Kia Sportage (2025) Review

Introduction

If there was ever a model that has succeeded beyond anyone’s wildest dreams and expectations, it has to be the Kia Sportage. This family SUV has been around since 1995 and, now the fifth-generation model has been given an extensive mid-life make-over.

The naming of the line-up has been simplified to a three-model structure with a new entry-level Pure grade replacing the outgoing ‘2’ and ‘3’ versions, with GT-Line and GT-Line S completing the range. And at present, customers can choose between petrol or mild hybrid 1.6-litre powertrains with a plug-in hybrid model coming to market before the end of the year.

Some carmakers carry out mid-generation tweaks to vehicles to keep them in the spotlight, but not so Kia. The new-look Sportage boasts a raft of upgrades from new exterior and interior design upgrades, enhanced lighting, improved on-board technology with a fresh interface and a whole lot more besides.

Expect to find all the mod cons we demand in a car these days, such as ChatGPT and online streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+ while staying true to the Sportage’s loyal fanbase with exceptional comfort levels, engaging performance, easy-to-use technology in a car that also covers all practicality demands too.

Yes, the prices have gone up slightly, but anyone on a slightly tighter budget can still pick up the entry-level car from as little as £30,885.

The Sportage is the vehicle that, in our opinion, really put Kia on the map. It is the company’s UK, European and global best-selling model and last year was the second best-selling car here in the UK, topped only by the Ford Puma for popularity.

We opted for the high-end Sportage HEV in range-topping GT-Line S specification with an automatic gearbox and AWD for our test drive, but couldn’t resist a shorter spin in the entry-level car for good measure too.

At a glance

From cheap and cheerful to dynamic and premium – that just about sums up the Kia Sportage over the years. And the latest facelifted 2025 model is perfect proof of just how far this family car has come.

The design now aligns with other models such as the EV3, EV6 and Sorento with a fresh interpretation of Kia’s signature ‘Tiger Nose’ front end. The grille is larger and there are fresh daytime running lights that replace the outgoing boomerang-style units, plus there are redesigned front wings and new side cladding to aid the slim silhouette side profile.

Moving to the back of the car, there is a new-look bumper and skid plate which accentuates a wider appearance, with added creases across the tailgate giving it a more definitive profile.

Our GT-Line S Sportage also boasted a panoramic sunroof, privacy glass, some additional GT-Line styling cues which added black roof rails, black wheel arches, a gloss black radiator grille, plus 19-inch GT-Line alloys to complete the dynamic styling.

Key features

Kia has simplified the Sportage line-up with all models featuring a generous array of tech as standard, including a 12.3-inch touchscreen navigation system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, front and rear parking sensors with a reversing camera, over-the-air updates, smart cruise control and lots of safety kit such as lane keep assist, intelligent speed limit assist, trailer stability assist, a multi-collision braking system and plenty more besides.

Sportage Pure, costing from £30,885, features 17-inch alloys, lots of black exterior styling cues including the bumpers, radiator grille, plus silver roof rails and skid plates. There are smart cloth upholstered seats with manual adjustment, a 4.2-inch driver display, six-speaker audio, highway driving assist, plus forward collision avoidance.

Move up to mid-grade GT-Line models, priced from £33,385, and you gain 18-inch alloys (19-inch on ICE models), GT-Line exterior styling, with gloss black accents to the grille, door mirrors, wheel arches and roof rails, with additional chrome detailing to the front and rear skid plates. There is privacy glass, black and white Bio leather and suede upholstery, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, alloy pedals and black headlining. There are also two extra USB-C charging ports in the rear.

Finally, top-grade Sportage GT-Line S, which costs from £40,285, introduces dual LED headlights with adaptive driving beam, a panoramic sunroof that tilts and slides and has a powered blind, heated outer rear seats, powered front seats with the addition of a ventilation setting, a powered tailgate, customisable ambient lighting, a larger 12.3-inch driver display screen, eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a head-up display, a wireless mobile phone charger, along with some additional driver safety aids, including blind spot collision avoidance, safe exit warning, parking collision avoidance and a 360-degree surround view monitor.

Performance and drive

Powering our Sportage HEV GT-Line S test car was a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine with a 44.2kW electric motor and 1.49kWh battery. With 235bhp and 265Nm of torque, it can complete the 0-62mph sprint in a very respectable 8.1 seconds, maxing out at 121mph.

The six-speed automatic transmission is beautifully smooth and there is a constant stream of power on tap to make light work of overtaking slower vehicles, or joining a motorway from a slip lane.

On twisting A and B roads, the Sportage impresses with its balanced handling, with little sign of body sway in or out of tight bends, and it’s a very able motorway cruiser too with a refined ride and barely a sound breaking through and disturbing the calmness of the cabin.

The all-round driver visibility is excellent and the Sportage is easy to manoeuvre through busy towns and country villages.

Our top-of-the-range Sportage GT-Line S is the only model available with all-wheel drive, but it will automatically default to front-wheel drive when on better roads with good driving conditions to conserve fuel. However, there are Terrain modes called Snow, Mud and Sand when added grip is needed.

Additionally, drive modes called Eco and Sport, alter the driving characteristics of the car. Sport is certainly livelier, while Eco brings a sense of calmness to proceedings. The steering wheel paddles can be used to change gears manually when in Sport mode, but they alter the strength of the regenerative braking if driving in Eco mode.

We had a shorter run out in the entry-level Sportage Pure with a petrol engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox (you don’t see many of those these days). Despite being slightly more basic and a little less refined than the GT-Line S version, it coped well when put through its paces. It’s not quite so smooth and the interior isn’t so plush and richly kitted out, but it carries a price-tag that is £13k more attractive and that will certainly turn heads.

Running costs and emissions

The simplified line-up will make it easier for would-be customers to find a trim level that suits their needs. Pure, which replaces ‘2’ and ‘3’ is a well-equipped entry-level model and is only available with the 1.6 T-GDi petrol engine and a six-speed manual gearbox. It can deliver a combined 39.8mpg and has a carbon emissions figure of 162g/km.

As you begin to introduce hybrid technology to the mix, so the fuel efficiency and CO2 figures improve. Our high-end Sportage GT-Line S HEV with AWD could deliver a WLTP-tested combined 44.1mpg with 145g/km, but the best achievers are the Pure and GT-Line models with the HEV powertrain as they can achieve 50.4mpg with emissions of 126 and 128g/km respectively.

The 145gkm carbon emissions figure on the Sportage GT-Line S would result in a first-year road tax bill of £540, dropping to £195 after 12 months. However, there is a penalty called the Expensive Car Supplement and this comes into force if a vehicle costs in excess of £40k. Therefore, owners would need to find a further £425 for five years from years two to six.

The Benefit in Kind rate of 35 per cent is not that attractive to anyone considering the Sportage GT-Line S as a business car, but there will be a plug-in hybrid model arriving by the end of the year that will tick all the right boxes for that sector.

Finally, our main test model, the Sportage HEV GT-Line S, sits in insurance group 26 but, if budgets are tight, the Sportage Pure at the entry-level end of the line-up, is in group 19 which will be considerably cheaper.

For added peace of mind, the Kia Sportage comes with a comprehensive seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty package that also includes complementary roadside assistance for 12 months.

Interior and tech

The Sportage has always boasted an upmarket interior and plenty of technology as standard. And the latest model is no different, just better. The main change that is noticeable on the GT-Line S version is the new-look dual 12.3-inch infotainment screens, along with a 10-inch head-up display that can be fully customised.

The latest Sportage also adopts a new-look, two-spoke steering wheel design, similar to EV3, EV4 and EV6 models, with physical buttons and roller switches to control some of the car’s features. It’s worth noting there are short cuts using these toggles to turn off the annoying speed warning beeps and active lane departure assist.

The powered seats were upholstered in elegant bio-leather and suede materials that looked exceptionally high-end, and these could be heated or cooled for added comfort.

We should also add that Kia has ditched the piano black surfaces and replaced them with a brushed effect covering that is far less prone to fingerprint smudges and glare issues.

The new-look display screens are the car’s nerve centre and there is an abundance of technology to explore, including the latest Kia AI assistant powered by Chat GPT. This increases the number of tasks that can be carried out on the move.

Connecting a smartphone via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is a simple task and can be completed wirelessly, and the car’s built-in sat nav is also easy to operate. The upgraded Harman Kardon sound system wouldn’t be out of place on a luxury German car, and there is also an array of infotainment packages available allowing customers to access Netflix, Disney+, YouTube and much more. These are subscription-based though.

The thing we really like about the Kia cockpit is its ease of use. You don’t need to be a computer genius to plan a navigation route and there are ample physical controls so there’s no dependency on over-complicated drop-down menus either.

Practicality and boot space

The Kia Sportage is a family SUV and needs to cater for active families with plenty of cabin and storage space. And it does just that. It stretches 4,540mm in lengthy, is 1,865mm across, 1,645mm tall and has a 2,680mm wheelbase. Up front, there is room for two six-foot-plus adults to stretch out, and the leg and headroom in the back is certainly suitable for two more adults or a trio of youngsters.

The slightly elevated seating arrangement will make it easier for anyone with mobility issues to get in and out of the vehicle, and this will also be a popular attribute with parents needing access to a child seat on a regular basis. Additionally, there are Isofix fixtures to the outer rear seats.

The boot, accessed via a powered tailgate on the Sportage GT Line S models, can swallow 587 litres of luggage, a capacity that increases to 1,776 litres with the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats lowered. Due to the mild hybrid technology, the boot space is slightly compromised compared to the ICE models with storage limits of 591 litres with all five seats upright and 1,780 litres with just the front seats in use.

There are lots of handy storage compartments scattered throughout the car too, including a glovebox, door bins, a central cubby, front and rear cup holders, a wireless charging pad, seat back pockets, plus four USB-C charging ports.

The Sportage GT-Line S with AWD can tow a braked trailer weighing up to 1,510kg.

Safety

The Kia Sportage was awarded a maximum five stars when tested for its Euro NCAP safety rating in 2022. It scored 87 per cent for adult occupant safety, 86 per cent for child occupants, 66 per cent for vulnerable road users and 72 per cent for safety assist.

The level of driver assistance aids depends on the trim level with the Pure featuring the likes of front and rear parking sensors with a reversing camera, lane keep and lane follow assist, driver attention warning, forward collision avoidance, highway driving assist, anti-lock braking with emergency stop signalling, electronic stability control, dynamic brake control, hill-start assist and downhill brake control, trailer stability control, seat belt warnings and an eCall system.

GT-Line models have the same level of safety equipment as standard, but GT-Line S gains remote smart parking, safe exit warning, parking collision avoidance, a 360-degree camera, blind sport collision avoidance and a safe exit warning.

All version come with a Thatcham Category 2 alarm system and immobiliser.

Options

The Kia Sportage is well equipped as standard, although owners can add some personalised touches such as alloy wheel upgrades, boot liners, a retractable towbar, all-weather mats and a bike carrier.

But the main add-ons for customers will be tech-based with a variety of entertainment packages offering access to music streaming via Amazon Music and Soundcloud with links to Netflix, Disney+ and YouTube. There is also the option to create a personal Wi-Fi hotspot for the car too.

Rival cars

The family SUV sector is bursting at the seams with great quality models and, if last year’s UK sales figures are anything to go by, the Kia Sportage will be leading the chasing pack again. It was only pipped at the post as the UK’s best-selling vehicle by the Ford Puma.

But there are some excellent rivals out there, including the Nissan Qashqai, Hyundai Tucson, Toyota RAV4, VW Tiguan, Mazda CX-5 and Skoda Karoq to name just a few.

Verdict and next steps

Some manufacturers introduce a mid-generation facelift to keep a car in the public eye. And some of those mild make-overs are barely noticeable. Kia hardly needed any added publicity to get the Sportage in the headlines as its sales success speaks for itself.

But 2025 marks the fifth-generation refresh and its quite a complex one. It looks sharper, has a fresh interior with upgraded and increased levels of technology and the trim line-up has also been simplified.

The prices are reasonable at the lower end of the scale, but top the £43,000 mark for the high-end models. And don’t forget there is a plug-in hybrid model still to come this year.

It seems that everything Kia touches turns to gold these days. And we can’t think of any possible reason why that pattern would change with this new Sportage.

Where to next?

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the Kia Sportage

**Correct as of 14/10/2025. Based on 9 months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 36 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 9 monthly payments, or £2,468.25 (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.