Car of the Year Awards 2025: Family SUV of the Year

The journey that Kia has made in the past 20 years is, quite frankly, remarkable.

There was a time when you bought a Kia because you had to – perhaps it was all you could afford – but now it’s a brand known for making stylish, competitive and, above all, soughtafter cars. Cars people want to own.

The Sportage is a cracking example. Its striking, of-themoment design sets it apart from other family SUVs, and the front running lights – arranged like huge, inward-pointing arrows – direct you so confidently towards the Kia badge that the car might as well be shouting, “Yes, I’m a Kia and proud!”. But don’t for a second imagine that the Sportage is style over substance, because it isn’t. In fact, its substance is pervasive.

The range of mild hybrid, hybrid and plug-in hybrid engines means there’s something for everyone, but we think the entry-level 1.6 T-GDi mild hybrid is the best all-rounder. It’ll average around 40mpg in real-world use and comes with a slick manual gearbox or a smooth-shifting automatic.

With 157bhp, it’s punchy enough to get you up to motorway speeds easily, and at 70mph the Sportage is a quieter, more relaxing mile-muncher than rivals such as the Honda ZR-V. It’s more comfortable, too. Stick to our recommended 3 trim, which comes with sensibly sized alloy wheels, and the ride is plusher even than that of the closely related Hyundai Tucson.

Its handling impresses, too. Okay, the Seat Ateca is a bit more agile, but the Sportage’s combination of grip and control means it’s a cinch to drive on sinewy roads. Move inside and the Sportage continues to rack up the points, starting with an excellent driving position. Any size of driver is well catered for, thanks to an extensive range of adjustment – including for lumbar support.

What’s more, the Sportage is really spacious in both the front and back seats – a hugely important attribute for any family SUV. The amount of luggage space on offer is another reason for holding the Sportage in such high regard; its boot is bigger than those of the Ford Kuga, ZR-V and Nissan Qashqai.

Interior quality is a further highlight. Sure, the Sportage isn’t quite as expensive-feeling inside as a Volvo XC40, but there’s a reason for that: the latter is indeed more expensive. Judge it next to the Kuga and Qashqai and the Sportage’s well-made interior imparts an air of integrity that they can’t match.

Even with all of these qualities, the Sportage is competitively priced against its main rivals and undercuts the equivalent Tucson by a small margin. You also get plenty of equipment and an impressive seven-year warranty. Undoubtedly, it’s a family SUV you’ll want to own.

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