By Muhammed Hashim 
The fifth-generation of the Kia Sportage was introduced in 2021 and is now ready for its mid-lifecycle update
- Kia will soon unveil the facelifted version of the Sportage, with styling and tech updates.
- The first teaser focuses on the redesigned LED headlights and taillights of the compact SUV.
- Earlier spy shots showed a curved display on the revised dashboard and a new steering wheel.
Kia has just dropped the first official teaser of the facelifted Sportage, set to make its Korean debut this November. Three years after the fifth-gen model’s launch, the SUV is primed for an update, boasting fresh styling cues and tech upgrades inside.
The teaser video zooms in on the revamped lighting signature, bringing the Sportage in line with Kia’s latest design language. The front end now appears more muscular, thanks to a sharper, vertically stacked pair of headlights and a reworked grille that gives it a more confident, upright stance.
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In profile, not much has changed, but the rear gets tweaked LED graphics for a cleaner, more modern look. These changes are expected to be applied to both the long-wheelbase version (targeting Korea, North America, and Australia) and the shorter, Europe-bound model.
This facelift follows the same recipe Kia used for the Picanto, Sorento, Carnival, K4, and K8, aligning them visually with the brand’s growing EV lineup.
While the teaser keeps the cabin under wraps, spy shots have already given us a peek at the redesigned interior, featuring a new dashboard with a large curved display, updated controls, and a two-spoke steering wheel.
Kia
Besides the styling and technological upgrades, the Sportage will retain the same underpinnings, shared with the Hyundai Tucson. The powertrain lineup will likely be carried over with small improvements in efficiency, including gasoline, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid options.
Kia will unveil the full design, specs, and pricing in Korea next month, with the North American version likely following soon after as a 2026 model. Until then, check out our rendering of what to expect from the facelifted Sportage below.
In a clever bit of cross-promotion, Kia also announced a partnership with Netflix to showcase its models in the second season of the global hit “Squid Game.”
