First Drive: 2025 Kia Sportage CKD — Yet Another Stellar Left-Fielder!

2024 saw the local automotive market brimming with new C-segment SUVs, ranging from the usual Japanese suspects to a handful of quirky Chinese newcomers. Ranked among this new bunch of C-SUVs is one new latecomer from Korea, namely the fifth-gen Kia Sportage.

Locally assembled (CKD) at the Inokom Kulim production facility, the new Sportage promises to be a stellar left-field alternative against the reigning Japanese C-SUVs, while at the same time offering better assurance over the new, burgeoning Chinese brands.

To test out the true capabilities of the new Sportage CKD, we’ve been recently invited by local Kia brand vanguard Bermaz Auto Berhad (BAuto) for a special one-day drive event, traversing across a diverse range of tarmacs, ranging from expressways to treacherous B-roads and hill climbs.

Without further ado, here’s our first impression on this Kedah-made, Korean-badged C-segment SUV…

The Ride

The local-spec Sportage CKD is offered in four variants, but during this one-day drive, we’ve been given the chance to test only two, namely the mid-spec 2.0 High and the range-topping 1.6T High AWD.

Starting with the former, this middling spec Sportage uses a 2.0-litre 4-cyl naturally-aspirated SmartStream petrol engine that produces 156 HP and 192 NM. Power is then sent exclusively to the front wheels (FWD) via a 6-speed conventional automatic transmission.

Meanwhile, the top-spec 1.6T High AWD model gets a smaller yet peppier 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbocharged Gamma II petrol lump that is augmented with a 7-speed DCT automatic gearbox for a total system output of 177 HP and 265 NM. And as its name suggests, the range-topper comes with an all-wheel drive (AWD) system with a differential lock.

Visually, both the 2.0 High and 1.6T High AWD models look somewhat similar, with the only few notable differences being LED headlights (standard LED for 2.0 High, LED projectors for 1.6T High AWD), the wheel designs (17-inch for 2.0 High, 18-inch for 1.6T High AWD), and the presence of the 4X AWD badge at the tailgate.

More changes can be seen between the two variants as we get inside, with the top-flight model getting more standard amenities. Key highlights include a 12.3-inch infotainment display with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM), a digital A/C control panel, an 8-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system, and many more.

Meanwhile, the mid-spec 2.0 High settles for a smaller 8-inch infotainment screen that still supports both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a semi-digital instrument cluster with a 4.2-inch TFT screen, and a standard 6-speaker audio system, to name a few.

With that being said, both the Sportage 2.0 High and 1.6T High AWD get the same active safety suite, featuring ADAS functions like High Beam Assist (HBA), Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW), Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), Lane Following Assist (LFA), Smart Cruise Control (SCC), and many more.

The Drive

The whole drive was divided into three main sections, with the first stretch taking place from Glenmarie all the way to Kampung Bukit Tinggi via several expressways. Here, we were given the opportunity to test out the Sportage CKD’s capabilities as a daily urban commute and a long-haul people mover.

For the first stretch, we got to drive the mid-spec Sportage 2.0 High, and the drive felt quite smooth and decent on well-paved highways, as the car can comfortably cruise even beyond the highway speed limits. Once we got to the hill-climbing sections of the KL-Karak expressway, however, the 2.0-litre nat-asp lump felt a bit gutless and underpowered, while the six-speed gearbox also felt quite sluggish in shifts.

For the second section, we veered off the expressway for a more scenic route via the old Gombak B-road heading towards Janda Baik, and this is where the Sportage comes alive. Through the sharp corners and twisties, this C-SUV felt quite agile and sure-footed, although the rear passenger comfort was not the best thing in the world—a fact that we later discovered to be caused by the over-inflated tyres.

While the Sportage 2.0 High might feel a bit underpowered at times, we’d reckon this mid-spec SUV would still make a decent alternative for those who are seeking an urban commuter with ample space for them and their family.

Moving on to the third and final stretch from Janda Baik to Serendah, we’ve swapped the Sportage 2.0 High for the top-spec Sportage 1.6T High AWD. Immediately, the drive felt more engaging and peppy, thanks to the peppier 1.6-litre turbopetrol it is primed with.

Even during our partial hill climbs from Janda Baik to Gohtong Jaya, the Sportage did not suffer from any delay engagements or underpoweredness, with the 7-speed DCT gearbox feeling much smoother and more responsive than the six-speed unit primed on the 2.0 High model.

En route to the designated campsite in Serendah, we’ve gotten the chance to drive the Sportage through a shallow river crossing. Its decent 181 MM ground clearance was proven to be enough for the Sportage to transverse through this shallow body of water. Having said that, we strongly advised against taking the Sportage for your next off-road jungle adventure, as this SUV crossover is designed more for everyday use rather than the all-terrain-conquering machine.

One thing we also liked about the Sportage CKD is that, unlike many other modern SUVs out there, Kia has still kept many physical controls and buttons for essential functions like climate control, drive mode selector, and many more. This prevents drivers from relying entirely on the screens, thus allowing them to focus more on the road.

Verdict

From our short yet well-versed stint with this Korean SUV, we find the 2025 Kia Sportage CKD to make for a pretty decent alternative to your usual C-SUV suspects, especially if you’re opting for the top-spec 1.6T High AWD variant. Thanks to its bold and striking design, a well-equipped and spacious cabin, and decent ride and handling performance, we certainly think those who are willing to bet on the new Sportage will be rewarded with a decent all-rounder.

Further sweetening the deal for this Korean fighter are the comprehensive warranty packages offered by BAuto, where all variants of the Sportage CKD are offered with the same 5-year or 100,000 KM vehicle warranty and a separate 5-year or 100,000 KM free scheduled maintenance package—offering you unrivalled after-sales support and a peace-of-mind ownership experience.

The all-new 2025 Kia Sportage CKD currently retails at RM145,999 for the baseline 2.0L variant, RM155,999 for the 2.0L High, RM175,999 for the 1.6T High, and RM185,999 for the range-topping 1.6T High AWD.