Many of today’s newer models are increasingly becoming electric or at least hybrids. SUVs, crossovers and SUVs have become quite popular lately. Recently, representatives of the Kia company revealed the characteristics, design and features of the new, fifth-generation KIA Sportage 2022.
The new generation of the Kia Sportage crossover has received a very unusual design. According to company representatives, they decided to combine the incompatible. Indeed, the front of the crossover received LED running lights in the form of a boomerang.
The radiator grill has acquired a pair of nostrils and is open almost to the entire width of the crossover. All this underlines the massive front bumper and the new logo of the company. Inside, the new Kia Sportage has also changed. The central part of the panel was taken under a pair of large displays, placed under one solid glass, one display for the dashboard, the second for multimedia. The crossover has lost the usual automatic transmission lever, having received a washer and control buttons in return.
As for the technical characteristics of the Kia Sportage 2022, it is known that the buyer will be offered a body with a short or long base. Under the hood, there can be a gasoline or turbodiesel engine and a hybrid Kia Sportage. Let’s consider the new product in more detail.
Price and configuration KIA Sportage
Since the new Kia Sportage 2022 have not officially started yet in Europe, Russia or the United States, it is too early to talk about pricing and trim levels. Nevertheless, at home, in South Korea, the car is already available and breaks records.
According to reports, the new 2022 Kia Sportage has become the company’s most pre-ordered vehicle in recent years.
On the territory of South Korea, for the new Kia Sportage 2022, they ask for $ 27,000 in the basic configuration. How much the new crossover will cost in Russia or Europe is still unknown. Most likely, the price will differ minimally and will not exceed $ 30,000 for the basic configuration.
Competitors
Exterior
The car turned out to be completely new, although it still resembles the previously presented concepts of the company. According to preliminary data, the design of the new Kia Sportage is an indicator of how the next models of the company will look like. Representatives of the company claim that in this way, the designers tried to combine incompatible designs.
Most of all, the front part of the new Kia Sportage 2022 is striking. The front optics of the crossover turned out to be very interesting, which was performed in several stages. The LED running lights are boomerang-shaped and extend across the entire width of the radiator grille. The optics itself was placed a little closer to the side.
If you believe the words of the company’s representatives, then starting from the basic configuration, the optics will only be LED. Top options can be equipped with matrix optics.
The radiator grill is no less expressive. First, the designers stretched it across the entire width of the Kia Sportage front end. Secondly, the insert is made of a large rhomboid mesh, which becomes wholly closed closer to the side parts. Regardless of the configuration, the radiator grille will be black with a glossy finish. Over time, such a gloss will become cloudy and covered with chips, which means that the crossover will quickly lose its original shine.
“Nostrils” over the radiator grill have become a non-standard solution of the designers. Two additional holes, but not bad, emphasise the severity of the front end. Also, at the end of the hood in the new Kia Sportage 2022, a new company emblem is visible, which was changed not so long ago.
A bumper accentuates the front end of the new Kia Sportage 2022 with a strict sporty design. As expected, the central part was taken under an additional radiator grill, with sensors in the centre. The side parts of the bumper were occupied by LED foglights with horizontal partitions. Another disadvantage is the plastic edging along the body contour. It would be good if the plastic was black and matte, but in this model it is glossy. Damage and a layer of dust will be visible to the naked eye from the first minutes of operation.
Following the front end, no fewer changes were made to the side of the Kia Sportage 2022. At first glance, it will be challenging to identify the new model because there are no standard lines with the previous generation. Small rear windows speak of two rows of seats but a very spacious interior. Looking ahead, the new Kia Sportage will be offered in two main versions: short and long wheelbase.
The difference between the bases will be in the free space for passengers in the second row. Otherwise, there will be no differences. The futuristic design of the front end also affects the side of the crossover. The designers transferred the rear-view mirrors to the door panel, making them expressive and modern. Regardless of the color of the body, the mounting leg of the mirror and the lower part of the body will be made of glossy black plastic. The main part of the mirror body will be painted to match the body color, although over time they promise to present a charged version of the crossover, where the mirrors will be painted entirely in a different colour. The very same crossover body in South Korea was offered to be painted in one of 8 shades: White, silver, Gray, black, burgundy, blue, dark grey, green.
In addition to the primary body colour of the Kia Sportage 2022, the buyer will be offered to choose a roof colour. According to the standard, the roof is painted in the body colour, but it can be repainted black for a separate surcharge or in top trim levels. It is worth noting that even with a black roof, the front and side struts of the crossover remain painted in the main body color. The basis for the new Kia Sportage 2023 will be 17 ″ alloy wheels. As an option or in top trim levels, the car will be equipped with 18 ″ or 19 ″ alloy wheels.
Although it looks sporty, the side of the new crossover itself, without unnecessary bends and lines, the designers only slightly flattened the wheel arches, brought the centerline from the front fender to the feet, and a slight bulge appeared on the rear fender. Stylish and beautiful, but not entirely practical, the lower part of the doors turned out. As well as along the perimeter of the body, it was decorated with glossy black plastic and a silver insert.
At the back, the new Kia Sportage 2022 received no fewer changes than the front. Notable details of the crossover include a non-standard trunk lid (with a horizontal curve in the centre), large LED feet and a large rear bumper decorated with black gloss.
The manufacturer promised to include an electric boot lid in the standard set and a contactless opening in the full versions of the model. The black trim of the rear lights and the high-gloss black inlays give the vehicle a sporty character. Due to a large amount of gloss on the rear bumper, its size seems even more significant. This is just a visual effect. Some of the plastic went into the trunk lid of the Kia Sportage 2022, thereby creating the illusion of a bumper.
For a snack, it remains to consider the cover of the new Kia Sportage 2022. The first models that appeared on the South Korean market were presented with a solid roof. Still, there were doubts, as the car approached the class of premium SUVs.
Later, a new batch of crossovers still came with an electric sunroof and a panoramic roof. Yes, the new Kia Sportage has become richer in terms of equipment; there will be a solid roof, sunroof or panorama to choose from. According to the standard, an antenna in the form of a shark fin and rails for attaching an additional trunk will also be installed.
The new Kia Sportage 2022 surprised me with its design, sound equipment and restrained decor elements. Nevertheless, from the minuses, one can name many black glossy features, which will very quickly become covered with scratches and dust on our roads.
Interior
The interior of the new generation Kia Sportage 2022 has turned out but is already recognisable. Designers have practically deprived the interior of mechanical control by installing touch panels. The front panel was conventionally divided into several parts. Most of the panel is occupied by a huge display, but this is only at first glance.
The designers of Kia Sportage cheated by placing two smaller screens of 12.3 ″ each under one glass. The display will be standard for the dashboard, but for the multimedia system, it will be touch-sensitive. By placing the collections under one drink, the effect of a single screen is obtained.
The downside is that the car has not received a sun visor, and it is difficult to say how the screen will behave in different weather conditions. The graphics of both Kia Sportage displays have been significantly improved. The tidy turned out to be more realistic. The arrangement of devices can be standard (one of 6 options) or at the driver’s request.
The Kia Sportage 2022 multimedia system will surprise you in its own way. Firstly, the display itself is slightly turned towards the driver. Secondly, the system responds perfectly to the driver’s commands and gives signals when pressed, which is essential when the car is moving. If you believe the words of company representatives, the Kia Sportage 2022 multimedia is based on a proprietary platform that can synchronise Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
The location of the air ducts on the front panel has become a very non-standard approach. There are 5 of them in total; under the display, there are two air ducts, one more on each side of the displays and one on the front passenger side. Interestingly, on the sides of the display, the shape of air ducts follows the shape of the rear feet, but the lower air ducts and one side are simply rectangular.
Below the centre console, the designers have placed the climate control touch panel. The panel has lost its mechanical buttons, except two knobs for adjusting the temperature. A few more mechanical buttons were located on the side of the driver’s door. In addition to opening the trunk lid and changing the front optics, the Kia Sportage 2021 electromechanical parking brake button is also located here.
The central tunnel between the front seats of the Kia Sportage 2021 has lost the usual gearshift lever. Instead of a lever, a gearshift washer and a parking button are installed in the centre of the washer (installing an automatic transmission lever on cheaper configurations). At the very beginning of the tunnel, behind the curtain, there is a wireless charger, USB ports for recharging and a cigarette lighter. Next to the gearbox washer, the designers placed buttons for controlling the heating and airflow of the front seats, a heated steering wheel, a washer for selecting travel modes and all-wheel drive.
In addition to the control buttons, a pair of cup holders was placed on the centre console of the Kia Sportage 2021. The possibility of rebuilding into a small compartment and an armrest with a spacious compartment inside.
As for the interior of the Kia Sportage 2022 itself, it now looks much more solid than its predecessor. No wonder many people say that the new Sportage is close to the premium class. Depending on the configuration, the crossover seats can be trimmed with leather, suede or a combination of these two materials. By colour, it is still known about the black, white and brown versions of the interior.
The first row of seats in the 2022 Kia Sportage received a high back with separate headrests and a comfortable seating position. Electric seat adjustment, while the driver’s seat will receive memory for three adjustment modes. In comparison with the previous generation, the very same interior of the new crossover has become more prominent. In addition, the manufacturer promises to offer a standard or extended wheelbase.
The second row of seats of the Kia Sportage 2021 is designed for the seating of 3 passengers. If necessary, the seats of the 2nd row can be folded in a 60/40 ratio, thereby increasing the luggage compartment. In addition to free space, for the 2nd row, there are various compartments for small items, cup holders and other buns.
Finally, it remains to consider the driver’s seat Kia Sportage 2021. As already said before, the instrument panel is now completely digital, with the possibility of individual adjustment. The steering wheel in the new crossover is three-spoke, with leather upholstery and gearshift paddles. The side steering wheel spokes are reserved for function buttons as standard, and the lower spoke is decorated with a chrome insert.
We can confidently say that the interior of the new Kia Sportage has become modern and much better than its predecessor. Digital gadgets, multimedia and other gadgets that were not in their predecessor. Following the design, the manufacturer improved the quality of materials, disappeared “crickets” in the cabin, and the plastic itself became softer and better in quality.
Engine Specifications
There is no complete list of technical characteristics of the Kia Sportage 2022. Only in the South Korean market were some moments revealed. It is reliably known that under the hood of the new generation Kia Sportage 2022, there can be a 1.6-litre turbocharged gasoline engine, a 2.0-litre turbodiesel unit and a hybrid installation.
The gasoline engine will be able to deliver 180 horsepower and 264 Nm of torque. The diesel is presented with a capacity of 186 hp. and 416 Nm. As for the hybrid installation, it will be based on a 1.6-litre turbocharged gasoline unit of the T-GDI family. In tandem with the hybrid, a 6-speed automatic transmission and an electric motor with a capacity of 60 hp will be installed. (350 Nm).
The heart of the Kia Sportage 2022 hybrid will be a 13.8 kWh battery. With only one battery charge, the crossover will be able to travel up to 50 kilometres. According to available information, the average consumption of a hybrid will be 6 litres per 100 kilometres. As for the gasoline engine, a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed automatic transmission will be installed in pair with it. The diesel unit will only be offered with an 8-speed automatic. The crossover drive will directly depend on the configuration and modification. It is reliably known about entire or front-wheel purpose.
Safety and Comfort
The new generation of Kia Sportage 2022 has changed in terms of design and replenished with modern comfort and safety systems. From the very beginning, many car enthusiasts said that the new product would receive premium systems, both in basic and top-end configurations. So the manufacturer included in the list of the new Kia Sportage 2022:
- front and side airbags;
- safety curtains;
- digital instrument panel;
- multimedia system;
- climate control touch panel;
- heated front and rear seats;
- heated steering wheel and windshield;
- adaptive cruise control;
- monitoring of the driver’s condition;
- electric boot lid;
- contactless opening of the tailgate;
- all-round visibility system;
- starting the engine from the button;
- keyless access;
- windshield projection screen;
- parking assistance system;
- emergency braking;
- recognition system for pedestrians, road signs and cars;
- Drive Wise system (unmanned vehicle control);
- TJA (traffic jam assistance system);
- PVF (follow the car in front);
- AVP (automatic parking without driver participation);
- remote control of the car via a smartphone.
The new Kia Sportage 2022 has not yet been fully disclosed; we can say that there are a couple of trump security or comfort systems in secret. Most likely, the manufacturer will open them after the start of sales of the crossover. Also, one should not exclude the situation that new technologies will be installed on them with the rate of receipt of new copies.
The new Kia Sportage has changed for the better. Starting from the basic configuration, the crossover will be able to surprise:
- digital instrument panel;
- multimedia system;
- climate control touch panel;
- full package of airbags;
- electric boot lid;
- adaptive cruise control;
- starting the engine from the button.
This is a minimal list of what can be found in the base new generation 2023 Kia Sportage. As a rule, the start of sales will reveal a larger list, which means that the crossover may have new competitors and fans-buyers.
