Kia Sportage makes global debut – expected Down Under late 2021

Kia has provided more details about its new-look Sportage SUV ahead of its Australian arrival in the fourth quarter of 2021, signifying the first update to the model since 2015.

Off the back of Kia sharing images of the updated Sportage last month, the brand has globally debuted specifications of the fifth-generation model.

The South Korean manufacturer has based its SUV on new architecture which also underpins the Hyundai Tucson, the Sportage's sibling outselling it by nearly two-thirds in 2020 (9579 units vs 15,789 units) amidst an overall slump from the industry thanks to Covid-19.

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2022 Kia Sportage

The base engine will be a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged AWD petrol unit, making 132kW and 265Nm, mated to either a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual clutch auto gearbox – though with the Tucson being available as an auto only, it's believed the Sportage will follow suit.

A turbo diesel engine will also feature, the two-litre four-cylinder developing 137kW and 417Nm, connected to an eight-speed torque converter auto and sending power to the road through all four wheels.

Hybrid options, including a plug-in hybrid variant, will be available overseas but there has been no confirmation on whether these will land in Australia, again in line with the Tucson which Hyundai said wouldn't launch as a hybrid due to emissions regulations.

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2022 Kia Sportage

Inside the cabin is a new 12-inch infotainment touchscreen, joined up with the 12-inch LCD digital instrument cluster as a single panel, both now featuring over-the-air updates for software and navigation systems.

Shift-by-wire technology is now used to reduce space normally taken up by the gear selector on the centre console, allowing more room for other functions like wireless phone charging and multi-zone climate control touch controls.

Remote smart parking assist will come as a standard feature, allowing the car to be remotely parked or exit a parking spot without the driver inside it, a helpful feature in tight spaces.

Five different driving modes can be activated in the Sportage, ranging from on-road settings like comfort, eco, sport and smart to the off-road orientated terrain mode, giving drivers more control in low-grip environments such as snow, mud and sand.

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2022 Kia Sportage

Exterior dimensions are up from the outgoing Sportage, with the extended 2755mm wheelbase model which is tipped to arrive locally standing at 4660mm in length (up 175mm), 1865mm wide (up 10mm) and 1660 high (up 15mm), all thanks to the 85mm longer wheelbase.

Interior size benefits from the exterior growth, Kia claiming second-row passengers now have 1050mm of legroom and 1000mm of headroom, also bumping boot space up by 171 litres to 637 litres when the back seats are up – no figures have been provided around space with the back seats folded flat but it's expected to be bigger than the current 1455 litres.

Kia expects locally delivered Sportages to arrive in the fourth quarter of 2021, not yet announcing pricing for the range.