Less than a week after the new Kia Sportage was teased, the compact crossover has made its world premiere in its home market of South Korea. Not only does it get major changes on the outside, it also gets a makeover inside.
On top of those are new technology features for both its infotainment system and safety support. It also benefits from other features previously reserved for more expensive models such as the Carnival and Sorento.
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Most obvious the totally redesigned front fascia. It adapts the T-shaped daytime running lights and vertical headlights. The extensive changes extend to the new bumper design and wider grille. All in all, it’s in line with the rest of the Kia lineup.
New color options have also been added, along with new wheel designs, most of which are of the four-spoke variety. At the rear, there are new tail light elements and a few tweaks to the bumper. An X-Line ‘black edition’ variant has also been added.
Inside, the dashboard has been overhauled and far removed from the outgoing model. The dash top is flatter than before and the air-conditioning vents have been repositioned. At the same time, the screen layout has been simplified with a curved screen display.
Also new is the steering wheel that sports a more retro appearance. The center console has also been rearranged and redesigned for the 2025 model year. Other changes include new color combinations, new software for the infotainment system, and even a fingerprint authentication system. Another neat addition is the augmented reality navigation system. Think Google Street View but while driving.
Kia says it made improvements to its advanced driver assist system. It also has a navigation-based cruise control system and can adjust speed accordingly if there is a curve ahead. Semi-autonomous driving assists are present, and to make sure the driver doesn’t take their hands off the wheel, the new Sportage has steering wheel grip detection.
Three powertrain options are available, at least for South Korean market version. The first is a 1.6-liter turbo-gas engine that makes 178hp and 265Nm. For those who want to save a little more fuel, there’s the 1.6-liter turbo hybrid that puts out over 220hp and 250Nm. There’s even an LPG-powered 2.0-liter engine on hand with 144hp and 191Nm. The 1.6-liter turbo uses a eight-speed automatic, while the hybrid and LPG models use a six-speed automatic. Front-wheel drive is standard with all-wheel drive available for most variants.
