KIA Sportage

Design & Quality

The Sportage’s interior combines luxury and practicality with premium materials like black or dual-tone black and beige leatherette upholstery, and yes, it is quite spacious, which makes families a lot more convenient. The overall design is simple but appealing at the same time; not everything is just squeezed into it. Rather, it is subtle and a lot straightforward where everything seems to be in the right place. The first thing that attracts attention is the 12.3-inch curved touchscreen and a 12.3-inch supervision cluster, which is the main highlight by far, giving the cockpit a futuristic vibe. Our impression about the quality is positive. The material looks durable, plastic quality is good, it should withstand even some rough use. Kia somehow maintained this SUV quite contemporary with its design of cabin, which feels quite latest, that young buyers will find appealing enough. 

Seats

The driver’s seat is well-placed; you sit high with a good view of the front and even sides, thanks to the big windshields, smaller A pillar and comfortable seat. It comes with eight-way power adjustments and lumbar support, something a lot helpful during long drives like intercity, which this car is well-suited for. The Leatherette upholstery looks premium, the ventilated front seats keep you cool, an added convenience. Lastly, the multi-function steering wheel with audio and cruise control buttons is seamless to use and provides great control for effortless city or highway drives.

The Sportage’s rear bench offers ample space for three passengers, thanks to the 2,680 mm wheelbase. Rear AC vents maintain comfortable cabin in UAE’s sweltering heat. The standard foldable rear armrest with cupholders is one extra convenience for family trips.

Electronic Parking Brake

The can comes with a standard electronic parking brake and pairs with hill-start assist for smooth starts on inclines or hilly areas.

AC Vents

The dual-zone automatic climate control system is powerful, and the rear AC vents keep passengers comfortable.

Storage Options

The cabin has enough storage to carry all your stuff, small or big items. The bigger glovebox helps you store all kinds of papers, documents or other items. The deep deep centre console, door-mounted bottle holders (1-litre capacity), and a rear armrest storage compartment are other areas for storage..

Armrest

The centre armrest at the front and rear is an added convenience and comfort as well as storage space.

Charging Options

Stay powered with USB-C charging ports for front and rear passengers, a 12V socket, and a wireless charging pad. Whether charging phones or tablets, the Sportage keeps your devices ready and powered.

Boot Space

Since the Sportage is slightly longer and bigger, a mid-size SUV, the boot space is proportional, and that is one of the key USPs when compared to Seltos or even Sonet. The size of the boot is 591 litres, and it is perfect for everyday as well as occasional high volume of cargo. And, if you exercise the option of folding the rear seats, then the boot expands to a massive 1,780 litres, which should suffice all your long-trip requirements.

Safety is a priority, with:

• Six airbags 
• Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
• Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• Traction Control
• Hill-Start Assist
• Rearview camera with energetic guidelines
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW)

• Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) (EX Plus)

• Lane Following Assist (LFA) (EX Plus)
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA)

• Reverse Cross-Traffic Alert and Automatic Braking

• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• ISOFIX child seat anchors
• Emergency Stop Signal (ESS)

The Sportage exterior is quite modern with well-known Kia elements including the front and side profiles with some muscularity and sleekness. The length of 4,515 mm in length, 1,865 mm in width, and 1,650 mm in height, with a 2,680 mm wheelbase, perfectly suits the mid-size category. Its 170 mm ground clearance is suitable to handle speed bumps and light desert trails with ease, quite a familiar terrain we come across in the UAE. The Sportage’s bold styling, featuring Kia’s common signature Tiger Nose grille and edgy aerodynamic lines, makes it look quite luxurious and high-end in overall appearance.

Front

The Sportage’s front is largely covered by the familiar grille, complete with star-map LED headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights (DRLs). They help the car’s look and are also powerful enough to ensure safer driving conditions at night. The standard fog lamps are a must-have addition that improves visibility, making early morning drives or late-night trips safer and more confident.

Side

The side profile blends rugged charm with modern flair, a prolific combination to have for an SUV. Elements like the floating roof rails, body-colored door handles, and power-folding side mirrors with LED turn signals give it a premium look. The curved window line and black side cladding create a sporty yet attractive appeal, which will appeal to more buyers looking for greater style.

Alloy Wheels

The Sportage get 18-inch crystal-cut alloy wheels (235/55R18), and the wheels help in superior grip and handling.

Rear

The Sportage’s rear complements the overall exterior, where the connected star-map LED tail lamps give a bold light signature at night. A high-mounted stop lamp and rear fog lamps are for higher safety. The body-colored spoilers are good for sporty touch, while the rear wiper and washer keep your view clear.

Colors

You can buy this mid-size SUV in different colours like the Clear White, Glacier White Pearl, Steel Silver, Gravity Grey, Aurora Black Pearl, Imperial Blue, Mars Orange, and Sparkling Silver. Dual-tone options include Clear White or Glacier White Pearl with an Aurora Black Pearl roof. Pick a shade to match your UAE vibe, from bold to sleek.

City Performance

The Kia Sportage’s 1.6L inline-four engine, nicely tuned with a smooth 7-speed DCT, is a boon, offering quiet and responsive power that makes driving on UAE’s busy city roads relaxing and serene. One might feel 4,515mm length would be some challenge, but our experience says, far from it. In reality, it's the opposite, due to the lower turning radius helps in easy parking and even highly dense business centres are simple to navigate. We were positively surprised by the Sportage's size and agility, even in the bumper-to-bumper traffic or congested lanes, and tight parking spots. All of this, the mileage of nearly close to 14 km/l, is what our average was. It’s not bad at all, and so qualifies it as a daily commuter without that pinch to your wallet.

Highway Performance

On our highways, the story isn’t that different either, as the Sportage stands out with its power and performance, with 152hp at your disposal. Overtaking and cruising is real fun. The Drive Mode of Eco, Normal, and Sport modes—let you switch easily between maximum efficiency and a sportier, more efficient drive. The highly effective acoustic hood is lovely, and overall NVH is remarkable in keeping the cabin quiet, most of the time, significantly reducing engine and road noise.

Ride and Handling

Ride comfort is undoubtedly another strong aspect of the Sportage, and the credit goes to the well-tuned suspension system. The McPherson strut front suspension and multi-link rear setup, brilliant do their job in making your time inside the cabin awesome, especially through bad or rough roads. The steering is light and precise, another advantage in driving easily and straightforward, no matter if it is city traffic or the highway curve, it is quick to handle. With its 170mm ground clearance and Traction Mode Select (Sand, Mud, Snow), the Sportage is well-equipped to take on light off-road or desert tracks, so the occasional adventures are not bad either, even though it is not designed for tough off-roading. Overall, we can say with confidence that the Sportage is an impressive SUV that has a perfect mix of urban practicality, highway comfort, and light recreational ability to offer. 

• 12.3-inch curved touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

• 12.3-inch supervision cluster
• 18-inch crystal-cut alloy wheels
• Leatherette upholstery
• Ventilated front seats

• Dual-zone automatic climate control

• 8-speaker Harman Kardon audio system
• Keyless entry and push-button start
• Electronic parking brake with hill-start assist
• Wireless charging pad
• Panoramic sunroof

• Smart cruise control
• Rearview camera with dynamic guidelines
• Drive Mode Select (Eco, Normal, Sport)

• Traction Mode Select (Sand, Mud, Snow)
• Smart Pure Air purifier

The 2025 Kia Sportage is available in a single variant in the UAE

• The EX variant starts at AED 97,650, and gets everything we just discussed in this review, like the 1.6L engine, great torque,  delivering 178HP and 264Nm torque. It offers a 7-speed DCT, spacious 5-seat cabin, and all the modern tech features one would expect in this big SUV.

Anyone in the market right now, looking for a solid all-rounder SUV in the UAE, the Sportage deserves to be on your list. With extensive time spent and close experience with this SUV, we can say, nothing is missing in this highly reliable car. Sportage has a sporty and sharp look, sophisticated cabin with space, comfort and safety.

Lastly, the powertrain comes across as highly suitable for the car of this size; no matter whether you choose to go in city or drive on highway, the SUV performance is rather assuring. Some of the rather attractive highlights are panoramic sunroof, ventilated seats, and most advanced ADAS, topping the safety, so you feel safe and confident while with your family. And, all of this justifies the price, which is not out of budget but reasonable.

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