2025 Kia Sportage bookings open in Malaysia – CKD; 1.6T, 7DCT or 2.0L NA, 6AT; active safety; KLIMS debut

Dinamikjaya Motors, the official distributor of Kia vehicles in Malaysia, has officially announced the start of order taking for the Kia Sportage. It has been a long wait for the C-segment SUV, and as previously reported, it will arrive as a locally-assembled (CKD) model from the Inokom plant in Kulim, Kedah.

Set to make its public debut at the upcoming Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show (KLIMS) in December, we’re getting the fifth-generation (NQ5) Sportage in pre-facelift form, which was first unveiled back in June 2021. Why? According to Dinamikjaya Motors, the new facelifted model, which made its debut earlier this month, has been launched exclusively in South Korea for now.

“We anticipate that its (the facelifted Sportage) introduction to our local market may take approximately two more years. Additionally, a potential price increase may accompany the facelift release, affecting not only Malaysia but other markets as well,” the company said in a FAQ issued to the media. On the mention of other markets, neighbouring Thailand and Indonesia have yet to welcome the NQ5 Sportage.

In terms of specifications, the Sportage will be offered with two petrol powertrains in Malaysia. The first is a 2.0 litre naturally-aspirated inline-four unit that produces 156 hp and 192 of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.

The alternative is a 1.6 litre turbocharged inline-four engine making 177 hp and 265 Nm that is linked to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. It isn’t clear how many variants will be made available and which ones will come with front- or all-wheel drive.

As for features, the Sportage will be available with Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA; autonomous emergency braking), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance (BCA), Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance (RCCA) and more.

Other items on the kit list include a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and an infotainment system that supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Higher-spec variants will come with creature comforts such as ambient lighting, dual-zone climate control as well as a Harman Kardon sound system.

We’re not getting any pricing details for now, but like the also-CKD Sorento, the Sportage will come with a five-year, 100,000-km warranty and service package. The Sportage will compete in a segment that has no shortage of options, including popular nameplates such as the Honda CR-V, Proton X70 and Mazda CX-5, plus those from Chinese brands. Would you pick the Sportage over other C-segment SUVs available here?

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