KIA Sportage L

Design & Quality

The key difference between the Sportage and Sportage L is the interior. It is where the L model scores well in terms of spaciousness, design and overall size of the cabin. However, the main ingredients remain the same. This starts from a combination of 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 12.3-inch curved touchscreen and a 12.3-inch supervision cluster are key highlights making the cockpit modern and futuristic. The material is high quality, and so durability is assured, with and so does the plastic quality.

Front Seat

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.

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.

Rear Seat

The Sportage L’s rear bench offers ample space for three passengers, thanks to the 2,755 mm wheelbase. And as a result, there is space at the rear that is far better. With that extra space, the experience at the rear is just wonderful. Passengers get enough leg, shoulder and headroom, and all your long drivers, intercity road trips will be fun, have a lot lower fatigue and more enjoyable. Rear AC vents maintain a comfortable cabin in UAE’s sweltering heat. The standard foldable rear armrest with cupholders is one extra convenience for family trips.

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

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 L keeps your devices ready and powered.

Boot Space

Since the Sportage L 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 543 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 1,870 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
• Smart Cruise Control 

• Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW)

• Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) (EX Plus)

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

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

The Sportage L's exterior is quite modern, featuring well-known Kia elements, including the front and side profiles that strike a balance between muscularity and sleekness. The length of 4,670 mm in length, 1,865 mm in width, and 1,680 mm in height, with a 2,755 mm wheelbase, perfectly suits the mid-size category. Its 178 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 L’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 L’s exterior closely resembles the Sportage SUV, with the 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 L has the option to choose between 17-19-inch crystal-cut alloy wheels, and the wheels help in superior grip and handling.

Rear

The Sportage L’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

The exterior colors are 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.

Dimension

City Performance

In terms of driving the car, we feel it resembles the Sportage, in almost every aspect. While the wheelbase is bigger, the overall performance of the car remains largely identical.  The 1.5L inline-four engine is awesome, with a smooth 8-speed automatic transmission that delivers quiet and responsive power, perfectly suited to city driving. And, the higher the 4,670 mm length feels like a lot, but it is actually not. The Sportage L's size and agility are great, beyond what we had anticipated, even in the congested city roads or narrow lanes, and not just that, but parking at tight spots is also quite effortless. And what you would appreciate is the rather high mileage for city driving for a car of this size; it is certainly a huge positive.

Highway Performance

On our highways, the SUV gets even better. The Sportage L impresses overall driving dynamics, the combination of power and torque. You will find overtaking and cruising is quite the delight, thanks to the smooth engine and high torque. The Drive Mode of Eco, Normal, and Sport modes make life easy by allowing you to 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

Another key aspect of this SUV is the superior ride quality and superb overall handling. And, this is largely due to the McPherson strut front suspension and multi-link rear setup. The steering is light and precise, another advantage in drivng 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 L 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. 

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

• 12.3-inch supervision cluster

• 18/19—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 L is available in three variants in the UAE

Kia Sportage L LX

The LX is a base model, and so the price is lower, but then you have to compromise on some features. However, what you get with these variants is the same robust powertrain, 17-inch alloy wheels, an 8-inch touchscreen, and decent features. For buyers looking for more as a practical SUV, with reliability rather than features, consider this one.

Kia Sportage L EX

The EX is in the middle; that is essentially a balance between the base and top variants. You find value and luxury, and some highlights are leather upholstery, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, panoramic sunroof, wireless charging, and extra driver, as compared to the base variants. So, you spend a little extra but get a substantial upgrade, and a premium ownership experience with more comfort and tech without shelling out for the top-spec SX.

Kia Sportage L SX

This variant has some high-end features including leather seats, 19-inch alloy wheels, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, ventilated front seats, sunroof, advanced ADAS, and a power tailgate. Anyone wishing to buy a fully-loaded SUV with luxury, tech, and extra safety, this is the right choice. 

Zighweels Recommends: Given the very established SUV in the UAE market, the Sportage L is a highly capable family vehicle that promises extra space, comfort, and features. Based on our observations, we feel the middle variants, Sportage L EX, should be an ideal pick for most of the buyers in the market right now. And, it is not hard to arrive on the decision, as the EX is a clear bargain, where without paying too much, you get almost everything that is needed in the car for your individual and family needs. 

Just like its sibling, the Sportage, the L model of this SUV is a solid all-rounder, with the added benefit of extra space, and families will love that extra comfort and ability to carry more luggage. The  Sportage L has a sporty and sharp look, sophisticated cabin with space, comfort and safety. The powertrain comes across as highly capable for the car of this size; no matter whether you choose to go in city or drive on highway, the SUV's performance is rather assuring. Some of the rather attractive highlights are panoramic sunroof, ventilated seats, and the 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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