Kia gives EV9 looks to 2025 K8 sedan

The mid-size K8 sedan gets a mid-life facelift nearly four years after its launch

Kia has released the first teasers of the facelifted K8 sedan ahead of its upcoming debut in the Korean market. The updated model features a completely redesigned front end in line with the company’s latest styling language.

The K8 is Kia’s second-largest sedan in South Korea, after the flagship K9. It is a sister model to the Hyundai Grandeur/Azera and debuted in 2021 to replace the old Kia Cadenza/K7 that has been withdrawn from the North American market. Now, just over three years later, it is about to undergo a mid-term facelift with a focus on styling updates.

MORE: Kia’s flagship K9 sedan updated with new grille and new features

The exterior highlights are new LED headlights, inspired by electric models such as the Kia EV9. The slim “tiger nose” grille now features a high-tech LED light bar, while the vertical daytime running lights are reminiscent of the Cadillac CT5. Also part of the makeover is a sculpted hood and a redesigned front bumper, which includes larger lower air intakes designed to effectively cool the engine.

The video teaser is deliberately dark, but the sleek shape seems to carry over much of the styling from the previous model. At the rear, the full-width taillights have been subtly revised with sharper LED graphics, and the bumper has been updated as well.

The facelifted 2025 Kia K8 and the current generation model

Kia hasn’t released any photos of the interior yet, but expect a mild update. After all, the outgoing K8 already comes with dual 12.3-inch screens, a 12-inch head-up display, and a host of ADAS systems.

We don’t have details on the powertrains yet, but they’ll likely carry over from the existing lineup, which offers 2.5- and 3.5-liter petrol engines, self-charging hybrids, and LPG options.

Kia has promised to announce detailed specifications and Korean pricing for the facelifted K8 in August. Since its debut in 2021, the outgoing K8 has sold more than 130,000 units in the Korean market.