2025 Kia Sportage facelift: Australia confirmed, with diesel too

December: 2025 Kia Sportage will offer diesel for Australia

Its fate in other markets may be less clear, but this much we know:

Contrary to our earlier reporting, below, Australian buyers of the 2025 Sportage will retain the option of Kia's familiar 2.0-litre turbo diesel.

In a simple message delivered this morning, a spokesperson for Kia's Australian office said: "We're not punting the diesel anytime soon".

The updated Sportage will reach Australia in the first half of 2025.

November: New-look Sportage revealed

Kia has officially unveiled the 2025 Sportage facelift with design, interior, and mechanical updates across the mid-sized SUV range.

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Top: The new-look 2025, bottom: The Sportage as we know it now

Design changes bring Sportage in line with latest Kia themes

The 2025 Sportage features a refreshed front-end design with redesigned headlights, a revised bumper, and an updated grille.

At the rear, the LED taillights now incorporate revised graphics. Kia has also expanded the exterior palette with new colour options and introduced fresh alloy wheel designs across the range.

What do you think of the new styling? Tell us in the comments below!

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Inside, the 2025 Sportage debuts a new two-spoke steering wheel and a digital cockpit that integrates a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a central touchscreen infotainment system.

Redesigned air-conditioning vents align with the updated dashboard layout.

Kia has not detailed specific changes to interior materials or features unique to particular trims but has noted improvements to sound insulation within the cabin.

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Mechanical updates

Mechanically, Kia has introduced several updates aimed at improving ride quality and cabin refinement:

• Front suspension system now features enhanced dampers for improved ride comfort.
• Additional sound-absorbing materials have been installed to reduce road noise and improve cabin quietness.
• A key drivetrain update includes the replacement of the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with a conventional 8-speed automatic, paired with the unchanged 132kW/265Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine.

We'll know better after our first drive, but this setup will likely deliver smoother and more predictable shifts when compared to the outgoing dual-clutch unit – especially as we've seen this already with the smaller Seltos.

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Hybrid boost

The hybrid model's electric motor gets a power boost from 44.2kW to a new 47.7kW rating. Combined output for the updated hybrid hasn't been confirmed, but if the new electric number transfers directly, overall power could be boosted to 172kW – up from 169kW in the current model.

Kia hasn't confirmed any changes to fuel efficiency, but the current model claims an excellent 4.9L/100km figure.

Binned Diesel

The popular 2.0-litre diesel of the current Sportage has been removed from most markets, including Australia, following a similar move made for the related Hyundai Tucson.

December update: Forget what you've read, the diesel Sportage will continue.

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When will the 2025 Kia Sportage go on sale in Australia?

The updated Sportage is expected to arrive locally in early 2025, with further details to be confirmed closer to the launch date.