Kia Sportage vs Volkswagen Golf

What's the difference?

VS
Kia Sportage
Kia Sportage

$32,995 - $60,370

2025 price

Volkswagen Golf
Volkswagen Golf

$38,690 - $72,490

2025 price

Summary

2025 Kia Sportage
2025 Volkswagen Golf
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Inline 4, 2.0L

Turbo 4, 2.0L
Fuel Type
Unleaded Petrol

Premium Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
8.1L/100km (combined)

8.3L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

5
Dislikes
  • Slightly weird slow-speed steering
  • Feels under-specced in cheaper grades
  • Short and expensive service intervals for hybrid

  • Tight for width in the rear
  • No spare
  • Economy could be better
2025 Kia Sportage Summary

An updated Sportage is a big deal for Kia. It's the brand's best-selling model in Australia and around the world, and arguably has never faced more and stiffer competition.

There's a new Mazda CX-5 around the corner, this time with a hybrid, and Toyota has just whipped the covers off its new RAV4. And that's before you mention Hyundai, Volkswagen, Honda or the litany of Chinese newcomers all here for slice of the pie.

Kia tells us this mid-life update is designed to look better, drive better, offer better tech, better safety and better equipment right across a vast range that includes petrol, diesel, hybrid, two-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, turbo and non-turbo alike.

So the question is, is all of that enough to keep the Sportage fresh in the face of all this new competition? Let's go find out.

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2025 Volkswagen Golf Summary

It was the moment the Golf grew up. Just over 20 years ago Volkswagen unveiled a fire-breathing R32 variant to top the fourth-gen line-up of its already iconic hatch. With a growling atmo V6 engine, proper Haldex-based all-wheel drive, fat rubber and a pumped-up body, it instantly became the brand’s performance flagship.  

And another four Golf generations later an updated ‘8.5’ version of its current ancestor, the Golf R has arrived. An equally focused, heavy-hitting AWD with just over 30 per cent more torque and close to 40 per cent more power than that snarling, original R32.

CarsGuide was invited to its local launch, including a suitably challenging drive program on road and track. So, stay with us to see if this exceedingly hot hatch can earn a spot on your performance five-door short list.

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Deep dive comparison

2025 Kia Sportage 2025 Volkswagen Golf

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