Kia Sportage 2.0G 2WD High Review: Kenapa Pilih Kia?

Joshua Chin December 13, 2025

0 3,708 4 minutes read

Is there actually any reason to choose the Kia Sportage in this crowded and competitive SUV segment? Well…

For those who frequent the PJ stretch of the LDP, you might have noticed that new Kia billboard asking: Kenapa Pilih Kia? And it struck a chord with this writer, because for the longest time now, he has been pondering that very same question about the Sportage.

Now for those not fully in tune with the local car market, it is entirely possible that the latest Sportage flew right under the radar. This fifth iteration of Kia’s mid-size SUV after all only officially arrived in Malaysia late last year… nearly three years after its global debut. And in today’s crowded SUV field, it has hardly been the most visible player.

In fact, car registration data shows that fewer than 250 units of this new Sportage have worn Malaysian number plates to date. That’s roughly 3% of what Jaecoo has shifted with the J7 in the same timeframe. And just to add a bit more salt on the South Korean automaker’s wounds: Jaecoo has actually already sold more J7s in its single year of existence here than Kia has sold Sportages across all four generations combined.

So we return to the question: why pick this Kia over the many, many other SUVs out there?

Well, let’s address the elephant in the room first: styling. While some may enjoy its funky, almost avant-garde aesthetic, this ‘bold’ design is perhaps a little marmite for most.

And to make matters a little worse for the Kia, the initial step inside doesn’t exactly redeem things either. Buyers coming fresh from sampling the latest Chinese contenders might immediately wonder where all the toys have gone. Yes, the Sportage tested here is just one step above the base trim, so the missing panoramic sunroof or wireless charger can be forgiven, but the lack of a 360-degree camera in an SUV at this price point is still a bit hard to swallow.

Also, what you do get still looks and feels a touch last-generation (because, well, it is). The instrument cluster, for instance, pairs a small multifunction screen with two traditional physical dials at a time when everyone else has gone full widescreen. The central infotainment display isn’t exactly the biggest in the segment either.

But… this is where having the car for a longer test really helps. Such is because much like with another old-school machine tested recently — the Subaru XV — the Sportage does benefit from its slightly throwback approach. Everything after all is on an easy-to-reach button, and the central screen handles only media rather than being the gateway to every imaginable vehicle setting. This thus means that even the most tech-illiterate will get along just fine with this car.

Live with it a little longer too and you begin to appreciate the solidity of its build and the quality of its materials. Across this writer’s entire time with the Sportage, not a squeak or rattle presented itself. Something that sadly can’t always be said for the aforementioned Jaecoo.

Refinement is another pleasant surprise with the Sportage. The cabin is superbly insulated, with barely any road or wind noise when cruising. The engine also only really makes itself known when wrung out, unlike some of the rough-as-nails powertrains in certain newer Chinese SUVs (cough Chery/Jaecoo cough).

And speaking of the engine, the naturally aspirated 2.0-litre mill in this test unit won’t exactly set hearts racing. It does, however, eventually move the SUV along at a reasonable pace once sufficiently prodded.

In any case too, this lack of urgency feels almost deliberate. The suspension and steering are so soft and squidgy that they inherently encourage a slower, more relaxed driving style. And if an extra nudge was needed in that more sedate direction, the suuuper soft brakes will certainly ensure it.

Rather than wrapping up with a traditional summary-style conclusion, allow this writer to answer the question of who will buy this Kia with a personal anecdote. To let everyone in on some inside baseball: this review might be a tad light on driving detail because his parents actually drove the car for most of the loan period. This is partly because this writer was swamped with test cars that week, but more so because he simply couldn’t get them out of it.

They weren’t the least bit fazed by the lack of fancy kit. To them, it had all the essentials, and that was good enough. In fact, they were actually thankful that whatever was there was simple to operate, even commenting on how nice it was to finally have a test car where you could just turn a knob to turn down the air-conditioning.

As alluded to earlier as well, comfort was a big talking point with the Kia. They repeatedly praised how silent and smooth the Sportage felt. They also liked how solidly built it was. And while they’re not fast drivers by any means, they added that the Kia was plenty quick for their needs, not to mention remained solidly stable even at the upper limits of the speeds they’re comfortable with.

In fact, the affection for this Kia was so strong that there was even talk within the family about heading to a Kia showroom for a proper look-see (and maybe more). Now it’s simply a matter of whether they actually pull the trigger… or whether they end up veering toward the Hyundai Tucson instead. Because let’s face it, the very same question of “kenapa pilih Kia?” could just as easily be asked of that equally South Korean SUV too.

Odds and Ends

The Sportage also has an unlock/lock button for all doors on the front passenger side, in addition to the driver’s side
Lane Keep Assist on the Sportage always reactivates on startup
The standard integrated hooks on the front seat backs are surprisingly useful
Only the driver’s window gets auto up/down in the Sportage