Kia Sportage 2025 (2025 - )

It would seem that everything Kia touches right now turns to gold, so it will come as little surprise to know the latest Sportage is also somehow getting better with age. It may be in its fifth generation now and 2025 may mark a mid-life facelift, but the upgrades are extensive and it boasts a bold new look too.
If anyone doubted the success of the Sportage, it was the second-best selling vehicle in the UK last year and is currently the Korean carmaker’s most popular model in the UK, Europe and globally.
So, what’s new this time round? Firstly, the front end features a reinvention of the traditional ‘Tiger Nose’ design, plus the interior has moved upmarket with upgrades to the technology and safety systems.
Additionally, the line-up has been simplified to a three-tier structure. A new entry-level Pure grade replaces the ‘2’ and ‘3’ trims with GT-Line and GT-Line S completing the line-up.
All versions are powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine, but with different power outputs. There is a pure petrol version, mild hybrid and the promise of a plug-in hybrid model by the end of the year too.
Customers can choose between manual or automatic gearboxes and the range-topping model is the only car to also offer all-wheel drive.
Prices start from £30,885 and increase to £43,725 for the Sportage GT-Line S AWD with an automatic transmission, and it was that high-end version that we tested.
 

Back in the day Kia made cars that looked quite bargain basement and were matched to a price to suit. Fast forward to 2025 and the facelift of the fifth-generation Sportage is a mark of just how far the Korean manufacturer has come.

In fairness, the car was already a head turner, but the upgrades see a fresh interpretation of the ‘Tiger Nose’ front end. The boomerang lights have been replaced by more advanced LEDs and the grille is also larger. The new-look front wings, together with additional side cladding, give the car a slim side profile. 

At the rear, Kia has introduced a new-look bumper and skid plate that help give the Sportage a wider stance. And our high-end GT-Line S model also boasted a panoramic sunroof, privacy glass, alongside lots of GT-Line specific styling cues that added a black touch to the roof rails, radiator grille and wheel arches. Stunning 19-inch alloys complete the look.

Moving inside, the cabin oozes class and elegance with a mix of high-end materials and upholstery. The powered seats were crafted from a two-tone bio leather and suede material and these can be ventilated or heated. The piano black surfaces, that were quite prone to fingerprint smudges and some glare issues are gone. In their place is a brushed metal-effect covering that looks smart and is definitely more practical.

The steering wheel, which can also be heated, features a new two-spoke design akin to the EV3, EV4 and EV6 and it has plenty of physical controls and rollers to access on-board tech.

New to the latest Sportage at the higher end of the trims is a pair of 12.3-inch infotainment screens, and our car also had a 10-inch head-up display.

Creature comforts are plentiful and easy to operate on the fly in this driver-focused cockpit. Expect to find full smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a sat nav system, A pitch perfect Harman Kardon sound system, plus an upgraded AI personal assistant set-up powered by Chat GPT.

Owners can also hook up to an assortment of entertainment packages that are subscription-based, but can bring the likes of Netflix, Disney+ and YouTube to the vehicle.

Our Sportage GT-Line S was powered by a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine working in tandem with a 44.2kW electric motor and a 1.49kWh battery. With a power output of 235bhp along with 265Nm of torque, it could reach 62mph from a standing start in 8.1 seconds and topped out at 121mph.
This model featured a six-speed automatic gearbox which was beautifully smooth and there are steering wheel-mounted paddles that can be used to manually control the gear changes in Sport mode, or to adjust the strength of the regenerative braking in Eco mode.
Despite boasting SUV proportions, the car is nicely balanced when fizzing through the twisting country lanes, and it’s a confident motorway cruiser too sitting effortlessly at 70mph.
The GT-Line S version has all-wheel drive, but the default setting is front-wheel drive to help preserve fuel. If added grip is needed, the car will automatically switch to AWD, or the driver can pre-empt this with Terrain modes called Snow, Mud and Sand.
The nicely weighted steering offers plenty of feedback and the Sportage is agile and easy to manoeuvre in busier town centres where the excellent all-round driver visibility is another plus-point.
Refinement levels impress with the effective suspension set-up smoothing out all but the most severe road undulations, and the cabin is well insulated so occupants are protected from wind, road and engine noise too.
 

The Kia Sportage is a spacious and practical family SUV that stretches 4,540mm in length, is 1,765mm wide, 1.645mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,680mm. Those figures result in a cabin that has bundles of room up front for a couple of tall adults with additional room for a couple more in the back, or ideally three youngsters.
The generously-sized boot is accessed via a powered tailgate and it can accommodate 587 litres of kit, increasing to 1,776 litres if the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats are dropped flat.
Additionally, there are numerous handy storage compartments throughout the cabin to store bits and pieces. There is a glovebox, central cubby, door bins, front and rear cup holders, seat back pockets, a wireless charging pad and up to four USB-C ports.
Thanks to the car’s design, with a slightly elevated seating arrangement, anyone with mobility issues will find it easy to get and out. And it’s also a factor that will be appreciated by people who frequently need to access a child seat. Speaking of which, the Sportage has Isofix anchors to the outer rear seats. 
With family getaways in mind, the AWD GT-Line S model can tow a braked trailer weighing up to 1,510kg.
 

Despite simplifying the Sportage line-up, there is still ample choice for would-be customers. For anyone on a tighter budget, the entry-level Pure model with the petrol engine and six-speed manual gearbox, costs £30,885. Continuing with the pure petrol line-up, GT-Line models with the same gearbox cost £33,385, while the GT-Line with the seven-speed auto box is priced at £35,085, increasing to £40,285 for the GT-Line S version.
Moving to the Sportage HEV range, which all feature a six-speed auto transmission, it starts from £34,425 for the Pure grade, increasing to £36,925 for the GT-Line specification. Range-topping GT-Line S models cost £42,125 for FWD and £43,725 for AWD, as tested. 
As the Sportage comes fully loaded with tech and features as standard, there is little need to go searching for expensive optional extras. Our car looked striking with Blue Flame paintwork that added £675 to the final price-tag, but that was all.
There are some additional subscription-based packages that can be introduced and these add music streaming via Amazon Music and Soundcloud, with links to Netflix, YouTube and Disney+ and the option to make the vehicle a Wi-Fi hotspot too.
According to WLTP figures, our Sportage GT-Line S could deliver a combined 44.1mpg with carbon emissions of 145g/km. This would result in a first-year road tax bill of £540 dropping to the standard fee of £195 after 12 months. However, as the cost of the car exceeds £40k, there is an Expensive Car Supplement to factor in and this adds an extra £425 to the running costs from years two to six.
The Benefit in Kind tax rating for the car is 35 per cent and it sits in insurance group 26, which will also prove quite expensive. But business drivers will be pleased to hear that Kia is introducing a plug-in hybrid version of the Sportage which will offer improved fuel efficiency, lower CO2 emissions and a far more attractive BIK rating.
For peace of mind, the Sportage comes with a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty package with complementary roadside assistance for the first 12 months.
 

The SUV sector is a busy arena to be vying for sales with a whole raft of new models arriving from China by the day. It’s a challenge to maintain a high profile without scaring away loyal customers by hiking up the prices.
Kia seems to have mastered these issues with the Sportage that, despite being in its fifth generation now, looks as appealing as the day it was first launched.
The designers have fully modernised the styling, both inside and out, while the engineers have improved the powertrains on offer with a plug-in hybrid version arriving very soon.
The simplified trim set-up is far better with prices to match all budgets. We think it may take something extra special to eat into the Sportage’s sales figures.