I'm in Seoul and had the pleasure of exploring the hybrid trim in this new stunning blue color at the Netflix Squid Game 2 + 2026 Kia Sportage promo event. Instantly fell in love with this car!!
@GodsloveMuzik You clearly don't know the history of Toyota. Toyota always had some issues and recalls. Their strength is that they always quickly fixed problems and the vehicles became very reliable. That strength still exist. Recently, only 2 out of 14 of their vehicles had serious issues which has been resolved in newly manufactured vehicles. Toyota still makes the most reliable vehicles. No Hyundai/Kia is anywhere near Toyota's level of reliability.
I have a 2023 X-Pro, I love the Boomerang DRL, they’re standouts. This refresh is ok, nothing that would make me wanna upgrade. Proof that the 2023 release was 🔥, tweaks are to be expected, wireless CarPlay is due, maybe I’ll get that in an update. Great review, and Great Job Kia!
Bought my first kia (Sephia) in 1994. No issues with that car for 9yr. Then in 2011 when they updated it, got the Kia Sportage.... again... no issues in 9yr... in 2026 I may just get another one.
For this Category, IMHO, this Blows away the competition . Dynamic looks, Graphics (makes Honda/ Acura look OLD). Only real thing requiring research is KIA's reliability. As a Retiree, at 73 YO (and the wife who drives her 16 CRV Touring) a vehicle like this Kia Sportage is attractive to me, especially a Hybrid with 34-36 MPGs! My 22 MDXlease is now coming to its end. I looked at 25 Sorento SX-Prestige (Both Hybrid and Non -Hybrid) and was pretty Impressed. The Non HYbriod with the 2.5L Turbo was Quick & Responsive; The PHEV Hybrid (its Battery was not fully charged sitting on the lot) was Laggy and had too much hesitancy. I would re-test a non PHEV , regualr Hybrid to make the final comparison. I do wish KIA would include a power Steering wheel adjustment feature which I've had in my last 6 Cars. I found the Tilt/Telescoping steering wheel did NOT come out far enough, requiring me to bring the driver's seat more forward than I would like. The Graphics in the Sorento were excellent as well....bright, quick to respond, and excellent rear view camera.
In my humble opinion i think Sportage is extremely Beautiful , but since KIA promoted XPRO has an off road TRIM they need to: 1-increase ground clearance 2- Skid plate like TRD PRO 3-surround view camera for off road activity 4- more rugged look 5- More power
Not having express up/down windows in the back may be a good thing especially if kids have their fingers/hands in the vicinity of the window or dogs have their heads stuck out.
I hope the top trim SX Prestige ditches the excessive matte or gloss black plastic wheel arches & bumpers in favor of more body color elements for the lower half of the Sportage
Informative introduction. I'm assuming from the dedicated map button it comes with navigation and doesn't rely on a driver's phone (which relies upon being in a coverage area)....Will the hybrid give the driver control over regenerative braking (i.e. a "zero" setting) to allow coasting without resistance?
Digging the baby blue with blacked out window trim. And finally, no glossy piano vlack center console! The headlight modules are a bit grotesque for the size of the suv -- design fax pas there?
You do have a good point though at least we can see it. I'm over here hoping the new 2026 Honda CRV has more to offer and I won't find out for God knows how long
"The reason it's difficult to buy a Kia car in the U.S. is that the supply arrives more slowly than Japanese brands. Dealers also try to sell them for a higher price than Honda or Toyota. As a result, customers end up giving up on Kia." In Massachusetts.
I prefer the pre-facelift front end and amber turn signals for the rear. Good to see they got rid of the gloss black trim in the interior and wireless AA and CarPlay for the infotainment system is now available for higher trims.
I just wanna know that Kia fixed that issue with their engines. I haven’t heard anything about the new ones catching on fire, but I’m scared to buy another Kia because of that reason. If you own a new Kia, please let me know. Should I buy a new Kia or should I go for a Toyota?
Just to be safe, go with Toyota always, especially their more reliable hybrids. If you don’t trust Kia’s older models or engines, why should you trust their newer models or engines?
Wow, no fingerprint scanner to start the vehicle like the refreshed Hyundai Tucson has? The Tucson is the clear winner here-this new Sportage just doesn't impress, especially the interior. That new steering wheel is awful!
I never bought this vehicle in the past because of how high the center area by your legs is. Feels like your right legs is cramped in there. It definitely should be lower.
I had to get used to the styling of the current Sportage which I do like, but the 2026 looks even better. Red Line presentations and very good. Pay attention, he packs allot of information in a short period of time!
Kia and Hyundai have been coming up with some great designs but then they can't stop and overdo the extra detailing. Somebody needs to be there and say ok enough kids!! Enough!! And are Kia and Hyundai still having issues with their engines? And 15 messages for you on your phone Sofyan? OMG noooooo
HONDA have gone above their head, they never thought that KIA and HYUNDAI will go beyond expectation, HONDA vehicles are boring and expensive, before, HONDA can rival against MAZDA, now honda just rivals chinese cheap cars hahaha... gone with the OLD HONDA!!!!
It is not so much about reliability of Kia / Hyundai per say. It is more about long term durability / build quality. Kia is certainly not going to last as long as reputable Toyota model. Shorter term reliability for Kia should be fine. So most folks who keep vehicle not longer than 6-7 years, really do not care.
Actually, Kia is rated higher than Honda in reliability. Stop with the old school perception. Do yourself service and research Kia reliability. Oh yeah, Honda currently has 1.7 million recalls right now. Talk about "reliability."
They done fucked the suv up they shouodve kept the regular led im so sick of this amber drl on every model! It was fine on the teluride and k5 ONLY now its on everything and its ugly now.
I'm in Seoul and had the pleasure of exploring the hybrid trim in this new stunning blue color at the Netflix Squid Game 2 + 2026 Kia Sportage promo event. Instantly fell in love with this car!!
I love the lack of piano black
Agree! That was my biggest issue with the interior pre-facelift
...the veneer of which is peeling off my 2020 steering wheel.😠😠
Actually a nice looking vehicle, inside and out.
X-line and a Hybrid? Yes!
😂 have fun
As a Honda owner, I'm getting piss that they are falling so far behind Kia and Hyundai in terms of styling for their vehicles.
Honda interiors as of late suck too 😢
Honda is becoming the new Oldsmobile/Buick. Older people love them
I think crv looks nicer than any of these
Interiors on the other hand...
Styling is only superficial, Hyundai/Kias will fall apart faster than a Honda and good luck getting Hyundai/Kia to honor their “great” warranty.
How is this better than the new gen china car models?
I'm canceling my Toyota RAV4 contract and buying a Kia Sportage.
Enjoy the high depreciation, lower reliability, high oil consumption, engine issues and spontaneous fire.
@@zarbon700Keep living in the past. Toyota reliability has fallen like a stripper’s panties.
@@GodsloveMuzik right , Toyota brain wash them. I switched to Kia and never good back 😂😂😂
@@zarbon700 Kia reliability getting better, my wife telluride is already 5 years old and moving strong
@GodsloveMuzik You clearly don't know the history of Toyota. Toyota always had some issues and recalls. Their strength is that they always quickly fixed problems and the vehicles became very reliable. That strength still exist. Recently, only 2 out of 14 of their vehicles had serious issues which has been resolved in newly manufactured vehicles. Toyota still makes the most reliable vehicles. No Hyundai/Kia is anywhere near Toyota's level of reliability.
I think I like the boomerang daytime lights better 🤔😁
I have a 2023 X-Pro, I love the Boomerang DRL, they’re standouts. This refresh is ok, nothing that would make me wanna upgrade. Proof that the 2023 release was 🔥, tweaks are to be expected, wireless CarPlay is due, maybe I’ll get that in an update. Great review, and Great Job Kia!
Bought my first kia (Sephia) in 1994. No issues with that car for 9yr. Then in 2011 when they updated it, got the Kia Sportage.... again... no issues in 9yr... in 2026 I may just get another one.
Love my 2025 hybrid. The "old" front end has a growl to it that I really like. This version is still pretty sweet looking, though.
For this Category, IMHO, this Blows away the competition . Dynamic looks, Graphics (makes Honda/ Acura look OLD). Only real thing requiring research is KIA's reliability. As a Retiree, at 73 YO (and the wife who drives her 16 CRV Touring) a vehicle like this Kia Sportage is attractive to me, especially a Hybrid with 34-36 MPGs! My 22 MDXlease is now coming to its end. I looked at 25 Sorento SX-Prestige (Both Hybrid and Non -Hybrid) and was pretty Impressed. The Non HYbriod with the 2.5L Turbo was Quick & Responsive; The PHEV Hybrid (its Battery was not fully charged sitting on the lot) was Laggy and had too much hesitancy. I would re-test a non PHEV , regualr Hybrid to make the final comparison. I do wish KIA would include a power Steering wheel adjustment feature which I've had in my last 6 Cars. I found the Tilt/Telescoping steering wheel did NOT come out far enough, requiring me to bring the driver's seat more forward than I would like. The Graphics in the Sorento were excellent as well....bright, quick to respond, and excellent rear view camera.
I love the steering wheel and the fact that they took out some of that piano, black and put in the matt gray around high touch areas.
Kia's styling department is really good! Definitely looking for the bite to match the bark though.
I have a sportage. It's almost perfect. That turn radius is horrific though. Parking into parking spots and doing U turns are difficult.
I like this updated version 👌 and definitely 🚫 not gas guzzler 👍💯
Hybrid model is enticing!
I have a 2023 X-Pro and I love the Boomerang DRL. It’s a stand out. 🔥
In my humble opinion i think Sportage is extremely Beautiful , but since KIA promoted XPRO has an off road TRIM they need to:
1-increase ground clearance
2- Skid plate like TRD PRO
3-surround view camera for off road activity
4- more rugged look
5- More power
Absolutely, but at the same time it’s not really meant for any serious off roading like a TRD Pro or Honda Trailsport
Not having express up/down windows in the back may be a good thing especially if kids have their fingers/hands in the vicinity of the window or dogs have their heads stuck out.
I hope the top trim SX Prestige ditches the excessive matte or gloss black plastic wheel arches & bumpers in favor of more body color elements for the lower half of the Sportage
39 cu ft of space with the rear seats up is fucking nuts, that’s so much space
I'm loving the new look and the new steering wheel I personally have the 23 sportage sx and I love my suv
I wish they would offer this in the short wheelbase version that is sold in other markets because it looks less like a lifted wagon IMO.
It's a compact 5 seater, how much smaller does it need to be?
Love that blue!!! Will that blue come with an option of brown leather? If so I want it!!!
Informative introduction. I'm assuming from the dedicated map button it comes with navigation and doesn't rely on a driver's phone (which relies upon being in a coverage area)....Will the hybrid give the driver control over regenerative braking (i.e. a "zero" setting) to allow coasting without resistance?
Anybody know what color this blue is called on this Kia
when will be available at the market this model?
Beautiful car
I’m loving my Black 2023 X-Pro, but I’d like to add the new Black Emblems and the Black body panels.
I really like this update. If the waiting list for 2026 RAV4 phev is over 6 months, I may get the Sportage phev.
ill take this Sportage.
Don't switch to Kia. Many Kia owners have regret it.
I have a 2023 X line PHEV and love it.
Would have like to have seen the PHEV Sportage
How much does a company save by cutting costs on the one touch up/down?
Honda / toyota reserve it for acura / lexus because they're stupid regardless of costs.
Digging the baby blue with blacked out window trim. And finally, no glossy piano vlack center console!
The headlight modules are a bit grotesque for the size of the suv -- design fax pas there?
Does the cream interior come with the gas model as well?
Will the suv have folding mirrors?
Does this know have power folding mirrors for the USA. Thank you
Remember when cars would come out just a few months before the next year and now we're already have a 20/26 models out and it's not even 2025 yet
It’ll be released in mid 2025.
Exactly LOL @@StuffTested
You do have a good point though at least we can see it. I'm over here hoping the new 2026 Honda CRV has more to offer and I won't find out for God knows how long
I loved my 2024 shortages, unfortunately both were totalled.
"The reason it's difficult to buy a Kia car in the U.S. is that the supply arrives more slowly than Japanese brands. Dealers also try to sell them for a higher price than Honda or Toyota. As a result, customers end up giving up on Kia." In Massachusetts.
Watch out Rav4, it's about time. The wait list of Rav4 in Canada is 20 months 😢
I bought Sportage because Toyota could not give me a RAV4
If you look at the rear taillight, it kinda look like an explorer. 3:47
The X-Pro of the Refreshed KIA Sportage is what is making customer more surprising to see.
Great review
Looks so angry in the front 😂😂😂😂 angry lil kia 😂
I prefer the pre-facelift front end and amber turn signals for the rear. Good to see they got rid of the gloss black trim in the interior and wireless AA and CarPlay for the infotainment system is now available for higher trims.
rear needs some work to me more aggressive , everything else is just perfect
I’m seriously thinking about trading my 2023 Tucson Limited for a 2026 Sportage Turbo Hybrid XLine…
I have a 2023 Sportage EX Prestige and they are already updating the exterior and interior looks. Geez.
I just wanna know that Kia fixed that issue with their engines. I haven’t heard anything about the new ones catching on fire, but I’m scared to buy another Kia because of that reason. If you own a new Kia, please let me know. Should I buy a new Kia or should I go for a Toyota?
New engines are good. That old 2.4 liter is long gone. Years ago
@ thank you 🙏🏽 what year did they change it
Just to be safe, go with Toyota always, especially their more reliable hybrids. If you don’t trust Kia’s older models or engines, why should you trust their newer models or engines?
@@blackwhirlwind1245 Toyota engines popping left and right. By no means "safe". Dealers won't even take some nearly new vehicles in trade. No thanks.
@@blackwhirlwind1245Toyota cars are ugly and their interior always look old
Everyone is doing gloss black and machined wheels. I hand them on my 2024 Traverse Z71
finally gloss black interior trim gone!!
Definitely like this better than the previous version
They’re literally trying to steal Cadillac’s design language. These people are insane. 😂
So the 1.6turbo has 8sp, while 1.6 hybrid 6sp!!!? What's there point
That's disappointed ☹️
Not sure I dig the front end.
Previous front end was better.
Wow, no fingerprint scanner to start the vehicle like the refreshed Hyundai Tucson has? The Tucson is the clear winner here-this new Sportage just doesn't impress, especially the interior. That new steering wheel is awful!
So many haters, but yet they're spending their precious time watching this video 🤣
I think the 25 model looks better
The asymmetrical design of the center console is a no for me. Triggers my OCD.
I never bought this vehicle in the past because of how high the center area by your legs is. Feels like your right legs is cramped in there. It definitely should be lower.
no boomerang :/ . looks like a mini sorento now
Who else thinks apart from the front end, the Sportage looks ugly?
I would prefer a Seltos shape but the in size of a Sportage and the 2.2D engine
Cadillac avait un surplus de phares de jour!
Biggest backseat in the class, you know what that means 😏
Plenty of room for me to cry myself to sleep
I had to get used to the styling of the current Sportage which I do like, but the 2026 looks even better. Red Line presentations and very good. Pay attention, he packs allot of information in a short period of time!
Turbo and a hybrid????? 😂 issue waiting to happen
It looks too busy….it’s like let’s throw every idea at it and try to make it work
Fenders are new
👍 👍 👍 👍
Kia and Hyundai have been coming up with some great designs but then they can't stop and overdo the extra detailing. Somebody needs to be there and say ok enough kids!! Enough!! And are Kia and Hyundai still having issues with their engines?
And 15 messages for you on your phone Sofyan? OMG noooooo
The rear design doesn’t fit the front and it never did with this design
2026!?😅
I’m disappointed that they put the dial shifter in the hybrid.
If you buy one, I would strongly recommend that you debadge it as it’s embarrassing.
What’s wrong with speaking slower instead of flooding us with information that would go straight through our head
Soft Touch Injection Molded Plastic. Say it!
Toyoda RAV4 is so fugly. And the Honda CR-V hybrid is still the top selling hybrid.
still alot of gloss black.
No it's not
@jraheemjefcoat429 you must be blind
@@jraheemjefcoat429 you must be blind .
Typical Kia, constant style change, looks nice, much better than that super ugly santafe
It isn't a constant style change. It's just a revision of the current generation. It doesn't look that different
@ true but they are really quick at changing
@@stea2494 cuz Kia like to update their cars .
@ totally, they react/change or adapt quicky
everyone says it looks good when Kia is literally stealing Cadillac's design language lolol
So this X-Pro will be gas only? Sad
Can you talk a bit quicker
I'll stick my 2023 sportage. God this new facelift is so ugly what kia were thinking
Interior is better than in BMW X3 2025 but exterior is very poor and pokemon asian style.
Climate controls are some of the worst I've seen, not only are they touch but you have to switch between modes. Such awful design.
No
HONDA have gone above their head, they never thought that KIA and HYUNDAI will go beyond expectation, HONDA vehicles are boring and expensive, before, HONDA can rival against MAZDA, now honda just rivals chinese cheap cars hahaha... gone with the OLD HONDA!!!!
thanks God that we get not this ugly front design in Europe.
Ce n’est pas très beau comme style et ça va mal vieillir. L’avant est affreux.
🤮
It is not so much about reliability of Kia / Hyundai per say. It is more about long term durability / build quality. Kia is certainly not going to last as long as reputable Toyota model. Shorter term reliability for Kia should be fine. So most folks who keep vehicle not longer than 6-7 years, really do not care.
2025 vw tiguan offers way more features on the fully loaded trim with massage its vw Kia can sit in the dumpster
False
JUNK
So, why are you here? Tells a lot about you. 😂
@ it popped up in my feed. Are you slow?
I'm just curious
who buys these kia cars???? they have such bad reputation and just look cheap.
Actually, Kia is rated higher than Honda in reliability. Stop with the old school perception. Do yourself service and research Kia reliability. Oh yeah, Honda currently has 1.7 million recalls right now. Talk about "reliability."
If nobody was buying Kia, you think they will stay in business. Kia is not the Kia you use to know . My wife telluride already hit 87k miles
They done fucked the suv up they shouodve kept the regular led im so sick of this amber drl on every model! It was fine on the teluride and k5 ONLY now its on everything and its ugly now.
Oh, cry me a river! It looks fine. It stands out on the road.
@jraheemjefcoat429 lie AGAIN!! That shit is ugly asf it will not stand out on the road. Just like the ioniq 5 this damn thing is more ugly!
Why are you spending so much energy on something you don’t like? Go for a brisk walk.
@@Pango5697 they always trolling Kia
@@onetwo4147 Don't compare Kia with your mother looks.
It's ugly. Refreshed details are nice, but new shape of whole car volume is really ugly. Now it is shaped like Bayon. 🫣