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Kia plans to introduce several new or updated gasoline and hybrid vehicles in 2025, including an updated Kia Sportage for Europe. The car was first shown in Korean specification late last year and then fully revealed at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
The European division will introduce a visually identical car in the next few months, but with a shorter wheelbase. The powertrain selection is unlikely to change much, with a choice of mild, full and plug-in hybrid engine options, as well as front- or all-wheel drive.
Design
In terms of design, the Sportage will feature the “star map” daytime running light system introduced by the Kia EV9 flagship, which is also found on the Kia EV3, Sorento and even the Picanto city car. The US-spec mid-size crossover gets a new set of vertical headlights, as well as a new grille and bumper with additional fog lights at the bottom.
Further changes can be seen on the side of the Sportage with new alloy wheels (available in 17, 18 and 19-inch sizes), while the C-pillar has been completely revamped for the new model. The side sills have also been updated for the 2025 car, and the rear gets new lights and a revised bumper. Overall, this is a more extensive facelift than Hyundai did with the technically similar Tucson last year.
Inside, the dual 12,3-inch curved screens are carried over from the better versions of the Sportage past, although the placement of the air vents and overall panel design are now much simpler. The familiar clusters of dedicated climate and media switches are still located at the bottom of the dashboard.
The two-spoke steering wheel with the offset Kia logo was taken from the slightly smaller all-electric EV3, and Kia removed the black material from the center console – presumably to improve the quality of perception and make it better equipped to deal with the adversities of family life.
Engines
While the platform technology will remain the same, Kia has tinkered with the Sportage's powertrain lineup for 2025. There's still an entry-level mild hybrid, but power has been increased from 157 to 178 hp. The Korean version is equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels, although the popular front-wheel drive version with a manual transmission will likely remain in Europe.
The full hybrid Sportage will continue to be offered. This version now uses a 1,6-liter gasoline engine paired with a small battery and electric motor for moderate electric operation – such as when parking or crawling in traffic. US specifications show that the electric motor is slightly more powerful than before, which should help make acceleration smoother, while this particular powertrain continues to use a six-speed automatic transmission.
The current Sportage is also available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, but this particular version will probably only be of interest to corporate fleets.
The European version will be manufactured again in Slovakia and will be introduced over the next few months, with sales scheduled for later this year.
