costing £33,385 with the DCT automatic version of the latter costing a further £1,700 on top. For the automatic-only GT-Line S trim you’ll need is £40,285. 

Hybrid versions start at £34,425 for the Kia Sportage Pure rising to £43,725 for the GT-Line S with all-wheel drive. 

This compares well with rivals such as the Honda CR-V Hybrid at £47,350, the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid at £36,220 and the Nissan Qashqai e-Power at £34,860.

The one to note especially is the Jaecoo 7 — £28,750 buys you the top-of-the-range PHEV version.

The facelifted Kia Sportage is still too new for used examples to reach the market but that does mean that nearly new examples of the pre-facelift version will be available at a good discount. We found several examples with delivery miles for around £27,000, which is a useful saving over list price.

Kia is yet to confirm fuel consumption figures for the entire range of facelifted Sportage models, but you can expect them to be broadly similar to the outgoing versions. That means close to 50mpg on the WLTP Combined cycle test for the Hybrid and around 42mpg for the petrol-only manual version, with the DCT auto performing slightly better. The Plug-in Hybrid has the potential to be the best of the lot, providing its battery is fully charged regularly.

Insurance groups range from 19 for the petrol model in Pure trim up to 26 for the Hybrid in GT-Line S trim, while the PHEV when it arrives will likely be higher still, but this is still competitive for a car of this size and specification.

Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid: Range and charging

Specifications for the facelifted Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid version are yet to be confirmed but expect the electric-only driving range to be at least as good as the pre-makeover version’s 32 miles.

Since its 2025 facelift the Kia Sportage lineup has consisted of three trim levels — Pure, GT-Line and GT-Line S.

Standard equipment for Kia Sportage Pure models includes:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Black bumpers with silver accents and silver skid plates
• Black front grille with silver surround
• Black wheelarches
• Silver roof rails
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Reversing camera
• Automatic wipers
• Automatic LED head, tail and daytime-running lights
• Keyless entry and starting
• Body-coloured door mirror housings
• Electrically adjustable, folding and heated door mirrors incorporating LED indicators
• Black cloth seat upholstery
• Electric driver’s seat lumbar adjustment
• Leather steering wheel
• 4.2-inch driver’s display screen
• 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen
• Integrated navigation system
• Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• USB-C charging points (x2)
• Six-speaker audio system
• Automatic climate control with front and rear airvents
• Auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist 1.5
• Highway Driving Assist 1.0 — automatic transmission models only
• Lane Keep Assist
• Lane Follow Assist 2.0
• Cruise control — manual transmission models only
• Smart Cruise Control 2.0 with Stop & Go — automatic transmission models only
• Electronic parking brake with Autohold
• Hill-Start Assist

Upgrade to the Kia Sportage GT-Line trim if you also fancy:

• 18-inch alloy wheels — 1.6 TGD-i models only
• 19-inch alloy wheels — 1.6 TGD-i Hybrid models only
• GT-Line exterior styling
• LED front foglights
• Gloss Black front grille, wheelarches, door mirror housings and roof rails
• Body coloured and black bumpers
• Chrome front and rear skidplates
• Dark-tinted rear privacy windows
• GT-Line interior styling
• Black and White faux leather and suede seat upholstery
• Heated front seats
• Heated leather steering wheel
• Alloy pedals
• USB-C charging points (x4)

At the top of the range the Kia Sportage GT-Line S additionally features:

• Dual LED headlights with automatic adaptive main beam
• 360-degree parking camera system
• Panoramic sunroof with electrically operated tilt/slide function and retractable blind
• Electrically operated tailgate
• Electrically adjustable and ventilated front seats
• Heated outer rear seats
• 12.3-inch driver’s display screen
• Customisable head-up display
• Eight-speaker Harman Kardon Premium Sound System
• Wireless smartphone charging pad
• Customisable LED interior ambient lighting
• Remote Smart Parking Assist 1.0 — 1.6 TGD-i Hybrid models only
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist 2.0
• Highway Driving Assist 2.0 — automatic transmission models only
• Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist
• Blind-Spot View Monitor