Kia Sportage S 2025 review: snapshot

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EXPERT RATING
7.0

Likes

Svelte styling
Sorted ride
Spacious backseat and boot

Dislikes

Slightly weird slow-speed steering
Feels under-specced in cheaper models
No smarter engine options offered
Photo of Andrew Chesterton
Andrew Chesterton

Contributing Journalist

1 min read

The S opens the four-model Kia Sportage line-up, and it’s available only with a 2.0-litre petrol or 2.0-litre diesel engine. There are turbo-petrol and hybrid powertrains offered elsewhere in the range, but the entry-level Sportage misses out.

Still, the S gets 17-inch alloys, LED DRLs, power-folding mirrors and roof rails, while inside there are cloth seats, power windows, a smart key and push-button start and single-zone air-con with rear-seat vents.

Tech at this level is handled by a 12.3-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but no wireless charging, which pairs with a six-speaker stereo. The driver then gets a 4.2-inch screen to deliver driving info. 

All Sportage grades start with seven airbags, and even the cheapest S gets a pretty full suite of safety stuff, including a new SOS Button should you have an accident, AEB with junction sensing, blind-spot monitoring, lane keep and lane follow assist, a rear-view camera and the always-infuriating speed limit monitoring.

Read the full 2025 Kia Sportage review

Kia Sportage 2025: S (Fwd)

Engine Type Inline 4, 2.0L
Fuel Type Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency 8.1L/100km (combined)
Seating 5
Price From $34,760 - $41,360
Safety Rating

Pricing Guides

$54,586
Based on 535 cars listed for sale in the last 6 months.
LOWEST PRICE
$32,999
HIGHEST PRICE
$66,888
Photo of Andrew Chesterton
Andrew Chesterton

Contributing Journalist

Andrew Chesterton should probably hate cars. From his hail-damaged Camira that looked like it had spent a hard life parked at the end of Tiger Woods' personal driving range, to the Nissan Pulsar Reebok that shook like it was possessed by a particularly mean-spirited demon every time he dared push past 40km/h, his personal car history isn't exactly littered with gold. But that seemingly endless procession of rust-savaged hate machines taught him something even more important; that cars are more than a collection of nuts, bolts and petrol. They're your ticket to freedom, a way to unlock incredible experiences, rolling invitations to incredible adventures. They have soul. And so, somehow, the car bug still bit. And it bit hard. When "Chesto" started his journalism career with News Ltd's Sunday and Daily Telegraph newspapers, he covered just about everything, from business to real estate, courts to crime, before settling into state political reporting at NSW Parliament House. But the automotive world's siren song soon sounded again, and he begged anyone who would listen for the opportunity to write about cars. Eventually they listened, and his career since has seen him filing car news, reviews and features for TopGear, Wheels, Motor and, of course, CarsGuide, as well as many, many others. More than a decade later, and the car bug is yet to relinquish its toothy grip. And if you ask Chesto, he thinks it never will. Note: The author, Andrew Chesterton, is a co-owner of Smart As Media, a content agency and media distribution service with a number automotive brands among its clients. When producing content for CarsGuide, he does so in accordance with the CarsGuide Editorial Guidelines and Code of Ethics, and the views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
About Author
Disclaimer: The pricing information shown in the editorial content (Review Prices) is to be used as a guide only and is based on information provided to Carsguide Autotrader Media Solutions Pty Ltd (Carsguide) both by third party sources and the car manufacturer at the time of publication. The Review Prices were correct at the time of publication. Carsguide does not warrant or represent that the information is accurate, reliable, complete, current or suitable for any particular purpose. You should not use or rely upon this information without conducting an independent assessment and valuation of the vehicle.

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