Key Toyota RAV4 rival's update teased: 2025 Kia Sportage design change shown in new video as it prepares to fight off the Nissan X-Trail and Mazda CX-5

Kia has given us a glimpse of its updated Sportage mid-size family SUV.

The South Korean brand revealed a new LED daytime running lights (DRLs) design that finally brings it in line with the refreshed styling of the rest of the brand’s range. 

Teaser videos aren’t incredibly revealing at the best of times, and the 20 second video of the updated Sportage posted on Kia’s official Korean Facebook page and Youtube channel is unsurprisingly low on detail. Luckily the parts that are of particular interest in the dark, shadowy clip are the SUV’s new very bright LED DRLs and tail lights.

Gone are the inward-facing arrow-like DRLs which the current Sportage has worn since the new-gen launched in 2022 and in their place are the vertical hook-style DRLs that seem to hang from the very edges of the front of the SUV. 

The visual effect of this new DRL design has a big impact on the perceived width of the car which we’ve seen on Kia EV9, EV5, Seltos and Carnival. Even Kia’s little Picanto seems to have bulked up following its makeover with the new broad-look DRLs, but it’s all a visual trick that works well in accentuating width. 

The super quick teaser video also gives us a peek at the rear of the Sportage and, yes, the taillights have also been given a tweak with squared-off design replacing the sleek and very pointy look of the current model.

2025 Kia Sportage

When will the Sportage get the new look? Australia will see the updated Sportage arrive in the second quarter of 2025 and you can expect it to land here with the redesigned DRLs and taillights.

You can expect a few changes to the interior trims and tech, and with it possibly a change in price, too.

Currently the Sportage starts at a list price of $32,995 in petrol front-wheel drive form in the S grade, while the most expensive variant is the hybrid GT-Line for $55,420.