Fastest Kia SUV Models For 2025
While space, comfort and practicality are the most important things when buying an SUV for the family, we all want the pleasure of knowing our car is quicker than the rest. Kia is known for some of its sports cars, like the Kia Stinger GT, but what’s the fastest Kia SUV?
Kia
- Founded
-
June 9, 1944 (as Kyungsung Precision Industry)
- Founder
-
Kim Cheol-ho
- Headquarters
-
Seoul, South Korea
- Owned By
-
Hyundai Motor Group
- Current CEO
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Ho Sung Song
In this list, we’ve ranked all current Kia SUV models based on their top speed figure. We’re anticipating the release of a sporty version of Kia’s massive EV9 electric car, which will surely take the top spot, but this is what the lineup looks like right now.
We have used figures directly from Kia, or if they are unavailable, used independent tests for top speed figures. The Kia models have been ranked from the lowest top speed to highest.
7
2025 Kia Niro Hybrid, Kia Niro PHEV, Kia Niro EV
Top speed: 104 mph
|
Kia Niro Specs (All Powertrains) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Kia Niro Hybrid |
Kia Niro PHEV |
Kia Niro EV |
|
|
Engine |
1.6L Hybrid Four-cylinder |
1.6L PHEV Four-cylinder |
Electric Motor |
|
Power |
139 hp |
180 hp |
201 hp |
|
0-60 time |
8.9 seconds |
7.5 seconds |
6.7 seconds |
|
Starting price |
$26,990 |
$34,490 |
$39,600 |
This pocket-sized electrified SUV comes first in our list with a top speed of 104 miles per hour, which is leisurely by most standards. Customers will like the Niro for the choice it gives – you can go from a simple hybrid powertrain all the up to a full BEV, though the standard hybrid is a bit slower. You get distinctive Kia looks in all trims and the $27k starting price for a hybrid SUV isn’t bad by modern standards. We liked this car – in hybrid form – in our review, although you can definitely feel the main selling point of this vehicle: the running costs.
“The Kia Niro is a crossover designed for a single purpose: efficiency. As such, some other elements of the driving experience take a back seat. There are only two drive modes, Eco and Sport, which minimally change the steering weight and programming of the transmission. Neither mode makes the Niro feel exciting, but it’s far from sloppy.”
– Jared Rosenholtz, Editor-at-Large, CarBuzz
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6
2025 Kia Sportage, Kia Sorento Hybrid & Kia Soul
Top Speed: 120 mph
|
2025 Kia Sportage, Sorento Hybrid & Soul Specs |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kia Sportage |
Kia Soul |
Kia Sorento Hybrid |
Kia Sorento PHEV |
||
|
Engine |
2.5L Four-cylinder |
2.0L Four-cylinder |
1.6L Turbo Hybrid Four-cylinder |
1.6L Turbo PHEV Four-cylinder |
|
|
Power |
187 hp |
147 hp |
227 hp |
261 hp |
|
|
0-60 time |
9.1 seconds |
8.0 seconds |
8.9 seconds |
8.6 seconds |
|
|
Starting price |
$28,690 |
$20,490 |
$38,690 |
$47,990 |
|
Four different cars occupy the 120 mph space in our fastest Kia SUV list. The budget-conscious Soul is a popular choice for only $20,490 and makes efficient use of its boxy proportions along with enough luxury to wonder where theKia makes its profit. The Sportage and Sorento are quite similar, although the Sorento offers a third row, so you can take six of your friends all the way to the top speed. They’ll all be peppy around town with eight- to nine-second 0–60 times, though we like the extra efficiency of the Sorento PHEV with its plug-in hybrid powertrain.
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5
2025 Kia EV9
Top Speed: 126 mph (governed)
|
Kia EV9 GT-Line Spec |
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|---|---|---|---|
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Engine |
Dual (AWD) Electric motors |
||
|
Power |
379 hp |
||
|
0-60 time |
5.0 seconds |
||
|
Starting price |
$71,900 |
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If you want the biggest and baddest Kia EV9, the GT-Line trim will get up to its top speed with ease thanks to AWD and a 379 horsepower powertrain. We liked the EV9 in our review for the way its powertrain delivers performance, but windy roads undid the ride slightly. It’s a great-looking SUV that might even get a proper GT trim released soon, which would bring it more in line with its smaller cousin, the EV6 GT, which you’ll find further down this list.
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4
2025 Kia Seltos & Kia Sportage PHEV
Top Speed: 130 mph
|
Kia Seltos & Sportage Hybrid Specs |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kia Seltos |
Kia Sportage PHEV |
|||
|
Engine |
1.6L Turbo Four-cylinder |
1.6L Turbo PHEV Four-cylinder |
||
|
Power |
190 hp |
261 hp |
||
|
0-60 time |
6.9 seconds |
6.9 seconds |
||
|
Starting price |
$31,690 |
$39,890 |
||
Next up in our list is the Seltos – specifically with the turbocharged 1.6L engine. A slightly forgotten car in the Kia lineup, just think of this one as the little brother to the Sportage. The 2.0L base engine is adequate for cruising around town, but for those who want just a little more, the 190 hp of the top engine will feel a little more satisfying. It’s probably the least sporty-looking car out of all we’ll mention – but that doesn’t mean it’s slow at 130 mph.
The plug-in Sportage joins it in fourth place as a fast Kia SUV that won’t break the bank with running costs. You can speed up to 130 mph with an electrified powertrain that means less trips to the gas station. It’s similar to the Seltos just bigger, more powerful and has more space and flexibility. The Seltos is enough for an urban commute, but you might want the Sportage for ease of use in the future.
15:30
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3
2025 Kia Sorento SX Prestige
Top Speed: 131 mph
|
Kia Sorento Specs (All Powertrains) |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Engine |
2.5L Four-cylinder |
2.5L Turbocharged Four-cylinder |
||
|
Power |
191 hp |
281 hp |
||
|
0-60 time |
9.8 seconds |
7.5 seconds |
||
|
Starting price |
$31,990 |
$38,090 |
||
As we’ve already mentioned, the Sorento is like a Sportage, but with the added flexibility of optional third row seating and more space inside. The non-hybrid model with the upgraded turbocharged engine gets up to a strong 131 mph – and its 7.5 second 0-60 time will make it plenty of fun around narrow roads. It’s a well-priced and handsome SUV, and we especially love the interior in the higher trims with its leather upholstery and aluminum components.
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2
2025 Kia Telluride
Top Speed: 132 mph
|
Kia Telluride Specs |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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Engine |
3.8L V6 |
|||
|
Power |
291 hp |
|||
|
0-60 time |
6.8 seconds |
|||
|
Starting price |
$36,390 |
|||
The biggest ICE SUV in the Korean manufacturer’s lineup is also the fastest gas-only car in our fastest Kia SUV models list with a top speed of 132 mph. The Telluride achieves this through a large V6 enginem which might feel outdated in a world of four-cylinders, but it’ll pull you and seven passengers along in comfort and ease. If you like the simple design of this generation, snap it up quickly as it’s bound to be modernized soon with a new design language.
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1
2025 Kia EV6 GT
Top Speed: 166 mph
|
Kia EV6 GT Specs |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Engine |
Dual (AWD) Electric Motors |
|||
|
Power |
641 hp |
|||
|
0-60 time |
3.4 seconds |
|||
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Starting price |
$63,800 |
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Here it is then – Kia’s fastest SUV. It’s the top-of-the-range electric sports car that can produce up to 641 horsepower in launch mode with sports seats and interior trims to match. Acid-green brake calipers and accents match the rowdy nature of this car, and we won’t be surprised if the new EV9 GT will do the same. There’s an electronic limited-slip differential to keep you in check and the steering and suspension have been toyed with to make sporty driving a breeze.
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2025 Kia EV6 GT Is Still Way Cheaper Than The Ioniq 5 N
The facelifted Kia EV6 is better than ever, but it’s also a lot pricier for some trims.
FAQs
What is the fastest Kia SUV?
Currently, that title belongs to the EV6 GT, which reaches a staggering 166 mph flat out.
What Kia SUV has the most horsepower?
That also goes to the EV6 GT, although the most powerful gas-powered Kia SUV is the Kia Telluride with 291 hp.
Which is faster, the Kia K5 or Kia Stinger?
The Kia Stinger is faster than the K5, especially in the GT trim levels. It has a 3.3 V6 producing 368 horsepower.
Which Kia SUV has a turbo?
Certain Kia Sorento, Seltos, and Sportage models feature a turbocharger.
Related
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Sources: Kia, Car & Driver
