Face-lifted 2025 Kia Sportage Teased Ahead of Nov Debut

Korean automaker Kia has released the first teaser images of its face-lifted Kia Sportage compact crossover SUV offering. A full reveal is slated for Nov, and will see the Sportage gaining sharper new looks for its upcoming 2025 model year guise.

Though the teaser images doesn’t show much, it’s aptly clear that the refreshed 2025MY version will see its boomerang-shaped LED DRLs replaced with the marque’s new ‘Star Map’ lighting scheme - similar to the EV9 flagship EV SUV.

New here too are vertical headlights surrounded by ultra-slim lighting, as well as a tweaked ‘Tiger Nose’ front grille. At the rear, the facelift treatment also sees the fifth-gen Sportage gaining a new taillight cluster design as well.
Interior changes remain unknown still, but rumours indicate the new Sportage could borrow some of the cutting-edge tech and amenities seen in its electric siblings - expect it to gain a triple-screen infotainment system, similar to the upcoming EV3.

Aesthetics aside, the face-lifted 2025MY Sportage will likely retain the same powertrains offered in its current form. Included here are a variety of turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol and 2.0-litre diesel lumps, as well as hybrid and plug-in hybrid options.

Whilst we anticipate this new face-lifted model’s global debut next month, the Kia Sportage in its current form is expected to debut locally in Malaysia soon. Earlier this year, Bermaz Group CEO Datuk Francis Lee had confirmed that the firm had begun local assembly (CKD) efforts for the model already.

In the same interview, the exec also confirmed that the Bermaz Auto, which distributes the Kia brand via its Dinamikjaya Motors arm, were mulling to include electrified (hybrid) variants for the local market too. However, there has been no update since this initial interview.

However, thanks to insider sources, Carz.com.my has understood that Bermaz Auto is set to launch the fifth-gen Kia Sportage locally in current pre-facelift form before the year ends. We will likely see the firm launch this model at the upcoming KL International Mobility Show 2024 (KLIMS 2024) this Dec.