Kia shows off next-gen Sportage

Wednesday, 9 June 2021

The new Kia Sportage has been given a thorough update, at least in terms of design.

Kia has shown off the upcoming Sportage update, though without discussing anything under the sheetmetal.

The new Sportage is the second Kia model to be designed under the new ‘Opposites Unite’ language, the first being the electric EV6. Both share the distinctive boomerang headlights bookending the tiger nose grille, fat rear arches, rear spoiler and the linked rear lights, although it appears the Sportage won’t have a full-width LED across the bootlid.

Kia isn’t mentioning anything about what might power the new Sportage but we’d bet on some degree of electrification.

Kia has also given the Sportage a contrasting black roof for the first time.

“Reinventing the Sportage gave our talented design teams a tremendous opportunity to do something new; to take inspiration from the recent brand relaunch and introduction of EV6 to inspire customers through modern and innovative SUV design.

Hope you like digital screens in your Sportage.

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“With the new Sportage, we didn’t simply want to take one step forward but instead move on to a different level in the SUV class,” said Karim Habib, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Design Center.

Inside the Sportage is a new, curved dash that comprises two separate displays in the one unit. The touch-based infotainment display and haptic-based ‘soft-touch’ switches control media and air-conditioning alongside two physical temperature knobs and a shift-by-wire transmission dial.

There doesn’t appear to be a physical volume control.

Kia isn’t discussing powertrains or performance metrics yet, but there will be a new Sportage X-Line model coming, “specifically designed to convey a more confident, vigorous and versatile character.”

This gets a special front bumper, side sills and a curved roof rack along with sage green or black seating, “bold quilting” and black metal wood.

Chances are this model will be all-wheel drive but, again, nothing is confirmed in that department. We’d also assume some degree of electrification will be available.

All the details will be revealed at the Sportage’s proper launch, due later this year.