All-new Kia Sportage unveiled

The new-generation Kia Sportage has been officially revealed, sporting a tougher exterior design and an upmarket interior headlined by a huge curved-glass interactive dashboard.

Taking the fight up to the top-selling Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5, the fifth-generation 2022 Kia Sportage has come out swinging with an exterior design that “challenges design norms”, according to Kia.

Flagged for an Australian showroom launch around November this year, pricing for the mid-size SUV is expected to rise over the outgoing Kia Sportage ($29,490-$48,990) as a result of wholesale changes made across the board.

The new Kia Sportage appears very similar to the computer-generated images published on this website last week, with the design clearly inheriting some of the tougher, more angular visuals first seen on the new-gen Kia Sorento large SUV.

The new Sportage also brings an edgy urban aesthetic via high-tech headlight clusters with big boomerang-shaped LEDs. A contrasting black roof has made the grade as well.

The rear-end has a more conventional look with its ‘razor’ LED tail-lights aiming to “give the impression that they cut into the body with fine precision”, says Kia.

The styling was a collaborative effort from Kia’s Korean, German, North American and Chinese studios, and adheres to Kia’s new design language, dubbed Opposites United.

“In the all-new Sportage, we believe you can see the future of our brand and our products,” said Kia global design boss, Karim Habib.

Full details and specification of the new-generation Kia Sportage – such as engine options, dimensions and unique features – will be announced in July, with Kia only confirming the new design inside and out today.

However, we know that the new Sportage will be offer more passenger and cargo space given it’s based on the same underpinnings as the Hyundai Tucson – and it also needs to create distance between itself and the Kia Seltos, which has leapfrogged the Sportage in terms of Aussie sales this year.

While the exterior design of the 2022 Kia Sportage will turn heads, the interior fit-out will be a massive drawcard courtesy of one of the biggest, boldest and most sophisticated screens seen in a mainstream SUV.

Kia hasn’t confirmed the combined size of the ultra-wide curved-glass screen that seamlessly integrates a digital instrument panel (likely 12.3-inch) in front of the driver and an infotainment “slim-crush touch-screen pad”, but it’s clear the futuristic display takes up almost two-thirds of the entire dashboard.

The upmarket cabin design continues with three-dimensional air vent designs that bookend the giant screens, and a slim LCD touchpad for heating and cooling functions.

Some of the other features that can be gleaned from the photos include the fitment of heated and cooled seats, a heated steering wheel, push-button park brake, parking cameras and a low-rise gear selector dial.

Hill descent control and a terrain mode selector dial are also in there, confirming there will be all-wheel drive versions in addition to the more affordable front-drive versions.

Along with a blue-grey two-tone colour motif in the cabin, the perforated leather seats with overt stitching add a touch of luxury to the cabin, as does the stitched leather steering wheel.

The multifunction tiller includes switchgear for autonomous steering (active lane keep), braking and acceleration (adaptive cruise control).

Indeed, the new Sportage is tipped to gain next-level safety features and driving aids, including blind spot video feeds and the possibility of a remote parking function, allowing owners to exit the vehicle and control forward-reverse movement via the key fob.

Expect to see big improvements in terms of comfort and connectivity as well, with wireless phone charging on offer, loads of USB ports, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and more.

“When you see the all-new Sportage in person, with its sleek but powerfully dynamic stance, and when you sit inside the detailed-oriented cabin with its beautifully detailed interior and first-class materials, you’ll see we have achieved those goals and set new benchmarks,” said Habib.

The South Korean car-maker has also stated there will be an all-new Sportage X-Line model, which should offer a more rugged take on the range-topping GT-Line, complete with unique exterior elements (new bumpers, side sills and a curved roof rack) and a luxury cabin with quilted seat upholstery and ‘black metal wood’.

Kia has not yet confirmed the engine offerings for the new Sportage, or whether Australian-delivered vehicles will get carryover engines or a selection of powertrains from the Hyundai Tucson with which it shares many parts.

The current Kia Sportage range features two petrol and one turbo-diesel engine.

Hybrid powertrains akin to those seen on the Tucson are guaranteed for Europe, but the Sportage won’t get either of the petrol-electric hybrid powertrains from launch, meaning Kia won’t have a direct competitor for the RAV4 Hybrid which currently dominates the medium SUV sales segment.

However, after initially ruling out hybrid options, Kia Australia has since said hybrid powertrains for the Sportage are “not completely off the agenda but definitely not confirmed either”.

Kia’s popularity in Australia is booming at present, leapfrogging several other brands on the sales charts in May 2021 to nab third spot overall behind Toyota and Mazda.

Full details of the next-generation Kia Sportage are set to be announced in July.