By Otsile Kadiege

Kia has taken the veil off the fifth generation Sportage. The Korean automaker’s new Sportage sports a bold, sophisticated and organic form inspired by nature, state-of-the-art interior space, advanced powertrains and advanced driver assistance systems.

Bold new exterior design

Up front, the new Kia Sportge boasts the brand’s modern interpretation of the signature Tiger Nose grille which link with the boomerang-shaped LED DRLs (daytime running lamps), which in turn create solid boundary lines for the striking Matrix LED head lamps. The side profile features taut lines cutting across clean but refined body surfaces that seamlessly blend the contrasting volumes together. For the first-time, customers will have the option to opt for a black roof – a different colour paint option to the vehicle’s body.

Depending on spec and model, the new Sportage rides on 17-inch, 18-inch or range-topping 19inch wheels, with a choice of seven different alloy designs, colours and finishes. The rear end of the new Sportage has a muscular swooping fastback design that flows into the rear lamps, which have been crafted to give the impression that they cut into the body with fine precision. The razor rear lamps are connected by a slim horizontal design.

Sportage X-Line and GT-Line

The X-Line Sportage features a lugged bumper, side sill and curved roof rack. On the inside, a signature sage green colour is used, with bold quilting and black metal wood. The GT-Line model, which has been designed to take on a more urban crossover SUV form with standout body colours that are vivid and spirited. The interior plays off strong contrasts between black and white, giving the GT-Line model a lively sporty environment.

Cutting-edge interior

According to Kia, the Sportage has a driver-orientated space that is state-of-the-art thanks to a curved 12-inch instrument cluster and a 12-inch touchscreen precise and clear graphics. The automaker also claims the new Sportage has a class-leading for legroom, headroom and luggage capacity thanks to the SUV’s wheelbase of 2,755 mm, a width of 1,865 mm, length of 4,660 mm and height of 1,660 mm. It has luggage capacity of 637 litres, which can be increased by folding down the rear seats by simply pressing a button.

Audiophiles will be happy to know that the new Sportage will be available with the industry-leading speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system for a fully immersive in-car surround sound.

Frugal yet powerful powertrains

The new Kia Sportage has the latest powertrain technology breakthroughs, making it one of the most efficient and eco-friendly SUVs available. The new Sportage will be available with a petrol, diesel and a PHEV powertrain. The petrol models is powered by a 1.6 litre 4-cylinder TGDI engine making 132 kW and 265 Nm. It’s paired to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (7DCT) or a 6-speed manual transmission. The 2.0 litre 4-cylinder diesel powerplant develops 137 kW and 416 Nm, and it’s mated to an extensively re-engineered 8-speed automatic transmission.

More information about the high-tech electrified all-new Sportage models, along with other gasoline and diesel variants, will be made available near start of sales.

The new Sportage is available with an advanced Terrain Mode which automatically adjusts the Sportage’s settings so that the vehicle realizes an optimal drive dynamic for any given road condition and environment, including snow, mud and sand.

Safety and driving aids

Kia claims the new portage is one of the safest vehicles in its class thanks to a reinforced and lightweight body structure that has high torsional rigidity  as well as the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) which includes the following: Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), Highway Driving Assist (HDA), Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control (NSCC), Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA) and Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA).

Availability

Due for global market launch later this year, more information on the all-new Sportage will be made available in due course.