2025 Kia Sportage: A New Look and More Power for Australia’s Favorite SUV
Kia’s best-selling SUV in Australia, the Sportage, has been reimagined for 2025 with refreshed styling, enhanced technology, and increased power in its hybrid variant. Officially launched in South Korea, the facelifted Sportage will arrive in Australian showrooms by mid-2025, boasting design updates and a suite of advanced features.
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Refreshed Exterior with Bold EV9-Inspired Design
The 2025 Sportage adopts a more modern look, taking cues from Kia’s flagship EV9 electric SUV. The revised front fascia features newly styled LED headlights and updated bumpers, while the rear showcases a fresh LED tail-light signature. A variety of new alloy wheel designs (17-inch, 18-inch, and 19-inch) are available, along with a new flagship X-Line variant that adds a unique front bumper, black accents, 19-inch black wheels, and a suede-trimmed interior.
New color options, including Wolf Grey and Heritage Blue, add to the Sportage’s aesthetic appeal, making it more customizable than ever before.
A High-Tech Interior Overhaul
Inside, the Sportage has been fitted with dual 12.3-inch screens running Kia’s latest ‘ccNC’ software, offering over-the-air updates and a seamless user experience. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are expected to be standard across the range, regardless of the presence of embedded satellite navigation. Kia has also introduced fingerprint-based starting, while top models feature a head-up display and a simplified dashboard with horizontal air vents for a streamlined look.
Additional tech upgrades include:
- Phone-as-a-Key functionality for easier access.
- Built-in Dash Cam for real-time recording.
- Augmented Reality Navigation Views for precise directions.
- 3D Surround-View Camera Mode for enhanced visibility.
- Auto-Dipping Side Mirrors in reverse to improve parking ease.
Enhanced Safety and Convenience Features
The updated Sportage is now equipped with Hyundai's latest Highway Driving Assist 2, enabling lane-changing assistance on highways. Other safety improvements include advanced lane-keeping assistance, autonomous emergency braking that now detects motorcycles, and a driver-facing attention monitor that sounds an alert if the driver looks away from the road.
Notably, the Sportage now includes a “baby mode,” which smooths accelerator inputs for a more comfortable ride, ideal for sleeping passengers in the back.
Power Upgrades and Refined Driving Experience
Under the hood, the 2025 Sportage offers a reworked 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a new eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission, replacing the previously used seven-speed dual-clutch unit. The change addresses feedback regarding the dual-clutch’s hesitancy at low speeds, promising a smoother and more responsive drive.
The hybrid variant has also received a power boost with a new 47.7kW electric motor, increasing the total output to approximately 172kW, aligning with the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid. Additionally, steering-wheel-mounted paddles allow drivers to adjust the regenerative braking levels.
As for engine options, the future of the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine remains uncertain, but the base 2.0-litre non-turbo petrol engine is expected to stay available for entry-level models.
Quieter Ride and Improved Comfort
Kia has invested in making the 2025 Sportage even quieter and more comfortable. The addition of a two-way damper in the front wheel struts reduces road noise, while extra sound-deadening material in the door pillars and panels enhances cabin insulation, providing a more serene driving experience.
Australian Arrival in 2025
Kia plans to bring the refreshed Sportage to Australian shores in the second quarter of 2025, with pricing details to be confirmed closer to launch. Given its tech enhancements, safety upgrades, and refined design, the 2025 Kia Sportage is set to solidify its status as a top choice in the SUV market, appealing to families, commuters, and adventure seekers alike.
