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

CY Foong · Jul 7, 2021 11:20 AM

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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.

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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

All-new 2022 Kia Sportage to begin international sales later this year 01

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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The Blind-Spot View Monitor as shown in the Sorento

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

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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

CY Foong

Writer

Traded advertising for a career that fits his passion for cars. Enjoys spotting cars during his free time and has a soft spot for Japanese Kei cars but drives a thirsty manual sedan.

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