Kia

The minivan is still pretty much the best way to move a family around, and although the segment has slimmed down, fans of these practical people-haulers still have some selections. Kia’s entry used to be called the Sedona, but was renamed the Carnival, one of its longtime global names, when an all-new model was rolled out for 2022. It receives a major refresh for 2025, with updated styling, higher-tech features, and a new SX trim. It retains its V6 engine and seven- or eight-passenger seating.

2025 Kia Carnival Competitors

The Carnival’s rivals consist of the Chrysler Pacifica, which comes in gas-only or as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV); the Honda Odyssey; and the Toyota Sienna, which is now hybrid-only.

What’s new with the Kia Carnival for 2025?

The 2025 Kia Carnival’s exterior styling updates include a new grille, bumpers, headlights and taillights, and wheel designs. The SX and SX+ trims add “Dark Edition” accent cues. Inside, new available features include a curved screen with 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 12.3-inch infotainment screen; ambient lighting; head-up display; redesigned dash; and controls that switch between media and climate. The cupholders are larger and over-the-air (OTA) updates are added.

Other new features include a digital key; multi-zone voice recognition that realizes where the speaker is sitting; centre position airbag; digital mirror; and updated driver-assist technologies. A new SX trim is added as the top choice for the eight-passenger version.

2025 Kia Carnival Performance

All Carnival trims use a 3.5L V6 engine making 288 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, and mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard. Kia showed a hybrid version of the Carnival at the 2024 Chicago Auto Show, but so far there’s no indication if or when it might come to Canada.

In his review of the 2024 Kia Carnival, Jonathan Yarkony said, “There’s no question its greatest strength is highway driving, where it is smooth and stable, but the Kia Carnival also achieves the right balance in city and suburban driving. The steering is light and the vehicle responds precisely and predictably, and body roll is well-controlled except when going at silly speeds. The easy steering and tight turning circle — 11.2 metres (36.8 feet) is best among minivans — is also a boon in parking lots, and the 360-degree parking camera (standard on EX+ and SX trims) helps finish trips with confidence.”

2025 Kia Carnival Efficiency

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) rates the Carnival at 12.9 L/100 km city, 8.8 highway, and 11.1 combined, for an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,441. The engine is fine with regular-grade, 87-octane gasoline.

2025 Kia Carnival Safety

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) hadn’t rated the Kia Carnival at time of writing. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had, with mixed results. The Carnival got the highest “Good” scores for small front overlap, original moderate front overlap, and original side test. But in the updated moderate overlap, which now assesses potential injury to a rear-seat passenger as well as to those in front, it scored “Marginal.” In the updated side crash, which better simulates being struck by a large SUV, it scored “Poor.” Its front emergency braking with pedestrian detection rated “Marginal,” and it received “Acceptable” for ease of use of its child seat tether anchors.

All trims include adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, blind-spot assist, rear cross-traffic assist, lane-keep assist, lane-following assist, driver attention warning, automatic high-beam headlamps, front and rear parking sensors, rear-seat reminder, and mandatory rear view camera. The EX+ and up add forward collision assist when turning.

2025 Kia Carnival Reliability

Consumer Reports gives the 2025 Kia Carnival a predicted reliability rating of 68/100, saying it expects it to be “more reliable than other new cars” based on Kia’s brand scores. It rates the Carnival’s predicted reliability highest of all minivans. In the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, which looks at three-year-old vehicles, the Kia Sedona – the Carnival’s predecessor – was named the most reliable minivan, with the Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey next in line. The report also ranked Kia eighth among all automakers.

2025 Kia Carnival Interior

The Carnival has eight-passenger seating in most trims, with seven-passenger in the top SX+. The entry LX trim is pretty basic, but the next-step-up LX+ includes heated front seats, power driver’s seat, power-sliding doors, hands-free power liftgate, heated steering wheel, and cargo net. Moving up the trim levels can add a wireless charger, sliding door spot lamp, multi-zone climate control, ventilated seats, leather upholstery, and in the SX+, “lounge seating” with second-row captain’s chairs including power recline, leg rests, and heat and ventilation.

In his review of the 2024 Kia Carnival, Jonathan Yarkony said, “While not treated to the VIP lounging of second-row bosses, the driver and front passenger seats are still superb seating accommodations. We spent over eight hours in those seats…we had no flare-ups of back pain or specific seat fatigue, although I would have appreciated a little more thigh support…All that seat comfort would have been for naught if the Carnival rode poorly, but the big Kia was impeccable. The long wheelbase and comfort-oriented suspension soaked up all the expansion joints and pockmarked pavement smoothly, and the powertrain has been refined over generations and countless applications to deliver a stress-free drive.”

2025 Kia Carnival Dimensions

The 2025 Kia Carnival has an overall length of 5,155 mm (202.9 inches). Cargo capacity is a generous 1,139 litres behind the third row, and folding the third and second rows can take it to a maximum of 4,110. The second-row seats can be entirely removed on the eight-passenger models, but not on the seven-passenger, which comes only with those “lounge” chairs. When properly equipped, the Carnival can tow up to 3,500 lbs.

2025 Kia Carnival Canadian Pricing

The Carnival starts with the LX at $40,495, but most would want to step up to the LX+ and its numerous additional features for $43,995. From there, the EX is $46,895; the EX+ is $48,895; and the SX is $51,895. That last trim can be moved up to the SX+ and its seven-passenger configuration for $53,895.

The top model with Kia’s extensive product lineup — also its largest — the mid-sized, three-row Kia Telluride crossover has been marketed in North America for the past six years, garnering numerous awards along the way. For the Canadian market the all-wheel-drive 7/8-seater is available in five trims — EX, SX, SX Limited, X-Line and X-Pro. The Telluride and Hyundai’s Palisade are closely related corporate siblings.

Kia Teluride competition

The three-row crossover rivals include Hyundai Palisade, Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot, Volkswagen Atlas and Ford Explorer.

What’s new with the Kia Telluride for 2025?

In short, nothing. The Telluride carries over from the 2024 model year unchanged except for colour choices. There were styling tweaks to the vehicle for the 2023 model year. The rumour mill suggests there will be a new model for 2026.

2024 Kia Telluride Performance

All versions of the Telluride are powered by a 3.8L V6 making 291 hp and 262 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine is hooked up to an 8-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive is standard in Canada.

2025 Kia Telluride Efficiency

NRCan rates the 2024 Telluride at 13.1 L/100 km city, 10.0 L/100 km highway and 11.7 L/100 km combined, for an annual fuel cost of $3,627. The 2025 model, which has yet to be added to NRCan’s website, should post identical economy.

2024 Kia Telluride Safety

The National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) gives the Telluride its top “five-star” rating for overall crashworthiness. This big crossover garners Top Safety Pick+ honours from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), scoring “good” results in crash tests.

2024 Kia Telluride Reliability

Consumer Reports ranks the Telluride second out of 16 mid-sized 3-row crossovers with an overall score of 84, one point lower than the top-ranked Toyota Highlander. As such, it earns a “recommended” rating. It is rated “average” for reliability and “well above average” for owner satisfaction. “It rides comfortably, and the cabin is quiet,” says CR. “The interior is roomy and comes with several well-thought-out details, such as second-row seats that can slide or fold with the single touch of a button.”

That said, there have been two notable recalls in 2024 for the Telluride. The first has Kia issuing a warning to owners of 2020 through 2024 models to park their vehicles outside due to the potential risk of a fire when the vehicle is driven or parked. The problem is that the slide knob for the front power seat can stick. That in turn can cause the power seat motor to overheat, which can potentially start a fire. Drivers may find that the power seat may not adjust or notice smoke or a burning smell. Kia’s instructions were to park the Telluride “outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair has been completed.” Under recall, dealers will install a bracket for the power-seat-switch back covers and replace the seat slide knobs.

The second recall also concerns model years 2020 through 2024. The problem, according to a report by NHTSA, is that the intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft weren’t assembled properly by a supplier, and they don’t fully engage. With use, this could cause damage to the splines on the intermediate shaft. This, in turn, could cause the vehicle to move while in Park if the parking brake hasn’t been engaged. In Canada, Kia has notified owners to take the vehicle to a dealer, where the electronic parking brake software will be updated, and the parts examined for any damage and replaced if necessary. While some 2024 Tellurides were included in the recall, it didn’t apply to all of them. Starting in October of 2023, the supplier started using “an additional computer vision process” to ensure the driveshaft assembly was fully engaged.

2025 Kia Telluride Interior

The Telluride's interior “is undeniably upscale and comfortable — especially in the top trims, notes Car and Driver. “The build quality is excellent, the materials are attractive, and features are plentiful.”

“One point worth noting on the Telluride is that while it does have the twin screens that are becoming a Kia signature, there’s a lower screen on other newer Kias such as the EV6 and Sportage that toggles between climate and infotainment controls,” says Driving.ca contributor Stephanie Wallcraft. “In those vehicles, it can be a bit confusing to figure out which mode it’s in, even though you can configure it to default to one set of controls or the other after a few seconds, and it can be distracting when you think you’re adjusting the temperature and instead crank the volume on your music by mistake. Since the Telluride has undergone a refresh (in 2023) and not a full redesign, that panel hasn’t yet made it onto this dashboard. Instead, old-school buttons and dials still rule here. If that’s a bonus to you, grab it while you still can.”

2025 Kia Telluride Dimensions

The three-row crossover is exactly 5,000 mm (196.9 inches) bumper to bumper. Width is 1,990 mm (78.3 in.). With rood rails, the EX, SX and SX Limited stand 1,759 mm (69.3 in.) tall, the X-Line and X-Pro are 31 mm taller. Ground clearance is 203 mm (8.0 in.), except for the X-Line and X-Pro trims, which are fitted with all-terrain tires that add another 10 mm (0.4 in.) of clearance.

2024 Kia Telluride Canadian Pricing

The Telluride’s 2025 pricing has gone up 600 bucks from the previous year. The base EX starts at $50,395, the SX is $55,995, and the SX Limited is $59,995. Moving further upward, the X-Line goes for $62,095, with the X-Pro topping out at $63,695.

Operating in the affordable end of the automotive spectrum, an end of the pool historically favoured by Canadians more than our neighbours to the south, Kia Soul is a perennially popular seller around these parts. It’s a funky-looking subcompact crossover with an approachable price and ample interior space for its footprint. What’s not to like?

What’s new with the Kia Soul for 2025?

Pricing is up for this model year, though only very slightly with Kia adding about $100 to the bottom line across all trims. Most models get a small reshuffling of features and colour options (Lunar Orange departs) but it is largely status quo for the 2025 model year.

2025 Kia Soul Competitors

Competition is ample in this segment, including the Nissan Kicks, Chevrolet Trax, and – potentially – its showroom partner Kia Seltos.

2025 Kia Soul Performance

Under the hood is a 2.0L four-cylinder engine, a mill featuring familiar technology like four valves per cylinder and multi-point fuel injection. In plain English, it’s a simple engine. Power is rated at 147 horses and 132 lb-ft of torque. A continuously variable transmission, marketed by Kia under the pious name of intelligent variable transmission, is the sole dance partner.

2025 Kia Soul Efficiency

According to the feds, a Kia Soul should return an efficiency of 8.5 L/100km in the city and 7.0 L/100km on the highway. Those who drive a mixture of those environs are suggested to expect roughly 7.9 L/100km from their little Kia Soul.

2025 Kia Soul Safety

Popping for the EX, only $1,900 more expensive than the base LX, brings a raft of extra driving helpers including forward collision-avoidance assist, lane following, rear cross-traffic beepers, and blind-spot collision avoidance assist. Crash testing performance is on par with competitors.

2025 Kia Soul Reliability

Consumer Reports ranks this model decidedly in the middle of the road in terms of both expected reliability and expected owner satisfaction, giving the Soul a three-of-five score in both those measures. Surveyed owners carped most frequently about seat comfort and road noise, items which don’t affect reliability but do impact satisfaction.

2025 Kia Soul Interior

This brand punches above its weight class in terms of interior trappings on most of its cars, and the Soul is no different. Look for good quality materials and an impressive array of standard kit including an 8.0-inch audio display, smartphone mirroring, and heated front seats. Wireless charging and the like are standard on the next-to-base EX, a feature which doesn’t appear without paying extra cheddar at some luxury brands. Upper models bring larger screens and other creature comfort goodies.

2025 Kia Soul Dimensions

Total length is 4,195 millimetres which places it just shorter than a Mini Countryman. Its dimensions of 1,800 mm wide and 1,600 mm tall define this car’s signature boxy profile. Minimum ground clearance is 6.7 inches which is more than expected for a machine of this stature. Helping matters is a curb weight under 3,000 pounds in some trims.

2025 Kia Soul Canadian Pricing

Kicking things off is the LX trim at a very agreeable $22,895 plus destination charges and other fees. The EX adds some heated surfaces and better lighting plus other features for $24,795 (appending a further $800 brings the EX+ with larger wheels and a sunroof). The EX Premium is a $27,495 proposition while the top rung GT-Line Limited is $29,795 meaning that we now live in a world where one can easily spend 30 grand on a small Kia counting all fees and taxes.

As a replacement for the Forte sedan, the 2025 Kia K4 is a value-packed four-door, a half size up from the Forte and sporting bold fastback design and stylish interior. It looks more expensive than its entry-level sticker suggests. Factor in Kia’s long warranty, and this new Kia is a winner.

2025 Kia K4 Competitors

The K4 has a tough set of competitors in the form of Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra, VW Jetta and Mazda3.

What’s New with the Kia K4 for 2025?

The K4 is an all-new nameplate for 2025

2025 Kia K4 Performance

The front-drive K4 runs with two powertrains: the LX, EX and EX+ get a 147-hp 132 lb-ft 2.0L four hooked to a CVT, while the GT-Line Turbo turns up the heat with a 190-hp 195 lb-ft 1.6L turbo-four running through a conventional eight-speed auto with paddle shifters. The latter also gets larger disc brakes and multi-link rear suspension versus the base car’s torsion beam setup. The base 2.0L four is a smooth unit and in conjunction with the well-behaved CVT provides adequate performance. Ride quality is good and it’s a quiet and relaxed tourer. The GT-Line Turbo, while being faster and more athletic, is not as sporty as the Mazda3 or Honda Civic.

2025 Kia K4 Efficiency

The 2.0L models are rated by the manufacturer at 7.9 L/1000 km city, 5.8 highway and 7.0 combined. The 1.6L turbo models are less frugal at 49.2 L/1000 km city, 6.6 highway and 8.0 combined.

2025 Kia K4 Safety

All Kia K4 models come with an impressively long list of safety kit: adaptive cruise control, auto high beams, lane departure alert, front collision mitigation with pedestrian and cyclist detection and junction turning function, heated washer nozzles, lane keep assist, and lane follow assist. Moving up from LX to EX nets blind spot/rear cross traffic monitoring and assist. Parking sensors and 360-degree camera are available. The IIHS gives the 2025 K4 sedan a Top Safety Pick rating.

2025 Kia K4 Reliability

This being and all new car there is no reliability data specific to the K4, but looking at the 2024 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study, Kia sits at 187 Problems Per 100 Vehicles (PP100), bettering the industry average of 190. Consumer Reports says modern Kia vehicles are reliable, way beyond their price point.

2025 Kia K4 Interior

The K4 has a well built and nicely designed interior with a cool flat-topped and bottomed steering. While a 12.3-inch central screen is standard, upper trims featuring and a vast swath of digital screenage housing both driver and infotainment displays. Thankfully, Kia has also furnished the K4 with plenty of physical controls. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPay are standard, driving position is good and the seats are comfortable. The base LX gets heated cloth seats but moving up to the EX nets heated steering wheel, phone charge pad, 6-speaker audio and more.

2025 Kia K4 Dimensions

The K4 is a roomy sedan, and back seat passengers will find generous headroom and legroom. The K4’s trunk measures a commodious 413 L.

2025 Kia K4 Canadian Pricing

The entry level K4 LX starts at $23,995 (before freight and taxes) but the smart money is on the next level EX that, at $26,495 provides everything one could ever expect and this price point, and more. The $27,995 EX+ adds sunroof, synthetic leather, and acoustic windshield. The 190-hp turbo model comes in two trims: GT-Line Turbo ($31,495) and top tier GT-Line Turbo Limited ($34,495).

Slotting in between the boxy Soul and long-running Sportage, the Seltos has a more conventional appearance than its boxy little brother. Still, the Seltos and Soul are technically both subcompact in size but, thanks to markedly different styling, appeal to vastly different customers. The Seltos is also available with all-wheel drive.

What’s new with the Kia Seltos for 2025?

As with most things in life these days, the Seltos is a little bit more expensive than last year. Still, Kia has managed to hold the line by about $200 across all trims, an acceptable hike in this age of hyperinflation around every corner. An extensive update last year brought some styling tweaks and added nifty new technologies.

2025 Kia Seltos Competitors

Look for rivals such as the Hyundai Kona, Honda HR-V, and Subaru Crosstrek. One could also make the case for the new Nissan Kicks which is now available with a similarly sized engine and option of all-wheel drive.

2025 Kia Seltos Performance

In entry-level trims, power comes from a 2.0L four-cylinder engine making 147 ponies and 132 lb-ft of torque. The top two trims, SX and X-Line, benefit from a turbocharged 1.6L four pot, belting out 195 horsepower and an identical amount of torque. The turbo earns a proper eight-speed automatic while the base naturally aspirated models make do with a CVT. All-wheel drive is an option or standard across all trims.

2025 Kia Seltos Efficiency

Running just fine on regular unleaded thankyouverymuch, the naturally aspirated Seltos should return somewhere in the ballpark of 8.8 L/100km in city environs or about 7.5 L/100km out on the open road. Mixing these two locations is indicated to yield a combined fuel economy of 8.2 L/100km. Upgrading to the turbo engine dings those numbers to 9.4, 8.7, and 9.1 respectively.

2025 Kia Seltos Safety

Kicking off the range are features like lane keeping and lane following (yes, there’s a difference – one centres, the other shepherds) plus a blind-spot collision avoidance assist and alerts for rear cross traffic. Advanced forward collision assists appear further up the totem pole.

2025 Kia Seltos Reliability

Predicted reliability for this model is decidedly average, with the wonks at Consumer Reports awarding a 51-of-100 score in this area when measured against comparable new cars. That number is behind others in the segment such as the Subaru Crosstrek or Honda HR-V, at least using CR’s yardstick. The group says its prediction is based on data from other model years plus overall Kia brand scores.

2025 Kia Seltos Interior

Entry-level models still get goodies like heated front seats, an 8.0-inch infotainment display, smartphone integration, and six-speaker audio. Midgrade EX trims get leather upholstery and other leather-wrapped touchpoints but still makes do with the small touchscreen. That’s gone by the SX trim, replaced by a 10.25-inch display. A wireless phone charger, Bose premium sound, and ambient mood lighting appear on upper trims.

2025 Kia Seltos Dimensions

No matter the trim or number of driven wheels, the Seltos measures 4,385 millimetres from tip to tail. It stands 1,630 mm tall (a bit less if front-wheel drive) and is 1,800 mm broad of beam. Ground clearance is 7.1 inches, a sum sufficient to clear some snowbanks at the rink prior to hockey practice.

2025 Kia Seltos Canadian Pricing

Hewing to its traditional saw of towering value-for-money, the Seltos starts at just $25,545 not including destination charges or other sundry fees. Adding all-wheel drive is a $2,000 proposition. It’s a similar story with the gulf between a $28,645 front-wheel drive EX and its all-wheel drive counterpart. An EX Premium costs $33,845 while an SX trades for $36,845. The slightly more rugged X-Line represents a $39,445 dent (plus fees) in yer wallet.

Once, twice, three times a Niro. The funky front-wheel-drive Kia Niro is offered with one of three powerplants – all of which are electrified to some degree. Its standard hybrid (HEV) option with its combined gasoline and electric power permits all-electric performance at city speeds, while the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) packs a larger battery and the ability to drive up to 55 kilometres without burning fuel when conditions are right. Rounding out the trio is an all-electric (EV), sporting a 64.8-kWh battery and estimated driving range of 407 kilometres according to NRCan.

2025 Kia Niro Competitors

When it introduced the new second-generation model two years ago, Kia management said its focus would be centred on the EV model, which the company believed would account for the bulk of Niro sales. This makes the Niro’s primary competition sibling rival Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 and Kona Electric, plus models such as the VW ID. 4, and Nissan Leaf.

What’s new with the Kia Niro for 2025?

Entering the third model year of its second generation, the 2025 Niro PHEV receives two new trims (previously it was EX trim only). The Niro HEV and EV are unchanged.

2025 Kia Niro Performance

Niro features three distinct powertrain configurations, HEV hybrid, PHEV plug-in hybrid, and all-electric EV. A 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is standard in HEV and PHEV.

The HEV features a 1.6L four-cylinder coupled with a 32-kW permanent magnet synchronous electric motor, for a combined maximum output of 139 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. Improved cooling, friction and combustion technologies ensure maximum fuel efficiency, says Kia, claiming the HEV returns 4.4 L/100 km combined when equipped with 16-inch wheels and a driving range of nearly 950 km. When equipped with 18-inch wheels, the HEV still achieves an impressive 4.8 L/100 km combined.

The PHEV pairs the 1.6L with a 62-kW electric motor, for a total system output of 180 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. When connected to a Level 2 charger, the PHEV, says Kia, can refill its 11.1-kWh lithium-ion polymer battery in less than three hours. Fully charged, the all-electric range of the PHEV is up to 55 km.

The all-electric Kia Niro EV is powered by a 64.8-kWh battery and a 150-kW (201 hp) motor with DC fast-charging capability. Plugged into a Level 3 fast charger, the EV can replenish to 80 per cent from 10 in less than 45 minutes, at a maximum charging capability of 85 kW. The 11-kW onboard charger also helps recharge the EV in under seven hours on a Level 2 charger. Under ideal conditions, its range is 407 km. An optional heat pump and battery warmer help preserve range in cold temperatures.

2025 Kia Niro Efficiency

The standard Niro HEV sips fuel, rated at just 4.8 L/100 km in combined driving conditions (4.5 L/100 km and 5.2 in the city and on the highway, respectively). Interestingly, the PHEV is rated identically on the combined cycle when using its gasoline-powered engine, though its efficiency bookends are within a hair’s breadth of each other thanks to different regenerative properties. It can travel about 55 km on electricity alone when conditions are favourable, which works out to a measly 2.1 Le/100 km overall.

Pegging numbers for the EV is another thing altogether — though interesting since the Niro is one of just a few vehicles whose exterior appearance is all but identical to its gasoline-burning siblings. A fully charged battery is rated by NRCan as providing 407 km of driving range. A vehicle-to-load feature means owners can plug certain appliances and power tools into their Niro EV. Charging it to 80 per cent from near flat a Level 3 DC charger shouldn’t take much more than 45 minutes.

2025 Kia Niro Safety

Results posted by NHTSA, have the 2024 Kia Niro HEV model earning an overall 5-Star safety rating. The other two variants have not been tested. The IIHS has yet to crash test the current Niro.

2024 Kia Niro Reliability

“The redesigned Niro is very sensible and economical. Even though it is only a front-wheel-drive model, its overall functionality rivals that of most small SUVs.” So says Consumer Reports, which does take the Niro to task for interior controls that are not intuitive, “particularly the split audio/climate control panel can be distracting to use.” Niro is given an overall score of 79, 80 for the EV. CR rates the 2024 Niro as average in terms of expected reliability.

2024 Kia Niro Interior

Kia pushes the Niro’s green-ness and environmental friendliness through the use of animal-free textiles throughout the cabin. The headliner is made of recycled wallpaper, which contains 56 per cent reused PET fibres. The seats are covered by bio polyurethane and Tencel made from eucalyptus leaves. BTX-free paint, which means no benzene, toluene, or xylene isomers, is used on the window switch panels. Also, the EV comes with V2L (Vehicle-to-load) function, which allows the passenger to charge external devices with the vehicle battery.

One of the coolest features, standard in HEV and PHEV trims with navigation, is Green Zone Drive Mode, which automatically switches into EV drive mode in residential areas, and nearby schools and hospitals. The use of electric power is based on navigation cues and driving history data, and recognizes favourite places, such as home and office set in the navigation system.

2025 Kia Niro Dimensions

Dimensionally, the 2025 Niro has a compact footprint. Overall length is 4,420 mm (174 in). The overall height of the HEV and PHEV is 1,545 mm (60.8 in) while the EV adds an extra 25 mm of height but no extra ground clearance. Front seat headroom is similarly identical, though the larger battery in the EV model shaves rear headroom by about 1.5 inches (40 mm) compared to HEV and PHEV trims. Cargo capacity behind the rear seats is 646 litres (22.8 cu ft), 1,805 litres (63.7 cu ft) with the rear seats folded. Rear-seat room is a tight squeeze for full-sized adults or leggy teenagers.

2025 Kia Niro Canadian Pricing

The 2025 HEV Niro LX starts at $30,795, while the EX goes for $32,795, $35,495 for the EX Premium. The top trim SX has an MSRP of $39,495. The Niro PHEV LX has an MSRP of $36,795, Upgrading to the EX trim will cost $38,795, $41,495 for the EX Premium. The entry Niro EV Wind will set you back $45,595..The EV is also offered in Wind+ ($48,595) and Wave ($53,595) trims. With all three models, add another $1,950 in delivery and destination charges.

The full-size Kia EV9 is the largest of the automaker’s all-electric models, around the size of the gasoline Telluride, and with three rows of seats handling up to six or seven passengers, depending on the trim. It comes in rear-wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) and in three trims, with the top trim offering an additional three option packages. The EV9 is now in its second year, having been introduced in 2024 as an all-new vehicle.

Competitors to the 2025 Kia EV9

Kia is a mainstream automaker, while most of the EV9’s all-electric competitors are from premium brands and considerably pricier. These include the Audi Q8 e-tron, BMW iX, Cadillac Escalade IQ, Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, Rivian RS1, Tesla Model X, and Volvo EX90.

What’s new with the Kia EV9 for 2025?

The EV9 is only in its second year so there are no major changes, other than a new option package on the Land AWD trim. Called the Plus Package, it slides under the existing Premium and GT-Line Packages, and adds such items as 20-inch wheels, “small-cube” LED headlights, dual-pane sunroof, quilted faux-leather upholstery, and black styling accents.

2025 Kia EV9 Performance

The EV9 starts at the Light RWD, with 76.1-kWh battery and rear motor that makes 215 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The Wind RWD uses a 99.8-kWh battery and its motor makes 201 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The Land AWD also uses the 99.8-kWh battery, but its twin motors combine to produce 379 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque.

In his review of the 2024 Kia EV9 Land AWD, Matthew Guy said, “As with most electric vehicles, the EV9 takes off like a scalded cat when its driver dips a toe into the accelerator pedal. There was never an issue keeping up or merging with highway traffic, and its different driving modes make meaningful differences in powertrain responses. Centre of gravity is low, lending a planted feel even in Nova Scotia gusts whilst driving over the Folly Mountain area. Canadian EV9s get their own terrain modes for dealing with snow, proving someone at Kia is paying attention.”

2025 Kia EV9 Efficiency

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) rates the Light RWD with a range of 370 km, while the Wind RWD, with its bigger battery, is 489 km. The Land AWD rates 451 km, while adding the GT-Line Package with its 21-inch wheels drops that to 435 km. The EV9 has 800-volt charging architecture and if you can find a 350-kW DC fast-charger, the 99.8-kWh battery can be replenished from 10% to 80% in 24 minutes.

2025 Kia EV9 Safety

The Kia EV9 hadn’t yet been rated by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at time of writing, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the 2024 version a Top Safety Pick Award. It scored the highest “Good” in the small overlap front and original moderate overlap front; and in the updated side crash, which better simulates being struck by a large SUV. Its pedestrian front detection also scored “Good,” along with its ease of use for child seat tether anchors. Depending on the trim, its headlights received either “Good” or “Poor,” and that latter score, due to excessive glare, prevented a Top Safety Pick+ designation.

All trims include emergency front braking with intersection assist, emergency rear braking, automatic high-beam headlamps, blind-spot assist, highway driving assist, driver attention warning, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, safe exit assist, tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), and mandatory rear view camera. The Land trim further adds side parking sensors.

2025 Kia EV9 Reliability

Consumer Reports gives the EV9 a predicted reliability rating of 48/100 and says it expects it to have “about average reliability when compared to other new cars,” based on “similar models from the Kia brand.” It obviously wasn’t included in the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, because it covers vehicles that are three years old; but the study ranked Kia eighth among all automakers.

2025 Kia EV9 Interior

All trims come with a 12.3-inch infotainment screen and matching 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, along with tri-zone climate control, six fast-charging USB ports, wireless charger, auto-dimming mirror, and heated and cooled eight-way power front seats. Upper trims can add a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated second-row seats, ambient lighting, digital mirror, and premium audio.

In her review of the 2024 Kia EV9, Renita Naraine said, “The front seats are super-comfy and can be adjusted in numerous ways — there’s a sort of massage function for the driver, but Kia calls it ‘ergo-motion,’ which I really like, because I find most ‘massage seats’ in cars feel less like a massage and more like a gentle kick from the kid sitting behind the seat. The roof is like a weird plush material that you’d want from a cozy blanket, but here, it’s whatever. I love simple additions to cars that make it a little more family-friendly. For example, the cupholders can be turned into just a little storage space if needed. And my kids, and myself, were truly pleasantly surprised to find the centre console can be accessed from the second-row seats, and can be pulled out to be used as a sort of tray back there. Note that while it does have a rubber bottom, things will likely fall off said tray while driving.”

2025 Kia EV9 Dimensions

The 2025 Kia EV9 has an overall length of 5,010 mm (197.2 inches). Legroom is 1,052 mm (41.4 inches) in the first row; 1,086 mm (42.7 inches) in the second row, and a tighter 783 mm (30.8 inches) in the third row. When that third row is up, you get 573 litres of cargo volume. Fold them and it’s 1,22 litres; and up to 2,314 litres with the second row down as well. The RWD trims can tow up to 2,000 lbs, while the Land AWD can pull up to 5,000 lbs.

2025 Kia EV9 Canadian Pricing

Pricing for the 2025 Kia EV9 in Light RWD is $59,995, while the Wind RWD is $62,995. The Land AWD starts at $64,995 and then can be optioned with one of three packages: the new Plus at $69,995; the Premium at $74,995; and the GT-line at $78,995. All prices are before any applicable federal or provincial “green” vehicle rebates.

The compact Sportage remains one of Kia’s more popular models and is one of its longest-running nameplates. This five-seater offers a lot of choice since it’s available in gas-only, as a hybrid, and as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV).

What are the 2025 Kia Sportage’s competitors?

The compact SUV segment is one of the most popular among consumers, and so the Sportage faces a lot of rivals. These include models such as the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Mitsubishi Outlander and Outlander PHEV, Nissan Rogue, Toyota RAV4, and more.

What’s new with the Kia Sportage for 2025?

The Kia Sportage was redesigned in 2023 and received a number of tweaks for 2024, and so it’s essentially unchanged for 2025 save for new gloss-black exterior accents on the X-Line trim.

2025 Kia Sportage Performance

The gas-only Kia Sportage comes in five trim lines, and all use a 2.5L four-cylinder engine that makes 187 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque, and mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base LX starts in front-wheel drive (FWD). It can be optioned to all-wheel drive (AWD) which is standard on all other trims.

The Hybrid and PHEV models use a turbocharged 1.6L four-cylinder that makes 177 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque on its own, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. When the gas engine and hybrid system are combined, the Sportage Hybrid makes a total of 227 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque; the Sportage PHEV makes the same torque but with 261 horsepower. All models are AWD. The Sportage PHEV has a published range of 55 km on electricity alone after it’s been plugged in and charged, and when that depletes, it automatically switches to conventional hybrid operation, so it’ll continue to drive for as long as there’s fuel in the tank.

2025 Kia Sportage Efficiency

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) rates the 2025 Kia Sportage in AWD at 10.1 L/100 km city, 8.7 highway, and 9.5 combined. The base FWD model reduces that to 9.3 city, 7.1 highway, and 8.3 combined. The Sportage Hybrid is rated at 6.1 city, 6.3 highway, and 6.2 combined. The Sportage PHEV in hybrid mode rates 6.6 city, 6.7 highway, and 6.7 combined. It has a published range of 55 km in electric-only when its battery is fully charged after plugging in.

2025 Kia Sportage Safety

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) gave its top five-star crash-test rating to the 2024 Kia Sportage, and since the 2025 model is unchanged, that should carry through. The 2024 version also received a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), including the top “Good” in the updated side test, which better simulates being struck by a large SUV. However, at time of writing, it hadn’t yet been tested in the updated front moderate overlap, which now assesses potential injury to a rear-seat passenger as well as to those in front. It earned the next-step-down “Acceptable” for its emergency front braking pedestrian detection, as well as for ease-of-use of its child seat tethers.

All Sportage trims include emergency front braking, lane-keep assist, lane-follow assist, rear occupant alert, tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), and mandatory rearview camera. The X-Line, one step up from the base LX, adds blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and rear parking sensors. Trims above that can add adaptive cruise control, emergency braking on turns, emergency rear braking, highway driving assist, blind-view monitor, and 360-degree camera. All features are included on the Hybrid and PHEV models, and their upper trims further add a remote parking function.

2025 Kia Sportage Reliability

The 2025 Kia Sportage rated 60/100 in predicted reliability from Consumer Reports, which said it expects it to have “above average reliability when compared to the average new car,” based on data from the 2023 model. The Sportage didn’t land an individual award in the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, which looks at three-year-old vehicles, but Kia as a brand ranked eighth among all automakers.

2025 Kia Sportage Interior

The entry LX trim is pretty basic other than heated seats, but other trims add such items as power-adjustable seats, faux leather upholstery, heated steering wheel, cooled seats, heated rear seats, wireless charger, 12.3-inch centre touchscreen with navigation, rain-sensing wipers, premium audio, and hands-free liftgate. The Hybrid and PHEV trims come well-equipped at almost all trim levels.

In her review of the 2023 Kia Sportage, Renita Naraine said, “Staying within the front cabin, let’s talk about that odd touch panel below the touchscreen. Am I a fan? Absolutely sort of. Well, I don’t hate it. It’s fairly easy to use and to be completely honest, I don’t mind if it acts as the climate control. Unfortunately, that’s not all it is. It’s also the media control panel. You may find yourself wondering, How can it be both? There’s a small icon that looks a bit like a paper airplane; when you tap it, the climate controls change to the media controls. Cool, right? Sort of. You have mere seconds to make your media decision before it automatically reverts back to the climate control options. Again, it’s one of those things that I imagine Sportage owners would get used to, but until then, you should probably note that if you turn the volume knob before tapping the airplane icon, then instead of blasting those Harmon Kardon speakers, all you’ll be doing is turning up the heat.”

2025 Kia Sportage Dimensions

The 2025 Kia Sportage has an overall length of 4,660 mm (183.5 inches). Legroom is good at 1,052 mm (41.4 inches) and a generous 1,050 mm (41.3 inches) in the second row. Depending on how you set the cargo floor height in the gas-only Sportage, you get up to 1,121 litres of cargo space, opening up to a potential 2,098 litres when the second row is tucked down. Battery placement in the electrified models cuts a bit into cargo space. The gas Sportage can tow up to 2,500 lbs when properly equipped, and up to 2,000 lbs for the Hybrid and PHEV.

2025 Kia Sportage Canadian Pricing

The 2025 Kia Sportage starts with the LX in FWD at $30,295, with another $2,000 to switch that to AWD. From there, all other trims are AWD-only: the X-Line at $35,895; the EX at $37,595; EX Premium at $39,695; and X-Line Limited at $43,095. The Hybrid comes in EX trim at $38,145 and the SX at $43,845. The PHEV comes as the EX Premium at $46,995 and the SX at $49,995, and as plug-ins, both may be eligible for applicable federal or provincial “green” rebates.