2025 Kia Sportage Road Test and Review

2024 Kia Sportage PHEV ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Roomy, stylish, and affordable – a lot of people want these three qualities in their new car, but it’s not easy to find them all at the same time. The 2025 Kia Sportage tries to hit the trifecta. 

The Sportage is a compact crossover with eye-catching looks, above-average passenger and cargo space, and a below-average price tag. Check, check, and check. It’s also sold with a choice of gasoline, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid powertrains, depending on how much you’d like to pay upfront for better gas mileage. We just spent a week testing the Sportage plug-in hybrid, and we’ve tested both its other powertrains in the past as well. To learn more about the Sportage’s pros and cons, keep reading our full review and see if it’s the right small SUV for you. 

Feature-Packed Model Lineup

At its base price of $27,190, the Sportage comes dressed up with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, LED headlights and taillights, and 17-inch alloy wheels, and packed with advanced safety features like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping steering assistance, and rear parking sensors. Adding all-wheel drive (an $1,800 option on most trim levels) also buys you heated front seats. 

The value continues as you move up the lineup. The EX, $29,290, costs less than most competitors’ base models. Yet it already brings leatherette upholstery, heated front seats with driver’s power adjustability, push-button starting, automatic climate control, a big 12.3-inch touchscreen with GPS navigation, a wireless smartphone charger, rain-sensing windshield wipers, blind-spot monitoring, and 18-inch wheels. There’s also the SX with a Harmon Kardon stereo, panoramic sunroof, power liftgate, and adaptive cruise control ($32,790) and the SX Prestige with ventilated front seats, a surround-view parking camera, and 19-inch wheels ($34,790). Three off-road-themed “X” trim levels round out the lineup at a premium of about $1,000 to $2,000 over standard models with equivalent features. 

The Sportage Hybrid is available in LX, EX, and SX Prestige grades, typically for about $1,500 more than a comparable gas-only model. And the Sportage PHEV plug-in hybrid is sold in two well-equipped X-Line trims – $39,690 and $44,190, respectively – for a steep premium of about $7,000 versus a standard hybrid. We’ll cover these three engine choices in more detail later on, but our pick is the standard hybrid. 

2024 Kia Sportage PHEV ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Pizzazz Galore

While once the Sportage straddled the subcompact and crossover classes, the current model – which debuted in 2023 – stretches itself confidently across a generous 183.5-inch length. It looks like a more substantial vehicle than some similarly sized rivals. 

And at least to our eyes, the Sportage’s details are fresh and distinctive without being overwrought. The two-piece headlights are LED spears that Kia calls “boomerangs,” which wrap around chunkier diamond-shaped lights beside the grille. (For the 2026 model year, Kia plans to replace the Sportage’s front end with a blockier design borrowed from the larger Sorento crossover.) Toward the back, a bulge above the rear fender flows into a crease that spans the rear end below the windshield. The top-mounted rear wiper hides under a roof spoiler for a cleaner look. And the X models add a touch of off-road flavor with blacked-out wheels and other styling details, available all-terrain tires, and raised roof rails, along with recalibrated driving modes. 

2024 Kia Sportage PHEV ・ Photo by Brady Holt

The Dazzle Continues Inside

The 2025 Kia Sportage also makes a strong first impression inside, as long as you like a digital-heavy experience. As we mentioned, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster is standard. And on all but the LX, it connects seamlessly to the big 12.3-inch touchscreen at the center of the dashboard. Kia simplifies the look with dual-function audio and climate controls on these models; tap a button, and the knobs and touch-sensitive controls change their functions. It’s a neat idea and looks cool, but it’s not the easiest to use. And the big screen also takes a few taps or swipes to get away from a blank homescreen. The base LX model has conventional buttons and knobs, and it’s the winner for ease of use. 

Bulging HVAC vents give the Sportage a rugged look, and most trim pieces fit together well. But while everything looks nice, if you poke around, some of the cabin’s plastics feel cheap. We don’t mean the Sportage feels junky, but as you explore more, it becomes clearer how Kia kept prices so low. And its shiny black plastic belongs to a trend we’re ready to be done with. But overall, we appreciate how the Sportage can make a positive first impression even on a budget. 

2024 Kia Sportage PHEV ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Lots of Room, Too

We mentioned that the Sportage is one of the roomier compact crossovers. The front and rear seats are comfortable, with space to spread out. And comfort amenities abound: All but the front-wheel-drive LX have heated front seats, all but the LX have a power driver’s seat, the EX AWD and up have a heated steering wheel, and the Prestige models have ventilated front seats. You can’t get heated rear seats or genuine leather upholstery, though. 

Cargo space measures 40 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 74 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. That’s among the best of any compact crossover. (The PHEV’s larger battery takes up some space and raises the cargo floor, shaving a few feet off this capacity.) Towing capacity stands at 2,500 pounds, which is also above average for a compact crossover, while hybrid models can tow 2,000 pounds. 

2024 Kia Sportage PHEV ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Well-Mannered Suspension

The Sportage rides and handles well. The ride is smooth and steady, absorbing bumps with aplomb and feeling stable. It’s decently quiet, too. This isn’t a luxury-car experience, but it’s a comfortable ride that avoids feeling junky. Similarly, we appreciated the easy, natural-feeling steering and handling. A Mazda CX-50 or Ford Escape have crisper moves, but the Kia never feels floppy or clumsy. 

Don’t count on the Sportage for off-roading, though. Its 8.3 inches of ground clearance is above average for a crossover, and the X models’ driving modes will help out its all-wheel drive somewhat. You won’t get stuck if the county fair’s overflow parking area is a bit muddy. But this isn’t a rock-crawling truck.  

2024 Kia Sportage PHEV ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Unremarkable Base Engine

A weak point in the Sportage lineup is its base gas-only engine. This 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine sends a decent 187 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission, but real-world acceleration is more sluggish than most competitors. We felt it most when we needed to put our foot down to merge – that’s when the engine got noisy but failed to summon much extra power. 

We’d excuse a power shortfall if the Sportage was especially economical. It’s not. The EPA projects 25 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highway, and 28 mpg combined with front-wheel drive, while AWD incurs a whopping 3 mpg penalty. Our AWD X-Pro Prestige managed 27 mpg in a weeklong test. That’s not a gas-guzzler, but several competitors crack 30 mpg. Fortunately, as we’ll discuss, so can other Sportage powertrains. 

2023 Kia Sportage X-Pro Prestige ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Two Hybrids Elevate Its Game

For both more speed and better gas mileage, you want the Sportage Hybrid. It pairs a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor for a total output of 227 hp. This powertrain is quicker, quieter, and smoother than the base 2.5-liter. EPA estimates are 43 mpg with front-wheel drive and 38 mpg with all-wheel drive. We only saw 34 mpg in our AWD test vehicle, but this upgrade is worth the small upcharge for the extra power and refinement alone. Any extra mileage you get is icing on the cake. (And even without hitting the EPA estimate, that’s still 7 mpg worth of icing.) 

There’s also the Sportage PHEV. The idea is that you charge up a larger battery using energy from the grid, enjoy up to 34 miles of fully electric range, and then average 35 mpg once that range is used up. We love this idea in principle. But because the Sportage plug-in hybrid often runs the engine when you need the heater – whether you’ve charged it up or not – we didn’t get to enjoy the promise of making short trips without gasoline. At some $7,000 more than the standard hybrid, it’s a tough sell. 

2024 Kia Sportage PHEV ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Lots of Competitors

Compact crossovers are many automakers’ biggest sellers, so the Sportage faces many strong rivals. Not least of all, it must compete with its corporate cousin: the similarly priced but differently styled Hyundai Tucson, with which it shares its engines and other mechanical components. Most differences are a matter of personal taste and how good of a deal you can find on the SUV you’d pick. 

Other aggressively priced crossovers we recommend include the Chevrolet Equinox and the Mazda CX-5 and CX-50. The Sportage is the roomiest and the least expensive of the three, and it has the longest warranty. Also, out of these models, only the CX-50 is available as a gas-electric hybrid. However, we like the Mazdas’ sportier driving manners, available powerful turbo engines, and richly finished cabins. And the Chevy is handsome without the Kia’s potentially polarizing flashiness. 

If price isn’t paramount, you might be happy spending a few thousand dollars more for a couple of our other favorites – the Honda CR-V and Nissan Rogue. They handle and accelerate with more verve than the Sportage; they have richer interior materials and simpler controls; and they get better gas mileage. Just crunch the numbers carefully. Especially if you’re interested in higher-end amenities, the Sportage’s price advantage may prove considerable. You can probably even get a Sportage Hybrid for less money than a CR-V or Rogue with just a gasoline engine. 

Alternatively, bargain hunters might forego some of the Sportage’s spaciousness and luxury in favor of a subcompact model. Our favorites include Kia’s own Seltos and the Honda HR-V. You might be pleasantly surprised to find they meet your needs for even less money.  

2025 Chevrolet Equinox RS ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Hybrid Rivals

If you’re interested in a fuel-sipping hybrid, the Sportage trailed its competitors in real-world mileage in our experience. Hybrid versions of the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, and Mazda CX-50 are more economical. But they also cost more, and the Sportage is roomier and has livelier acceleration. It’s also much quieter than the Toyota or Mazda. 

The Escape and RAV4, plus the Mitsubishi Outlander, also have plug-in hybrid versions. As with the Kia, they’re expensive, but they’re better about letting you use your all-electric range to keep the gas engine off while the battery still has charge. If you’re interested in spending so much for a plug-in hybrid, they fill the promise of gas-free short drives better. Still, the Sportage is roomier than these competitors and runs willingly on electricity in warm temperatures. 

2023 Ford Escape PHEV ・ Photo by Brady Holt

More Than Just a Low Price

Whether the Sportage catches your attention with its bolder styling or below-average price, it has the goods to hold your interest: a well-rounded overall package that includes standout cargo room and value for the money. 

The Sportage’s gas engine isn’t great. It’s neither quick nor economical. Fortunately, the Sportage is such a strong value that even the costlier hybrid version costs less than even many rival gas-only models. Once you’ve upgraded to the hybrid, you’ve solved the Sportage’s primary deal-breaking flaw. 

True, competing (costlier) hybrids are even more efficient. We’d have changed a few details about the interior’s materials and control layout. And you might pick something that’s more off-road-ready or on-road sporty. But the redesigned Sportage has a lot for anybody to like – especially in hybrid form.  

2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid ・ Photo by Brady Holt