Outside, the 2025 Sportage adopts the latest Kia design language. First seen in the likes of the new Sorento and Carnival, it gets a more aggressive Tiger Nose (Face) grille. This is sandwiched by the Starmap signature lighting. This combines the vertically-oriented headlights and T-shaped daytime running lights. At the back, the same Starmap lighting is also present for a unified look.

New for 2025 is a new X-Line variant which brings black emblems, a dedicated grille insert, 19-inch black wheels.

As changed as the Sportage is, inside, it’s been extensively overhauled. The dashboard itself is slimmer and allows the for the placement of the new 12.3-inch curved digital gauge cluster and 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment screen. The center console incorporates a new, better-placed wireless charger and rotary dial shifter with a fingerprint authentication system near it. New capacitive buttons control both the infotainment and climate control, while refreshed color combinations (including the option for a dark brown finish on the leather steering wheel) and materials (suede headlining) make themselves known too.

The infotainment system itself has been upgraded to the latest Hyundai/Kia ccNC system and can be optioned with a new Krell audio system.

In terms of driving features, the new Sportage receives features such as a 360-degree camera, an integrated digital video recorder (dashcam), an augmented reality navigation system, and a full suite of advanced driver assist tech. The ADAS itself has been upgraded with more functionality including navigation-based adaptive cruise control.

Power-wise, the 2025 Sportage has three powertrains sans the turbo diesel. The first is a 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that makes 180 horsepower and 265 Nm of torque mated to an 8-speed automatic. A hybrid version adds an electric motor with 65 horsepower for a combined total of 235 horsepower and 367 Nm. Finally, there’s a 2.0-liter that runs on LPG with 146 horsepower and 191 Nm. The latter two engines come with a 6-speed automatic.

The 2.0-liter LPG variant is exclusively available in front-wheel drive, while the turbocharged 1.6-liter and 1.6-liter HEV are both available in either 2WD or AWD.