No matter how many cars Kia presents, it will not change my belief that the Sportage is the most beautiful Kia product in its history and in its future, and the new Kia Sportage SUV is characterized by a high-tech interior, a futuristic appearance, and is available with hybrid power that works with electricity for the first time.
Sale starts Spring 2022 | Price from £25,000 (estimated)
Some twists are subtle, others crash into you like a runaway train. This new Kia Sportage SUV is certainly at the more dramatic end of the scale – with a body longer and wider than the car it replaces, and styling straight from the 22nd century, with the option to get it as a plug-in hybrid for the first time.
The 2022 Kia Sportage SUV starts at $24,090, making it one of the lowest-priced vehicles in the compact SUV class. There are three higher Sportage trims that retail for $28,090, $28,390, and $33,750. All models come standard with front-wheel drive; all-wheel drive is a $1,500 option
This extra length means that the next generation of the Sportage straddles the family SUV and large SUV segments, so its competitors will include the Nissan Qashqai, Seat Ateca and Skoda Karoq, as well as larger models, including the Peugeot 5008 and Mazda CX-5.
Inspired in part by the Kia EV6 electric vehicle, the 2022 Sportage features new LED daytime running lights and headlights that shift patterns to avoid dazzling oncoming drivers. A spacious, luxurious front grille, as well as the option of a black roof for the first time, give it a sporty feel. Drivers can choose aluminum wheels up to 19 inches.
Kia Sportage 2022 interior and practicality
Inside, the 2022 Kia Sportage will wow you with a digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch screen that can be configured to put a variety of information in front of you, as well as a separate infotainment system with a 12.3-inch screen.
We haven’t tested this new system yet, but it appears Kia has tried to reduce the time needed to activate some of the most common functions – and the shortcuts appear on a separate touchpad at the bottom of the screen itself, along with the climate controls. Enhancements and new features can be added wirelessly through over-the-air updates, and we expect the system to be compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for smartphone mirroring.
Other features include wireless smartphone charging, an upgraded Harmon Kardon stereo for audiophiles, and a rotating gear selector in the center console if you choose an automatic gearbox.
We’ll be testing the new Sportage’s head and legroom when we drive it, but for now, Kia says the car can fit up to 591 liters in its boot. This is 100 liters more than the previous generation Kia Sportage, and more than most of its competitors, including the spacious Karoq. It’s also more than some of the larger SUV models we mentioned, including the CX-5.
All this means that the new S portage will have no trouble handling your family’s luggage on holidays, and the seats are split in a 40/20/40 arrangement to give you more flexibility.
Kia Sportage engines 2022
The flagship Sportage at launch will be the Korean marque’s latest plug-in hybrid, with a 1.6-liter petrol engine, plus an electric motor that draws power from a 13.8 kWh battery pack. They’ll produce 261 horsepower combined, and although Kia has yet to reveal how far the plug-in hybrid model alone can travel, we’d expect it to run at least 30 miles, which should be enough for most coms.
There will also be a regular “self-charging” hybrid version available at launch, once again featuring a 1.6-liter petrol engine with an electric motor with combined output of 227 horsepower.
Buyers can also have a 1.6-liter petrol engine on its own, with either 148 or 178 hp. And every version benefits from mild hybrid technology to help lower both your emissions and your fuel bills. There’s also a 1.6-liter diesel engine for long-distance drivers, available in 113PS and 134PS variants. The gearbox options are between a six-speed manual or a seven-speed automatic.
And there won’t be a purely electric version of the Kia Sportage (at least for now) as Kia already has both the all-electric e-Niro and Soul in its range.
In addition to a new suspension system that continuously adjusts itself in line with road conditions, the new Sportage features a number of driving modes – including Terrain mode for adventurous off-road drivers – that automatically adapt the vehicle’s systems to different conditions.
Available driver assistance and safety packages include automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist and Blind Spot Monitoring. A rear-view camera, a 360-degree camera, and even a self-parking system are also available.
Pricing won’t be announced until the Kia Sportage nears its dealership, but it’s expected to cost around £25,000. This is a slight increase from today’s Kia Sportage, but it means that the new Sportage will still be competitive alongside its family of SUV rivals, and is a bargain compared to many of the larger models
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