Kia has introduced a new Sportage generation. The European version is shorter than the worldwide version and debuted with a plug-in hybrid powertrain at the IAA Mobility in Munich. The pricing are now set. The latest iteration of the tiny SUV, dubbed “QL” internally, has been on the market since 2015, but supplies are running short.
The Hyundai Sportage‘s fifth generation is built on the same basis as its new group sibling, the Hyundai Tucson. In July, the newcomer was unveiled in Korea in a long, capacious variant. Kia has, however, developed a shorter, more coupé-like model version specifically for the European market. This was first seen at the IAA in Munich in September of last year. Early in 2022, the new Sportage will be released.
Kia drastically changed both Sportage models in terms of appearance.
The design is inspired on the new Optima, Sorento, and EV6 models and is less rounded than previously. On the front, the tiger nose and a somewhat retracted grill are visible. The matrix LED headlights are high in the front, surrounded by boomerang-shaped LED daytime running lights, and the bonnet is curved.
New, sharper lenses are no longer circular.
A curving body bead runs beneath the window line on both Sportage models, giving the rear wheel arches considerably additional strength. On the entrance rail, antique outside mirrors are enthroned. The roof extends almost horizontally towards the back, forming a roof spoiler. In the long form, the rear window is steep, but in the coupé-like variant, it bends softly downwards.
Whereas the long Sportage has a third side window, the European version has just metal, with the rear doors’ glass bending up halfway.
Kia designers have given the GT-Line variant a black roof; this option should also be available for the long version. The sills and aprons, which look to be significantly different from those on the long version, are where color comes into play. The back is defined by strong beading and upright lights united by a band. The Sportage comes with 17-, 18-, or 19-inch light alloy wheels, depending on the option package.
The EU version is expanding.
In comparison to the fourth generation of Sportage, the European version expands. The technical specifications include a length of 4,515 mm, a width of 1,865 mm, a height of 1,645 mm, and a wheelbase of 2,680 mm. The predecessor’s dimensions were 4,485 mm in length, 1,855 mm in width, 1,635 mm in height, and 2,670 mm in wheelbase.
Another comparison, this time with the long model: the wheelbase is 2,755 mm, the width is 1,865 mm, the length is 4,660 mm, and the height is 1,660 mm. The baggage capacity is 637 liters, compared to 591 liters for the EU Sportage. With a single touch of a button, the three-part rear seats can be folded down in a 40:20:40 ratio, resulting in a level load space of up to 1,780 liters that can be formed effortlessly and swiftly.
View into the cockpit
The initial impression of the cabin is of a large screen in front of the driver.
For the inside, the Sportage has taken a lot of cues from the brothers. The sports steering wheel has three spokes and a little baffle. The passengers are informed, entertained, and navigated via a 12.3-inch cockpit display and another 12.3-inch touchscreen beneath a shared glass on the dashboard. The Sportage Gen. 5 comes with a new infotainment system as well as additional connection capabilities.
Multiple cellphones can be connected, and navigating is done through a remote control. Kia app-based information services are now as common as Kia navigation, which includes historical and real-time traffic data as well as pedestrian guidance by smartphone for the final mile. Software upgrades can also be done over the air. A lane keeping service, adaptive cruise control, and a blind spot warning round out the support systems. The central console has the shift-by-wire gear selector lever.
Kia uses electronically controlled dampers in the chassis. In more severe situations, like as snow, mud, and sand, the Sportage’s electronically controlled all-wheel drive is set to terrain mode.
The plug-in hybrid powertrain makes its European premiere.
Kia is also announcing the usage of hybrid (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drives, depending on the market. Together with the European body variation, a plug-in representative makes its premiere at the IAA Mobility. The essential information is as follows: A 180-horsepower 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbo gasoline engine is paired with a 67-kW (91-horsepower) electric motor. The lithium-ion battery has a 13.8 kilowatt-hour capacity. 265 horsepower is the system output.
The 1.6 T-GDI is also utilized in the Sportage Hybrid, which has a permanent magnet electric motor with a 44.2 kW output and a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 1.49 kWh. 230 horsepower is the overall output. The Sportage has a mild hybrid engine as an extra engine. The 1.6-liter turbo gasoline engine takes center stage here as well, with a 48-volt network serving as a sidekick. This pair comes in two horsepower options: 150 and 180.
The starting price is 27,790 euros.
Kia isn’t saying goodbye to diesel in the next Sportage generation. The 1.6-liter turbodiesel with 115 and 136 horsepower, the latter being a 48-volt mild hybrid, has SCR exhaust gas purification and NOx storage catalytic converter. A seven-speed dual clutch gearbox may be used with both the petrol and diesel engines (DCT7). For both, a six-speed manual transmission is offered as an option.
Prices start at 27,790 euros for the basic model with Edition 7 equipment, which comes with a 1.6-liter turbo gasoline engine that produces 150 horsepower and sends power to the front wheels. The 150 PS front-wheel drive gasoline hybrid costs at least 33,090 euros (with six-speed manual gearbox) or 35,090 euros (with automatic transmission) (with dual-clutch automatic).
The top-of-the-line petrol variant, with 180 horsepower, all-wheel drive, and a DCT gearbox, costs 37,990 euros. So yet, just the 136 horsepower version of the diesel has been priced. It costs 30,440 euros to get started. The Sportage’s 265 hp plug-in hybrid variant starts at 44,390 euros.
Kia is reportedly working on the sibling SUV to the divisive Hyundai Tucson. The tiny Sportage, now in its fifth generation, is no longer chubby and charming, but rather has a distinct edge – both in the sharp European version and the more practical worldwide version. In the future, the interior will be considerably more contemporary, with a digital cockpit, a bigger screen, and more connection, assistance, and infotainment.
Keyword: Kia Sportage 2022: EU Version Starts Under 28,000 Euros