Heading
Close X
Menu
Kia is celebrating the momentous milestone of half a million Sportage sales since its UK launch.
The Sportage has become Kia’s most popular and recognisable model, with five generations spanning 31 years in the UK (33 globally). The model is Kia’s most popular and best-selling in the UK, Europe and globally.
The 500,000th sale was for a new Sportage ‘GT-Line’ Hybrid in Blue Flame, bought from GWR Kia, in Brentford West London.
Paul Philpott, President and CEO of Kia UK, commented: “Reaching half a million Sportage sales in the UK is a landmark moment for Kia. The Sportage has become the UK’s favourite family SUV because it consistently provides what people want: a family SUV with quality and reliability they can trust, efficient and flexible powertrains, all housed in a thoughtful and stylish design. Its continued success shows the strength of our brand and the trust customers place in us.”
Since turning 30 in 2023, the Sportage has accelerated from 384,778 UK registrations to the half million mark and the model continues to dominate UK sales charts.
It was the No.1 SUV in both 2024 and 2025, with 47,163 and 47,788 registrations respectively, and ranked as the second best‑selling car overall in both years. With more than 115,000 Sportage sales over the past three years, the Sportage has never been more popular.
With 21,274 registrations this year so far (year-to-date, end-May), the Sportage continues its momentum as the nation’s favourite SUV, and is the second most-registered car in the UK.
Across three decades, the Sportage has become the go-to family SUV in the UK, backed by a long list of awards proving just how well-loved it is. Reinforcing the model as the UK’s top choice of family car, award highlights include the Sportage being named What Car?’s ‘Family SUV of the Year’ for the last four years in a row. In addition, the model was recently named the ‘Best Hybrid Medium SUV’ in the 2026 EcoCar Electrified Top 50, coming 4th overall. The Sportage has also been named the ‘Best car for caravans up to 1,500kg’ by What Car? and the Camping and Caravanning Club at the 2026 What Car? Tow Car Awards.
Last year, on 1 July, the best-selling SUV received a facelift featuring a redesigned front and rear, an updated interior to bring it in-line with Kia’s latest and most advanced models, and a new simplified line-up consisting of ‘Pure’, ‘GT-Line’ and ‘GT-Line S’, each available with either petrol or HEV powertrains.
The Sportage first went on sale globally in 1993, and was introduced in the UK two years later, in 1995.
1st Generation: 1993-2003 | |
July 1993 (Reveal) | Sportage is revealed for the first time in Seoul, South Korea. |
August 1995 (Launch) | The first-generation Sportage arrives at Kia dealers, powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine. Trim levels consist of ‘SLX’, ‘GLX’ and ‘GLX SE’ |
January 1996 | Top-specification ‘Executive’ and ‘Executive SE’ models arrive, both propelled by the 2.0-litre petrol engine |
October 1996 | ‘Karmann Sport’ and ‘Karmann Sport SE’ versions arrive in dealers, powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine |
June 1999 | Revised range launched in ‘S’, ‘SX’ and ‘GSX’ guises, all powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine with manual gearbox |
June 2000 | Automatic variants arrive, in ‘S’, ‘SX’ and ‘GSX’ grades, and feature the same 2.0-litre petrol engine |
February 2002 | Special edition 2.0 ‘XSE’ models available, with a manual or automatic transmission |
2nd Generation: 2004-2010 | |
August 2004 (Reveal) | Second-generation Sportage unveiled at Paris Motor Show |
January 2005 (Launch) | On sale in the UK for the first time, the second-generation Sportage (Codename JE/KM) is offered in a choice of ‘XE’ or ‘XS’ grades, paired with either a 2.0-litre or 2.7-litre V6 petrol engine |
March 2005 | 2.0-litre CRDi diesel versions are added to the range, in ‘XE’ and ‘XS’ specification, with a manual or automatic gearbox |
January 2006 | More powerful 138bhp 2.0-litre CRDi diesel engine goes on sale in ‘XE’ and ‘XS’ specification |
May 2007 | Highly specified ‘Titan’ special edition models on sale, powered by 2.0-litre petrol and 2.0-litre CRDi units. Both feature four-wheel-drive as standard |
July 2007 | Special edition ‘Xi’ model arrives, powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine |
October 2007 (Facelift) | Updated Sportage arrives with 2.0-litre CRDi engine and automatic gearbox, paired to front-wheel-drive. The Sportage is now built at Kia’s Žilina plant in Slovakia |
April 2008 | Sportage ‘XR’ special edition available, powered by the 2.0-litre petrol unit. At the same time, an entry-level XE with 2.0-litre petrol engine and two-wheel-drive is added |
3rd Generation: 2010-2016 | |
March 2010 (Reveal) | The all-new Sportage is revealed at the Geneva Motor Show |
August 2010 (Launch) | Third-generation Sportage goes on sale with a special ‘First Edition’ grade. Available with 2.0-litre petrol engine with manual gearbox and 2.0-litre CRDi turbodiesel unit with manual or automatic transmission |
September 2010 | German certification agency TUV Nord awards the all-new Kia Sportage its highest environmental certificate, complying with the strict environmental standards of the ISO 14040 life cycle assessment |
November 2010 | The mainstream model range of the Sportage arrives in UK showrooms. A choice of ‘1’, ‘2’, ‘3’ and ‘KX-2’ and ‘KX-3’ grades. Buyers given the choice of a 1.7- or 2.0-litre CRDi diesel engine, or a 1.6- or 2.0-litre petrol engine |
July 2012 | New ‘KX-4’ model added to the top of the range Sportage, powered by a 182bhp 2.0-litre CRDi engine, with four-wheel-drive and manual or automatic transmission |
January 2014 (Facelift) | Facelifted Sportage arrives in UK showrooms, with revised front and rear styling and upgrades to the interior |
July 2015 | Special edition ‘Axis Edition’ on sale, powered by the 1.6-litre GDi petrol and 1.7-litre CRDi diesel engine |
4th Generation: 2016-2022 | |
September 2015 (Reveal) | Fourth-generation Sportage unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The model received the maximum five-star Euro NCAP rating in December the same year. |
February 2016 (Launch) | Fourth-generation Sportage (Codename QL) arrives in UK dealers, with a choice of ‘1’, ‘2’, ‘3’, ‘4’, ‘KX-1’, ‘KX-2’, ‘KX-3’, ‘KX-4’ and ‘GT-Line’ versions, as well as a ‘First Edition’ version |
December 2016 | An uprated multimedia system is added to ‘2’ models and above, along with 3D mapping and Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ smartphone compatibility |
December 2016 | A seven-speed DCT double-clutch automatic transmission is added, alongside a new, more powerful 134bhp 1.7-litre CRDi engine. It is offered with ‘2’ and ‘3’ trim levels |
December 2016 | New top-specification ‘KX-5’ and ‘GT-Line S’ models are announced, each powered by the 182bhp 2.0-litre CRDi engine and an automatic transmission. The latter is also available with a 1.6-litre T-GDi engine and a 7-DCT gearbox. The ‘KX-5’ model replaces the previous ‘First Edition’ model |
April 2017 | New ‘GT-Line Edition’ models go on sale, powered by a 114bhp 1.7-litre CRDi engine with manual gearbox, or a 134bhp version with a DCT automatic gearbox |
March 2018 | The Sportage reaches more than five million examples sold globally in its lifetime |
August 2018 (Facelift) | Facelifted Sportage goes on sale in the UK, with a choice of ‘1’, ‘2’, ‘4’, ‘GT-Line’ and ‘GT-Line S’ trim levels. A special ‘Edition 25’ model is available to commemorate 25 years of the Sportage. 48V mild hybrid technology is also introduced |
October 2019 | All Sportage diesel models are equipped as standard with 48V mild hybrid technology, from ‘1’ to ‘GT-Line S’ |
May 2020 | New ‘3’ grade joins the Sportage line-up, and the Sportage range is further updated. The Sportage is made available in ‘2’, ‘3’, ‘GT-Line’ and ‘GT-Line S’ trim levels with a choice of petrol 130bhp 1.6-litre GDi, 174bhp 1.6-litre T-GDi, or diesel 134bhp 1.7-litre CRDi with 48V MHEV technology |
December 2020 | Stylish Sportage ‘JBL® Black Edition’ made available to order in UK |
5th Generation: 2022-present | |
September 2021 (Reveal) | European debut at IAA Mobility in Munich, Germany |
January 2022 (Launch) | Fifth-generation Sportage (codename NQ5) order books open in the UK. The new model is designed with petrol, diesel, and for the first time full hybrid (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain options |
March 2022 | Sportage PHEV goes on sale for first time, offering 43-mile EV range and CO2 emissions from 25g/km. UK customer deliveries for the PHEV commenced in April 2022 |
July 2022 | Fifth-generation Sportage awarded the maximum five-star Euro NCAP safety rating |
November 2023 | The Sportage celebrates its 30th anniversary globally |
June 2024 | Special edition ‘Shadow’ grade is added to the line-up, exclusively on HEV models |
December 2024 | Sportage records its all-time best sales year, with 47,163 units registered in the UK |
July 2025 (Facelift) | The new Sportage goes on sale in the UK, featuring a mid-life refresh with a new exterior design and interior capabilities. ‘Pure’, ‘GT-Line’ and ‘GT-Line S’ grades are offered, each with a choice of petrol of HEV powertrains |
December 2025 | Sportage sets a new record in the UK with 47,788 registrations, making it the nation’s favourite SUV and second favourite car overall |
Shelly Motors Limited is an appointed representative of ITC Compliance Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (their registration number is 313486) and which is permitted to advise on and arrange general insurance contracts as an intermediary. Shelly Motors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for consumer credit activity and our registration number is 602700 Permitted activities include acting as a credit broker not a lender. We can introduce you to a limited number of finance providers. We do not charge fees for our Consumer Credit services. We typically receive a payment(s) or other benefits from finance providers should you decide to enter into an agreement with them, typically either a fixed fee or a fixed percentage of the amount you borrow. The payment we receive may vary between finance providers and product types. The payment received does not impact the finance rate offered.
All finance applications are subject to status, terms and conditions apply, UK residents only, 18’s or over, Guarantees may be required.