Kia Sportage X-Pro busts out

The fifth-generation 2021 Kia Sportage that’s just started arriving in Australia made its North American debut this week, with an adventurous new X-Pro model grade designed to offer improved off-roading.

The rugged new Kia Sportage X-Pro models are fitted as standard with all-wheel drive along with 17-inch matte black alloy wheels shod with BF Goodrich all-terrain tyres for improved mud-plugging capabilities.

It comes with a multi-terrain drive system with more modes (Normal, Sport, Smart, Snow), raised roof rack rails and a redesigned lower front bumper with LED fog lights and LED projector headlights.

The intrepid Kia Sportage’s windscreen and washer nozzles are heated as well to ensure improved functionality in cold climates and in the snow.

Not unlike the Subaru Wilderness sub-brand that’s spawned adventurous Outback and Forester models in the US, the Kia’s X-Pro range is designed to deliver a tougher image and improved off-road capability.

And like the Subaru Outback and Forester Wilderness models, Kia Australia has not ruled out bringing the Sportage X-Pro to Oz.

A Kia Australia spokesperson told carsales there were “no plans” for a special-edition or an X-Pro model at launch, but that the Sportage “has a five-year lifecycle ahead, so possibly [we could introduce it] down the track.”

It’s not clear if Kia would retain the X-Pro or X-Line name for buffed-up Sportage and Sorento models, or whether it would Australianise the sub-brand with something more fitting.

But the growing demand for more capable off-road mainstream vehicles is making an impact with many car brands.

Toyota Australia has similarly not ruled out expanding its Rugged X range to the Sportage-sized RAV4 and much larger LandCruiser, to deliver more capable off-road vehicles.

Watch this space.