Kia has released more information on its upcoming 2022 Sportage ahead of its launch in either late October or November 2021.
The Sportage will offer a choice of two petrol engines and a diesel engine, shared with the related Hyundai Tucson.
Unlike the Hyundai, Kia won’t stagger the rollout of these powertrains.
The range will open with a naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre ‘MPI’ four-cylinder engine with 117kW of power and 191Nm of torque – oddly 2kW more and 1Nm less than the Hyundai according to Kia’s press release.
Above it will sit a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 132kW of power and 265Nm of torque and a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine with 137kW and 416Nm.
Kia Australia hasn’t specified which transmissions and drive layouts these engines will come with, but expect the 2.0-litre petrol to use a six-speed torque-converter automatic and the 1.6-litre petrol to use a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic as on the Tucson.
The diesel is expected to be mated to an eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission Kia says has been extensively re-engineered for improved control stability and response.
As on the Tucson, the 2.0-litre will likely be front-wheel drive-only while the other powertrains will come with all-wheel drive.
While the outgoing car offers a 179kW/352Nm turbo-petrol 2.0-litre four with a six-speed auto in North America, we’ve never received a turbo-petrol Sportage locally.
Instead, the current model offers only a naturally-aspirated 2.4-litre four as an up-level petrol engine, producing 135kW and 237Nm.
New to the Sportage line will likely be the option of hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
“We are pretty keen and seriously looking at the [Sportage] hybrid,” Kia Australia’s general manager of product planning Roland Rivero has previously told CarExpert.
“We just need to make sure the numbers work for us. We think it can.”
If it were to get the green light, we’re fairly certain the Sportage hybrid wouldn’t get here until 2022, at least a few months after the rest of the range touches down in dealers.
If the Sportage Hybrid does get signed off for Australia it would run the same powertrain as the Hyundai Tucson hybrid offered in overseas markets: a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four and a 44kW electric motor with system outputs of 169kW/350Nm.
The new Sportage shares its N3 architecture with the Hyundai Santa Fe, Tucson and Kia Sorento, among others.
While there’ll be a short-wheelbase version for Europe, we’ll receive the long-wheelbase model destined for markets like South Korea and North America.
That means an overall length of 4660mm on a 2755mm wheelbase, with a height of 1660mm and width of 1865mm.
That’s 175mm longer and 10mm wider overall on an 85mm longer wheelbase.
Boot space has also increased by 171L to 637L with the seats up. Those rear seats fold flat with the push of a button.
Drivers have a Terrain Mode to select in addition to the standard Comfort, Eco, Sport and Smart modes, and is designed for those seeking to traverse snow, mud or sand.
The Sportage uses MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension, with a newly available Electric Control Suspension (ECS) with continuous damping control.
Hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions will have Kia’s new E-Handling system, which the company says enhances dynamics and improves “agility and stability during turning-in and turning-out cornering maneuvers”.
The Sportage will offer both matrix LED headlights and a contrasting black roof as options for the first time.
Wheels measure 17-, 18- and 19 inches.
In addition to the GT-Line, which features a black-and-white interior, there’s an X-Line available in overseas markets with sage green interior highlights, quilted trim, black metal wood, and a restyled front bumper.
The Sportage will offer a 12.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system alongside a 12.0-inch digital instrument cluster within a large, curved display.
Kia has switched from JBL to Harman Kardon for up-spec Sportage models’ sound systems.
The company says the Sportage is safer than ever due to its more rigid structure, and offers a wide range of active safety and driver assist features.
These include highway driving assist, navigation-based adaptive cruise control and blind-spot assist.
The Hyundai Motor Group’s clever Blind Spot View Monitor is available, as is Remote Smart Parking Assist which allows you to move the vehicle with the key fob.
Kia Australia says the new, larger Sportage should prove more popular now that there’s a significant difference in size between it and the smartly-packaged Seltos a segment below.
The outgoing Sportage measures 4485mm long, not much different to the 4370mm Seltos. The difference in wheelbases between the two (a key determiner of cabin space) was a meagre 40mm.
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