2025 Kia Sportage facelift revealed: Updated family SUV due in Australia next year
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Kia’s top seller in Australia has been given an overhaul, with a new look, updated technology and more power for the hybrid. It’s due locally next year.
The 2025 Kia Sportage has been revealed in South Korea – with updated styling and an overhauled interior – ahead of the first Australian showroom arrivals by the middle of next year.
Now three years old, the latest Sportage has come in for its mid-life ‘facelift’ with styling changes, technology upgrades and improved safety features.
Hybrid power is expected to remain available in Australia – after it joined the current range earlier this year – but it remains to be seen if the Kia SUV follows its Hyundai Tucson twin in ditching diesel engines.
Prices will be confirmed closer to the Sportage’s local arrival in the second quarter of 2025 (April to June) – pending any delays.
Exterior changes include a new front fascia with restyled LED headlights inspired by the flagship EV9 electric SUV, plus revised bumpers, and new LED tail-light signatures.
New 17-inch, 18-inch and 19-inch alloy wheel designs are available in South Korea, as well as a flagship X-Line variant with a unique front bumper, black badges, black 19-inch wheels, a two-tone steering wheel and suede interior headlining.
Inside, the dual 12.3-inch screens for instruments and infotainment have upgraded to Hyundai and Kia’s latest ‘ccNC’ software, with over-the-air software updates.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are expected to be offered across the range – not just on models without embedded satellite navigation – while the car can now be started with the driver’s fingerprint.
A head-up display is now available on top-of-the-range models.
The dashboard has been simplified with horizontal air vents, and the new-design steering wheel can detect the driver’s touch when lane centring assist is active – rather than requiring the driver to periodically tug on the wheel to remind the car they are paying attention.
Other features include an updated phone-as-a-key function, a built-in dash cam, augmented reality views for the satellite navigation system, a 3D mode for the surround-view camera, and side mirrors that automatically dip in reverse gear.
A Lounge Brown interior is now available in South Korea, as well as new Wolf Grey and Heritage Blue exterior colours.
The Sportage is now fitted with the Hyundai group’s latest Highway Driving Assist 2 technology, which can assist the driver with lane changes on the motorway.
Kia has updated the lane-keep assist and autonomous emergency braking software, the latter now including motorcycle detection.
A driver-facing attention monitoring camera has been added, which sounds a chime when the human behind the wheel looks away from the road for too long.
Changes under the bonnet in South Korea focus on a new eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission for 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol models, which continue to develop 132kW/265Nm.
It replaces a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic which has been criticised by customers and media for its hesitant behaviour from a standstill.
The 1.6-litre turbo-petrol hybrid gains a more powerful 47.7kW electric motor (up from 44.2kW) which, while yet to be confirmed, is expected to see its combined output rise from 169kW to 172kW, matching the Tucson Hybrid.
The hybrid’s steering wheel shift paddles can now control the level of regenerative braking from the electric motor.
A 2.0-litre LPG engine is offered in Kia’s home market, but it is not expected to reach Australia.
The fate of the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine is unclear – it has been axed from the latest Hyundai Tucson in Australia – while a 2.0-litre non-turbo petrol engine is expected to remain in base models locally.
A ‘baby mode’ has also been added, matching the Tucson, which smoothes out accelerator-pedal inputs to provide a more comfortable ride for sleeping kids in the rear seats.
Further changes confirmed by Kia include a “two-way damper was installed on the front wheel strut to reduce road noise”, plus additional sound-deadening material in the door pillars and panels.
The 2025 Kia Sportage is on sale now in South Korea.
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