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Ten Second Review

Kia has revitalised its MK5-era Sportage with trendier looks, sharper engineering and a nicer cabin. If you're after a mid-sized mainstream brand combustion-powered family SUV, it still needs to be high on your shopping list.

Background

Much of Kia's seismic transformation into a major UK brand can be attributed to one model, the Sportage mid-sized SUV. Hardly anyone noticed when the very first MK1 NB version was launched back in 1993, but the sales momentum gathered pace through subsequent generation models launched in 2004, 2010 and 2015. The current NQ5-era car introduced in 2021 has continued this trend, with 124,000 sold here since launch. But quite a lot's happened since then, with all-new segment rivals introduced from Volkswagen, Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroen, Jeep and Toyota, as well as heavily revised models from Ford and Nissan in this segment. Along with an updated version of the car that shares all this Kia's engineering, the Hyundai Tucson. Hence the need for the MK5-era Sportage to get a far-reaching update, announced in Summer 2025. The exterior design gets an EV-style makeover and the cabin's been usefully updated. Plus media connectivity has taken another step forward and there have been engineering updates to the Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid drivetrains. Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experience

There are no longer any un-electrified Sportage models, with the entry point in the range now occupied by the 48V mild hybrid turbocharged 1.6-litre four cylinder petrol unit that most customers want. This sends 148bhp to the front wheels via either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual clutch auto gearbox. 0-62mph takes 9.9s en route to 119mph. As usual with a mild hybrid set-up, the electrical system can't ever power the car solely by battery, but it does power some of the ancillaries, including the start/stop system. Ideally with your Sportage, you'd stretch to the full-Hybrid version, which unlike the base powertrain does get some changes as part of this facelift, upgraded by 28bhp to 235bhp, courtesy of a more powerful electric motor. As before, this is paired to either a six-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels, or an optional all-wheel drive set-up in the top-spec 'GT-Line S' variant. The biggest engineering upgrade for this NQ5-era Sportage applies to the PHEV powertrain, which gets a 42bhp uplift in power, which takes it to a combined output of 283bhp. We don't expect the battery range though, to match that of rivals like PHEV versions of rivals like the Volkswagen Tiguan eHybrid. Perhaps a touch ironically given the model name, this Sportage isn't particularly 'sporty' to drive - there's something that hasn't changed - but if you're a typical prospective customer, you won't be too bothered about that. You sit quite high, the ride's a fraction on the firm side and body roll's quite well controlled, though not to the point where you might be encouraged to test out the car's handling limits.

Design and Build

If you found the styling of the original version of this MK5-era MK5 Sportage divisive, you still will. The unusual 'Opposites United' design theme remains, but has been brought into line with the look of Kia's EV range of electric models. In Europe, we still continue to only get the short wheelbase version of this car; Korean, American and Australasian markets get a longer wheelbase version. But the Sportage we do get is now a little longer than before (4,540mm long, up from 4,515mm before), though the height (1,650mm) and width (1,865mm) figures stay the same. As for those visual changes, well there's now a pair of more vertical LED headlights with stylised 'star point' daytime running lights that blend into the grille. 'GT-Line' models get a blockier lower bumper graphic with integrated fog lamps. And the tail lights get redesigned interiors with 'star point' graphics. There's also re-shaped rear bumper - of a chunkier design with 'GT-Line' spec. And Kia has added re-designed wheels sized between 17 and 19-inches. More significant changes feature inside, where the Korean maker has fitted a completely new and sleeker dashboard, with a more streamlined upper section which now does without the large air vent that previously framed the screen housing. Only top 'GT-Line S' spec gets you a full digital instrument screen; other variants have a smaller 4.3-inch display with digital instruments on either side. As before, all variants get a now thinner-framed 12.3-inch central touchscreen which now has a re-designed interface and an updated version of Kia ccNC operating system. This now accommodates multiple Bluetooth devices, so you can for instance use Google Maps on one while streaming music from another. There's also an AI-powered voice control function. As previously, below the touchscreen is a panel of touch-sensitive switches that deal with either media functions or climate controls. And there's a re-designed two-spoke steering wheel with a contrasting insert on 'GT-Line' models. It's the same in the back of course as with the pre-facelift car; there's decent rear passenger space thanks to the 2,680mm wheelbase length. Out back, luggage space varies with your chosen drivetrain, from 562-litres in the conventional petrol model to 587-litres in the Hybrid. To extend this, there's a convenient 40:20:40 rear seat back split. With everything folded, boot space varies from 1,751-litres (petrol model) to 1,776-litres (Hybrid).

Market and Model

The pre-facelift version of this Kia was the UK's best-selling mid-sized SUV and that was partly because it was very well priced. Don't expect that policy to change as part of this facelift, but because there are no longer any un-electrified models, the entry-level figure seems a little higher than before, likely to start from just over £33,000. For the Hybrid version, you'll probably be looking at a starting point of around £37,000. And you'll probably need a budget starting from around £42,000 for the Plug-in Hybrid version. Expect the usual '2', '3', 'GT-Line' and 'GT-Line S' trim levels. Most customers tend to choose mid-level 'GT-Line'-spec, which includes LED front fog lamps and rear combination lamps, rear privacy glass, a gloss black finish for the radiator grille, side sills and wheel arch body mouldings, plus body-coloured door and radiator upper garnishes, and a chrome skid plate front and rear. The 'GT-Line' models look much nicer than lesser-trimmed versions inside too, featuring plush suede and leather upholstery, a contrast-coloured sports leather steering wheel with perforated inserts, a black headliner, sports pedals and door garnishes. Plus at this level, there's keyless entry with a start button, driver's lumbar support and cruise control with a speed limiter (upgraded on DCT auto models to Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go functionality and Kia's 'Highway Driving Assist' semi-autonomous drive system - more on that later).

Cost of Ownership

Let's get to the WLTP figures. The 48V mild hybrid version of the company's 1.6 T-GDI Smartstream petrol engine puts out 147g/km of CO2 and officially returns 43.5mpg on the combined cycle. The full-Hybrid HEV petrol model improves that showing to just under 130g/km - and manages around 50mpg. The PHEV plug-in version manages a three-figure fuel reading but as usual with a PHEV, what you'll actually get will be closer to the kind of average figure you would have achieved with the old CRDi diesel in this Sportage. The PHEV models CO2 figure will be a bit better than that old black pump-fuelled model though, around 25g/km. Charging a PHEV Sportage from a 3-pin ICCB supply takes 6 hours and 30 minutes (empty to 95%). Use the kind of 7kW wallbox you'd obviously install at home if you were to choose a Plug-in Hybrid and that time drops to 1 hour and 42 minutes. As usual with Kia, there's a 7 year or 100,000 mile warranty which, since it can be passed from owner to owner, should help the impressively strong residual values. You might want to note that roadside assistance cover is limited to one year, but you do get a long 12 year bodywork warranty. Maintenance costs can be kept down by opting for Kia's 'Care-3' or 'Care-3 Plus' servicing packages, which offer a fixed-cost and inflation-proof servicing plan for the first three or five years, something which can also be passed on to subsequent owners.

Summary

These days, this Sportage no longer sells just on value and equipment, in the way it did a decade ago. People choose this MK5-era car because it looks advanced and because of its media conductivity and cabin quality. But one thing has remained constant; the value proposition and the brand's impressive seven year warranty; Kia hasn't forgotten these core sales attributes. As for this update, well it's probably not enough to make you choose this Sportage if you weren't already quite interested in one before. But if you were, there are now even more reasons to prefer this Kia over its many talented competitors. The looks might still divide opinion and the PHEV drivetrain still isn't really cutting-edge, but overall, this Sportage still ticks a lot of boxes. And in a world increasingly full of all-electric Kias, it'll still play a key role in the brand's immediate future.