2022 Kia Sportage spied

Kia’s twin to the 2021 Hyundai Tucson is starting to take shape.

A heavily-camouflaged prototype believed to be the 2022 Kia Sportage has been snapped testing ahead of its likely reveal in April next year.

The 2022 Sportage will ride on a variation of the platform underpinning the 2021 Hyundai Tucson revealed last month.

It’s expected to get longer, wider, and taller than the current model – which is now looking small in comparison to the latest Toyota RAV4, despite only launching in 2015.

These images, posted on Instagram by cars_secrets, show the car will have pumped-up fenders and sharper flanks than the current model, along with wheels that share plenty in common with those of the Hyundai Tucson.

Korean Car Blogreports the Sportage won’t just be a shrunken version of the seven-seat Sorento on the outside, instead debuting its own design language.

It’s expected to be offered with petrol, diesel, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid drivetrains like the Tucson.

Two versions of the Tucson will be available globally, but Australia will only get the larger option. Overseas reports have suggested the Sportage will also be offered with two body styles, although which will come to Australia isn’t yet clear.

Measuring up at 4630mm long, 1865mm wide, and 1665mm tall with a 2755mm wheelbase, the new Tucson is 15mm longer than a Toyota RAV4 with a 65mm longer wheelbase, although both are the same width.

Despite getting long in the tooth, the Sportage remains Kia’s second-best selling car in Australia to date in 2020 behind the Cerato.

It goes head-to-head with the Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4, Nissan X-Trail, and Honda CR-V in the mid-sized SUV segment, one of Australia’s most competitive.