The facelifted Kia Sportage will arrive in Australia within the coming months, and it’s expected to continue with diesel power but add more hybrid options for local buyers.
Local government documents show the updated Kia Sportage has been approved for sale with its existing 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine as a part of the lineup, alongside an expanded petrol-hybrid lineup and non-hybrid petrol offerings.
The Sportage’s turbo-diesel engine currently produces 137kW of power and 416Nm of torque, and is mated to an eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission and an all-wheel drive system. It’s the only powertrain offered across all of the Sportage’s four grades (S, SX, SX+ and GT-Line).
This means the Sportage will be the one of the last affordable mid-sized SUVs available with diesel power in Australia, after its key rivals – including the related Hyundai Tucson – moved to petrol and hybrid technology.
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At present, you can only get a hybrid Sportage in SX and GT-Line guise, however CarExpert has previously reported the fuel-saving technology is expected to become available outside these two variants when the facelifted model arrives.
This will also include the option of all-wheel drive for the first time, with the Sportage hybrid’s current powertrain consisting of a turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine and electric motor powering the front wheels.
The powertrain currently develops 169kW, but the facelifted model produces 172kW, thanks to a more powerful electric motor.
All-wheel drive has been available overseas for the Sportage hybrid, but its inclusion won’t come at the expense of more affordable front-wheel drive options.
It’s understood Kia is keen to bring a wider choice – and greater volume – of hybrids to local showrooms, partly to help it meet the government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).
Only hybrid versions of the SUV currently come in under the threshold for passenger cars, with the turbo-diesel, naturally aspirated 2.0-litre petrol and turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engines all above the 141g/km CO2 limit.
According to the approval documents, the 115kW/192Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine will remain, however the six-speed manual transmission available in the S and SX won’t continue.
Instead, a 2.0-litre/six-speed auto combination will serve as a point of entry to the lineup. Expect the base price to increase, given the current $2000 price difference between the three- and two-pedal setups.
There will also be a transmission change for the non-hybrid 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine, which will continue to produce 132kW/265Nm, but will send drive to all four wheels via an eight-speed torque-converter automatic, rather than the current seven-speed dual-clutch auto.
This could mean a reduction in fuel consumption and emissions, given the greater spread of ratios.
As previously reported, additional technology changes made to the new Sportage include Kia’s latest connected car navigation cockpit (ccNC) infotainment displays – which incorporate Kia Connect suite of online services and remote app functionality – and the semi-autonomous Highway Driving Assist.
Cosmetically, the Sportage gains new, more vertically oriented headlights with lengthy daytime running lights; a new front bumper and revised grille; tweaked tail lights and rear bumper; plus bold new wheel designs, ranging from 17 to 19 inches.
Interior changes include revised air vents and ambient lighting and a new steering wheel.
Australian deliveries are due to begin in the second quarter of 2025 (April to June), with pricing to be announced prior to arrival.
For context, the current Sportage ranges from $32,995 before on-road costs in base 2.0-litre manual S guise, to $55,420 before on-roads for the front-wheel drive GT-Line hybrid.
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