The 2025 Kia Sportage model was officially unveiled recently in South Korea, showcasing a completely refreshed exterior design and enhanced technological features, capturing widespread attention.
As a key compact SUV in Kia's lineup, the 2025 Sportage has undergone comprehensive upgrades in terms of exterior, engine performance, and interior, significantly bolstering its competitive edge in the market.
The vehicle is now available in the South Korean domestic market, offering a variety of powertrain options including turbocharged gasoline, turbo hybrid, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) variants.
It faces competition from Hyundai's sibling model Tucson, the Honda CR-V, and the Toyota RAV4.
Exterior Design
The exterior design of the 2025 Sportage has seen considerable changes in this latest update. The most notable alteration is the brand-new front headlight design, inspired by Kia’s "star map" concept, a style previously featured in models such as Kia EV3, EV5, and even the Picanto city car.
The front grille and bumper of the new Sportage have been redesigned, with the addition of new fog lights in the lower section, rendering the front view more modern. On the sides, the vehicle sports new alloy wheels available in 17, 18, and 19 inches, enhancing its visual dynamism and luxury.
The rear pillars have been thoroughly redesigned, creating smoother side lines and a more contemporary visual appeal. The side skirts have also been updated, further amplifying the sporty atmosphere of the vehicle. At the rear, the 2025 Sportage features new taillight configurations and a reshaped bumper, enhancing the overall refinement and dynamism.
Overall, this exterior refresh is more extensive than the earlier update of the Hyundai Tucson on the same platform, displaying Kia’s profound understanding of market demands and bold innovation in design.
Interior and Comfort
Inside, the 2025 Sportage is equipped with twin 12.3-inch screens, serving as the dashboard and infotainment display, incorporating Kia’s latest ccNC software platform. The vehicle supports wireless OTA updates, ensuring that drivers always have access to the latest in technological features.
In terms of safety, the 2025 Sportage has undergone a full upgrade. The high-end version now includes fingerprint recognition, enhancing vehicle security significantly. Furthermore, the newly designed steering wheel can detect whether the driver is holding it with both hands, maintaining lane centering assist without the need for manual input, thereby increasing convenience and safety during driving.
The car also comes with an augmented reality navigation display, providing drivers with more intuitive traffic information. The adaptive cruise control system now adjusts speed based on upcoming turns and speed limit signs, further enhancing driving safety and comfort.
Engine
The powertrain of the 2025 Kia Sportage has been comprehensively upgraded, primarily featuring a 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine that delivers a maximum output of 180 horsepower and a peak torque of 270 Newton-meters. The engine is paired with a new 8-speed automatic transmission, replacing the previous 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, to offer a smoother and more efficient driving experience.
In addition to the traditional gasoline version, the 2025 Sportage also introduces a turbo hybrid model. This version is equipped with a 65 horsepower electric motor and features an "infant mode," designed to provide a smoother acceleration experience ensuring comfort and environmental friendliness. While the total power of this version has not yet been disclosed, it is expected that its overall performance will be significantly enhanced.
Furthermore, the new vehicle also offers a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) version, powered by a 2.0-liter engine that generates a maximum power of 146 horsepower and a torque of 195 Newton-meters, and is equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
Suspension
The suspension system of the 2025 Sportage remains unchanged, with the front suspension still utilizing a MacPherson strut independent suspension and the rear suspension equipped with a multi-link independent setup. This combination has been finely tuned to provide balanced comfort and stability, allowing the vehicle to perform well both in urban driving and on highways.
Safety
The 2025 Sportage is aligned with Kia's latest technology in terms of safety features, equipped with Kia's "Highway Driving Assist 2" system, which includes adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assistance, and support for automatic lane changes.
Additionally, the vehicle is equipped with a comprehensive ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) package that includes forward collision warning, remote parking assist, and a safety exit warning, offering full-range safety protection for the driver.
Summary
The 2025 Kia Sportage model has undergone significant upgrades in terms of exterior design, powertrain, technological features, and safety functions. It offers a more diverse range of power options and a more intelligent driving experience.