With a heritage spanning over three decades, the Sportage holds a pivotal position in Kia’s lineup. To maintain competitiveness in the C-segment SUV market, Kia is giving it a facelift.
Recently, the refreshed Kia Sportage was spotted testing around Germany’s famed Nurburgring race track. Despite heavy camouflage, we can discern details of its production version. Notably, the new Sportage will adopt Kia’s latest design language, featuring ‘star map’ headlights reminiscent of models like the EV9, Sorento, and Picanto. Expect a more robust appearance with a reinterpreted ‘tiger nose’ grille.
Along the sides, new diamond-cut alloy wheels akin to those on the EV3 are visible, enhancing its aesthetic appeal. While the rear lights maintain their position, they will sport a new signature design beneath their mesh covering. Anticipate redesigned front and rear bumpers as well.
Inside, the Sportage was among the first in Kia’s lineup to introduce dual 12.3-inch screens and a touch-sensitive climate control panel, similar to the setups seen in the EV6, EV9, and Sorento. While the upcoming EV3 will feature a three-screen layout, Kia may retain the dual-screen setup in the Sportage to differentiate between electric and internal-combustion engine SUVs. Following the trend set by the facelifted Hyundai Tucson, dual screens are likely to become standard across all Sportage models, replacing the smaller 4.2-inch driver’s display found in lower-spec versions.
In terms of powertrains, expect a lineup similar to the current offerings, including mild-hybrid, more powerful hybrid petrol, and a top-tier plug-in hybrid variants, all powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder petrol engine.
The full reveal of the new Sportage is expected closer to the end of the year, with sales slated to commence in 2025. Pricing is anticipated to increase from the current starting point of £29,390.
