The Kia Sportage has been updated in its native Korea, gaining a bold new look inside and out, plus a new range of powertrains.
Its styling has been revised to more closely match that of the brand’s electric cars, the EV3, EV6 and EV9, with new column-like headlights and a blockier front grille. At the rear, the Sportage gets new lights and a more prominent bumper.
Inside, a new 12.3in curved infotainment touchscreen runs an updated version of Kia’s ccNC operating system. There is a new two-spoke steering wheel too and an LED mood light that spans the width of the dashboard.
The car has also been fitted with more sound-deadening material around the B-pillars and door cards to improve rolling refinement.
The new Sportage uses the same turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine as the outgoing car, but the mild-hybrid models now get an eight-speed automatic gearbox rather than the current seven-speed dual-clutch unit.
The full-hybrid model still uses a six-speed gearbox, but its electric motor has an extra 5bhp and it is said to provide smoother acceleration. The motor’s regenerative braking can be adjusted using the gearshift paddles behind the steering wheel and there is also an 'Infant' driving mode that further smooths power delivery to minimise car sickness for children in the back seats.
Both engines put out 177bhp and 195lb ft.
Specifications have yet to be announced for the UK and Kia has so far not clarified whether the 212bhp hybrid or 248bhp plug-in hybrid will remain in the line-up – although it is likely that they will.
Pricing is expected to remain broadly the same when the new Sportage arrives in the UK next year, with the current car kicking off at £29,390.
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This is a facelift of the North American version. I assume the European version will feature a similar revision?
Look at the size of the thing!!! I remember the original being a bit larger than a Fiesta. Why do manufacturers do this - if they want a larger model, give it another model name? I saw a Honda HRV yesterday - must be getting on for twice the size of the original, which was a nice little car.
Think you need to put those rose tinted glasses away.
The original 5 dr was 4245mm in length and the Grand Wagon 4440mm.
The current car that this is based on is 4515mm. so between 270mm (less than a school ruler) and 75mm, a small choclate bar bigger
width wise 10mm in it which is nothing.
oh and the lastest Fiesta 4091mm and the Fiesta from the period of the first sportage, 3941mm
I think with all the safety improvements a growth of a less than 30mm in length and maintaining the width is impressive
Looks nice, a good update inside, not so the exterior,I've always thought Kia's looked a bit plasticky, glossy wheel arch trims, look flimsy too,but that's just me,and there are lots of Kia's on the roads.