All-new 2022 Kia Sportage to begin international sales later this year

Following its announcement for pre-orders in its home market of South Korea, Kia has announced the official international launch of the all-new fifth-generation Kia Sportage.

Inspired by nature, this ‘ultimate urban SUV’ is developed on Hyundai Motor Group's N3 architecture. It is also the first Kia vehicle to be available in long-wheelbase and short-wheelbase variants depending on the region.

Design - Menacingly sporty

The design of the all-new Sportage uses Kia’s new design language – Opposites United – and is a collaborative effort between Kia’s design studios in Korea, Germany, the U.S., and China.

Also read: Kia EV6 revealed, first dedicated EV from Kia

The menacing Tiger Nose grille combined with the futuristic-styled boomerang-shaped LED DRLs are striking to say the least. However, the overall muscular swooping fastback design gives off the sport in Sport Utility Vehicle very nicely.

Also read: The all-new 2022 Kia Sportage debuts, looks too scary for children

Powertrains - Tough like its looks

Speaking of utility, the all-new Sportage introduces an all-new Terrain Mode that automatically adjusts the SUV’s drive settings depending on the road condition and environment, including snow, mud, and sand.

The Sportage has an electronic 4WD system but Kia claims that this is the most comfortable Sportage ever. This is thanks to a MacPherson strut type suspension in front and four-link type suspension in the rear.

Two engines are announced for the all-new Sportage – a turbocharged 1.6-litre TGDI petrol unit (180 PS/265 Nm) and a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine (186 PS/417 Nm). Both engines are paired to a 7-speed DCT and an 8-speed automatic respectively. The petrol unit is also available with a 6-speed manual transmission.

The hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants of the Sportage have been confirmed but details will be revealed later. However, Kia has said that the electrified versions will gain the new high-tech E-Handling system. The Korean carmaker claims that this improves the SUV’s agility and stability.

Also read: Nearly 100k Hyundai, Kia electrified vehicles sold in Korea in H1 2021 – Up nearly 40%

Interior - Liveable and futuristic

Stepping inside, the all-new Sportage feels very modern and elegant with a 12-inch touchscreen unit that serves as the nerve centre for driver and passenger connectivity. Just like any modern car built for the 2020s, it comes with over-the-air software and map updates as well as a wireless charger.

The Sportage also comes with a fully immersive in-car surround sound system courtesy of Harman Kardon. The rear seats can also be folded via a touch of a button to add more cargo space in the back.

Safety - Generous and state-of-the-art

The SUV is also not short on safety features with an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) suite that includes Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), Highway Driving Assist (HDA), Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control (NSCC), and Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA).

HDA and NSCC are Kia's terms for adaptive cruise control (ACC) with the latter aided by real-time navigation data. Kia claims that the SUV can automatically slow down when it approaches a curve, something that most ACCs fail to detect.

Also read: Drivers still don’t fully trust driver-assistance systems, study shows

Just like some of its Hyundai and Kia brethren, the all-new Sportage also comes with a Blind-Spot View Monitor, Hyundai-Kia’s version of Honda LaneWatch.

Also read: Get to know your car’s blind spots and avoid near collisions with other motorists

Kia has also announced two special variants of the Sportage. One is the GT-Line which is marketed as the urban variant with a black and white interior. The other is the X-Line which makes its debut on this generation and is more for the adventure types with a lugged bumper, a curved roof rack, and a signature sage green interior.

The Sportage is due for global market launch later this year. Could Dinamikjaya have plans to bring the all-new Sportage into Malaysia? Perhaps we might see it in 2022 or 2023 but for now, watch this space.

Also read: Malaysia to launch CKD Kia Carnival in Q1 2022, Seltos in Q4, target 2,000 unit sales