Kia Sportage

FIRST DRIVE Big-selling SUV benefits from a new look, better tech and an improved hybrid powertrain

- Ellis Hyde [e-mail]

WE don't like to make assumptions, but we're pretty confident that everyone is familiar with the Kia Sportage by now. The midsize SUV has been a staple of British roads for more than 30 years, and the current fifth-generation model that was launched in 2022 is one of the most popular cars in the UK.

Sales have been climbing year-on-year, in fact, with more than 47,000 examples flying out of showrooms in 2024 alone - trumping the segment-defining Nissan Qashqai. The Sportage isn’t just popular with Brits, though; the highly regarded family SUV is also the brand's bestselling model across Europe and globally. Which is why the arrival of the newly facelifted model has been getting a lot of attention.

Speaking of which, Kia knows how to style a car to stand out from the crowd, whether that be a tiny town runabout or a colossal seven-seat SUV. The same was true for the outgoing Sportage, although its Battlestar Galactica-esque fascia wasn't to everyone's taste, and didn't quite chime with the brand's other models.

The midlife nip and tuck has introduced a new front bumper, stacked vertical headlights, a wider and more upright grille, and Kia's signature 'Star Map' daytime running light design. The butch new look is arguably not as original as the previous one, but we think it will be less polarising yet still pretty eye-catching. Elsewhere, there are fresh wheel designs, with sizes ranging from 17 to 19 inches, while the rear bumper has been tweaked to emphasise the car’s width, and the taillight signature is new.