5th-Gen Kia Sportage Facelift Debuts

Kia has introduced the much-awaited facelift of the 5th-generation Sportage. The update, featuring a redesigned front end, an upgraded interior, and some changes under the skin, arrives three years after the debut of the 5th generation model in 2021.

5th-gen Kia Sportage facelift debuts

The redesign follows the same recipe Kia used for the Picanto, Sorento, Carnival, K4, and K8, aligning them visually with the brand’s growing EV lineup. The standout feature is the front end, which showcases sharper, vertically stacked headlights, redesigned bumper intakes, and a refreshed grille, giving the SUV a more confident and upright stance.

The side profile remains mostly unchanged, except for the updated front fenders and new alloy wheel designs, available in 17, 18, and 19-inch sizes. The rear retains its familiar look but introduces new LED taillight graphics and subtle tweaks to the rear bumper. The updates will be applied to both the longer wheelbase international version and the shorter wheelbase European version.

Inside, the 5th-gen Kia Sportage facelift now features a curved digital cockpit with dual 12.3-inch screens, a new head-up display, a contemporary two-spoke steering wheel, mood lighting, sleeker A/C vents, and updated switchgear. The safety package has been enhanced with a new steering wheel grip detection system, vibration warnings, a driver-facing camera, and the latest ADAS technology.

Kia also offers three interior color options—Lounge Brown, Black, and Navy Gray—complementing the eight available exterior colors.

The entry-level Sportage comes equipped with a carryover 2.0-liter LPG engine delivering 144 hp (107 kW / 146 PS). The more powerful 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine continues to produce 177 hp (132 kW / 180 PS) but is now paired with a new eight-speed automatic transmission, offering smoother gear shifts compared to the previous seven-speed dual-clutch unit.

The upgraded hybrid powertrain sees a modest increase of 5 hp (3.7 kW). Specifically, the self-charging hybrid system includes a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine producing 177 hp (132 kW / 180 PS) and an electric motor adding 64 hp (47.7 kW). It is likely that Kia will continue offering a plug-in hybrid version of the Sportage in other markets, including North America.

Kia engineers have also enhanced the hybrid’s regenerative braking system, allowing the driver to control its intensity using paddle shifters. The smart regenerative braking adjusts automatically based on road conditions with data from the navigation system. Additionally, the electrified Sportage adopts the “infant driving mode” from the related Hyundai Tucson, ensuring smooth acceleration.

As for the chassis, the front-wheel strut now features a new two-way damper to reduce road noise. The Sportage’s NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) levels have also been improved with extra sound-deadening materials added to the B-pillar, crash pad, and door trim. Notably, since 2023, the pre-facelifted Sportage has come standard with sound-insulating glass on the front windows, while higher trims feature it on the rear windows as well.

In Korea, the Sportage is priced between ₩28.36 million ($20,600) and ₩48.70 million ($35,300), depending on the powertrain and trim level. Furthermore, in a smart marketing move, Kia also announced a partnership with Netflix, showcasing its models in the second season of the global hit series “Squid Game.”

Unfortunately, Pakistan remains the only market in the world where the obsolete 4th-gen Kia Sportage is still being sold. The local lineup also consists of the globally retired 2nd-gen Picanto as well as the globally discontinued 3rd-gen Sorento, with the only exception being the slowest-selling Stonic, which is parallel to the rest of the markets.