The redesigned Kia Sportage, finally shedding its extensive camouflage, offers enthusiasts and consumers alike their first clear and full view of the upcoming model. Spy photographers, capturing the crossover sans its usual bulky disguises, reveal a final shape that signals a significant departure from the current generation, promising a bold new direction for the popular SUV.
Design Inspired by the Telluride, Mirroring Luxury SUV Cues
The new Sportage adopts a distinct, boxier design language that draws heavy inspiration from Kia’s larger, three-row Telluride. This design choice lends the Sportage a more robust and rugged appearance, evoking similarities with certain luxury SUVs like the Range Rover Sport. The front end stands taller and more upright, dominated by a wide, prominent grille that flanks vertical lighting units, a design cue that further emphasizes the SUV’s newfound assertiveness. A rounded front bumper and a rectangular lower intake, housing a central sensor pod, complete the Sportage’s revised front fascia, lending it a more purposeful and capable look.
Gone are the soft curves and sharp lines of the outgoing model, replaced by slab-sided bodywork that gives the Sportage a more muscular and athletic stance. Pronounced side skirts accentuate the SUV’s broad shoulders, while a relatively flat beltline runs the length of the vehicle, connecting the front and rear ends. A rakish windscreen and a gently sloping roofline further enhance the Sportage’s dynamic profile, with stylish two-tone wheels rounding out the visual package.
Rear Styling and Interior Details: A Blend of Form and Function
The nearly vertical rear end of the new Sportage features a prominent and sizeable integrated spoiler, further emphasizing the SUV’s sporty nature. A small, angular rear window sits below the spoiler, while vertical taillights with a split design flank the license plate recess, which has moved from the liftgate to the bumper. This design choice not only improves rearward visibility but also lends the Sportage a unique and distinctive identity.
Related: NYC Crash Crew Arrested in Insurance Fraud
Previous spy images have hinted at the Sportage’s interior, offering a glimpse into the cabin’s tech-focused refresh. The new model is expected to adopt Kia’s latest Pleos Connect infotainment system, available in multiple screen sizes to accommodate various preferences and needs. The 12.9-inch, 14.6-inch, and 17-inch display options suggest a contemporary and spacious interior, with the larger screens likely reserved for higher trim levels. While specific interior details remain scarce, the focus on technology and connectivity indicates a modern and intuitive driving experience.
Hybrid Powertrain: Improved Performance and Efficiency
Little official information is available regarding the Sportage’s mechanical specifications, but the redesigned Hyundai Tucson provides valuable insights into what to expect. The Tucson, riding on the same platform as the Sportage, stretches 2.3 inches (60 mm) longer and boasts an additional 1.1 inches (30 mm) between the wheels, suggesting a more spacious and stable ride for the new Sportage.
The Tucson Hybrid’s powertrain, a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine paired with an electric motor, generates a combined output of 242 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain enables the Tucson Hybrid to accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in a respectable 8.5 seconds, while achieving an approximate fuel economy rating of 41 mpg (5.7 L/100 km) in the combined cycle. This represents a significant improvement over the current Sportage hybrid, which produces 232 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque and is rated at 38 mpg (6.2 L/100 km) in the combined cycle.
As Kia’s best-selling vehicle in America, the Sportage carries considerable weight and expectations. Dealers recently set an all-time August record by moving 18,723 units of the popular SUV, highlighting the importance of this redesign. The success of the new Sportage transcends typical product cycles, with its impact extending beyond the automotive industry and into the broader economy. With such high stakes, Kia has made it clear that the redesigned Sportage will be a notable departure from its predecessor, offering consumers a fresh, exciting, and technologically advanced SUV to consider.