Kia Sportage Review for Saudi Roads: Comfort, Tech & Long-Drive Performance

Saudi Arabia: The Kia Sportage has carved out a strong position in Saudi Arabia's compact SUV segment. The Kia Sportage currently occupies a favourable position between budget-friendly and premium options in the market. Moreover, Kia’s 2025 Sportage L gets an updated exterior design, a longer wheelbase for more space targeted at families, and advanced tech that was only available in the premium segment. If you’re curious about its actual performance on Saudi roads, including both city and highway drives, read on as we take a closer look to find out.

Design & Build

Exterior Appeal

The Sportage L's design works just fine, right from the sharp LED headlamps that sit in vertical clusters, which gives it a bolder front end that's become Kia's identity. Similarly, the body-coloured grille looks clean and doesn't look like it has been overdone. The side highlights the stretched wheelbase; at 2,755 mm, it's longer than the standard Sportage, giving better proportions and more interior space. The SUV is available in multiple exterior colours, and the 19-inch alloy wheels on higher trims fit the arches properly. The black roof rails are known for functionality without being overly rugged.

Interior Quality

Interior Feature	Base LX	Mid-Range EX	Top SX
Seats	Fabric	Leather	Leather with ventilation
Display	12.3-inch single	Dual 12.3-inch	Dual 12.3-inch + HUD
Wireless Charging	No	Yes	Yes
Panoramic Sunroof	No	No	Yes

The cabin is one big highlight of the Sportage, and this is quite obvious when you step inside. The cabin provides a sense of luxury and clearly appears to be a step above its competitors due to the high-quality materials, which are soft and quite comfortable. The dual 12.3-inch curved displays are one big highlight of the cockpit, one for infotainment and one for instruments. You will not fail to notice that the displays are crisp, responsive, and don't wash out in direct sunlight.

For comfort and to handle Saudi temperatures, there are heated and ventilated front seats. The cooling function works well, noticeable within minutes of starting the car. The extended wheelbase provides decent legroom for second-row passengers, who also enjoy their own climate zone. When you fold the second row, the boot size expands to 591 litres.

Comfort on Saudi Roads

City Driving

The Sportage confidently handles urban driving in Saudi Arabia, as evidenced by its softer and well-tuned suspension that manages broken pavement and speed bumps without harshness. The steering feels light at parking speeds, which makes tight mall parking manageable despite the SUV's size.

The electronic gear shifter takes minimal space, freeing up the central console. Climate control keeps the cabin comfortable even when parked in direct sun with ambient temperatures hitting 45°C. The system cools quickly; the front cabin reaches comfortable temperatures within 5 minutes.

Blind-spot monitoring works reliably in heavy traffic, and the system beeps and flashes LED warnings in the side mirrors when vehicles enter blind spots. The forward collision warning proved sensitive enough to warn about sudden braking ahead without triggering constant false alarms.

Highway Performance

Performance Metric	1.5T (197 HP)	2.0T (236 HP)
Highway Cruising	Adequate	Excellent
Overtaking Power	Needs planning	Confident
Fuel Economy (Highway)	14.3 km/l	12.7 km/l
Noise Level (120 km/h)	Moderate	Well-insulated

The 2.0L turbo engine offers 236 hp and 353 Nm of torque. On highways, it allows easy cruising at three-digit speeds with loads of power in reserve. Overtaking slower trucks requires just a light throttle tap, no downshifting or waiting for turbos to spool up, and most buyers are going to enjoy this. The 8-speed automatic transmission is known to be smooth and barely noticeable during normal driving.

The cabin is extremely silent; wind or road noise from the 19-inch wheels is present but not intrusive. The entertainment and audio needs are fulfilled nicely with the high-quality JBL, which is equipped with a premium audio system (8 speakers on higher trims, 6 on base). The sound fills the cabin well; there’s no need to crank the volume to overcome road noise.

Seats remain comfortable after three hours of continuous driving. Lumbar support adjusts electrically, and the cushioning stays firm without becoming tiring. The driver's seat offers plenty of adjustment range to find the right position.

Real-World Fuel Economy

Fuel efficiency claims and real-world testing for the 2.0T and 1.5T variants show a gap between official figures and Riyadh conditions.

Fuel Economy Comparison

Condition	Official 2.0T	Tested 2.0T	Official 1.5T	Tested 1.5T (est.)
City (Riyadh)	12.7 km/l	10.5-11 km/l	14.3 km/l	11.5-12.5 km/l
Highway (120 km/h)	-	13-14 km/l	-	14-15 km/l
Mixed Driving	-	11.5-12 km/l	-	12.5-13.5 km/l

The 1.5T offers 1–1.5 km/l better economy across conditions, ideal for high-mileage Saudi drivers.

Technology That Actually Works

Infotainment & Connectivity

Most young buyers look for the latest technology, which often plays a key role in buying decisions. The Sportage offers a lot of that, including a dual 12.3-inch setup that looks impressive and functions well. The infotainment screen responds instantly to touches. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto work wirelessly, and the phones connect automatically when you start the car. Furthermore, the navigation displays clearly with turn-by-turn directions shown in the instrument cluster.

Another cool thing is the voice control; it understands basic commands in English without frustration. The system remembers frequently used destinations, saving time on repeated trips. The wireless charging pad sits in the centre console and charges phones at a reasonable speed, though fast charging via the USB-C port is quicker. Six USB ports in total mean passengers can charge devices simultaneously. There is hardly anything major missing, and you won’t complain about the overall tech inside the cabin; in fact, Kia has always been known for offering the best-in-segment features across its entire portfolio.

Safety & Driver Assistance

ADAS Feature	How It Performs
Lane Keeping Assist	Gentle corrections, not intrusive
Lane Following Assist	Handles gentle highway curves well
Adaptive Cruise Control	Smooth speed adjustments, maintains safe distance
Forward Collision Avoidance	Responsive warnings and automatic braking work.
Blind Spot Collision Avoidance	Helps prevent lane-change accidents

Long-Drive Comfort

Climate Control Performance

The dual-zone automatic climate control allows the driver and passenger to set different temperatures, something quite welcome. The system maintains settings well even in 50°C heat, and the rear passengers get separate vents with decent airflow, though no independent temperature control on most trims. The auto mode works brilliantly, adjusting fan speed based on cabin temperature. It doesn't blast cold air unnecessarily, making the ride quieter and more efficient.

Seat Comfort Analysis

This is important for individuals and families who drive for long hours. You will find the front seats with heating and ventilation (trim-dependent). The ventilation pushes air through perforations in the leather, giving noticeable cooling. It's not air conditioning level but makes a real difference on hot days.

Passengers in the second row are provided good thigh support for adults. Three adults fit, though the middle passenger sits on a raised section with less legroom. The extended wheelbase means knees don't press against front seatbacks even with tall passengers.

Storage & Practicality

The centre console holds two cupholders, which actually secure bottles on bumpy roads. The door pockets can easily accommodate 1.5L bottles, and there is a covered storage bin under the armrest for storing wallets and phones. The wireless charging pad's location means your phone stays visible but secure.

As far as the boot goes, it swallows weekend luggage for four adults comfortably. The 60/40 split folding rear seats expand space for larger items. Loading height is reasonable; there is no need to lift heavy items too high.

How It Compares

Sportage vs Key Rivals

Feature	Sportage L 2.0T	Hyundai Tucson 2.0T	Honda CR-V 1.5T	Toyota RAV4 2.5L
Starting Price	SAR 95,680	SAR 106,000	SAR 144,785	SAR 99,935
Power	236 HP	232 HP	190 HP	204 HP
Wheelbase	2,755 mm	2,755 mm	2,662 mm	2,690 mm
Fuel Economy	12.7 km/l	12.3 km/l	15.2 km/l	13.5 km/l
Warranty	5 years/100,000 km	5 years/100,000 km	3 years/100,000 km	3 years/100,000 km

The Sportage undercuts the CR-V significantly while offering more power and better tech. As for the Tucson, which is based on the same platform, it costs less and offers similar features. The RAV4 leads this category, but the Sportage's contemporary interior may make the older pre-facelift models seem outdated. Here is the quick comparison between the Mazda CX-5 vs Hyundai Tucson – Best Mid-Size SUV Choice for Saudi Buyers.

Value Proposition

At SAR 95,680–161,688, depending on trim, the Sportage delivers strong value. The base LX gives you essentials, dual 12.3-inch displays, Apple CarPlay, LED lights, and basic safety features. The mid-range EX adds leather, advanced ADAS, and wireless charging. The top SX brings a panoramic sunroof, premium JBL audio, and every safety feature.

Most buyers will find the EX trim the most attractive, as it includes features that matter for daily use without paying for everything.

The Verdict

The Kia Sportage L succeeds as a practical, comfortable SUV for Saudi roads. It has all the characteristics, as it is designed and engineered in such a way that it takes on city driving easily and delivers confident highway performance. It offers technology features that improve daily use, and the addition of the extended wheelbase creates noticeable extra space without making the vehicle unwieldy.

The Sportage competes directly with the Hyundai Tucson, Honda CR-V, and Toyota RAV4. It matches or surpasses its rivals on tech, power, and features while undercutting most on price. The modern cabin design feels more premium than the asking price suggests, and that exactly makes it a serious contender in the segment. If you’re in the market for a premium compact SUV, you shouldn’t ignore the Sportage; it certainly has what it takes to become the lead choice. Also, check out the quick comparison Why Sedans Are Losing Ground to Compact SUVs in KSA.