MUMBAI :

Kia recently revealed the all-new Sportage which currently sits in its 5th generation guise. On this 5th-gen Sportage, which is based on a new platform, and has a more driver-centric design, Kia, has made numerous changes in order to further elevate the brand and take it to a whole new level. It sure seems like Kia is moving in the right direction. 

Inspired by Kia’s new design language, Opposites United, the Sportage looks sharp and dominating. The front fascia of the Sportage is dominated by a huge grille which is flanked by all-LED headlights with DRLs that are shaped like a boomerang. The front bumper is styled aggressively and features silver L-shaped highlights that encase the fog lights. The side profile of the Sportage looks bulky with the flared wheel arches and sharp cuts across the sides. Depending on the model, Kia is offering 17-, 18-, and 19-inch alloy wheels with 7 different designs and colours for the alloys. At the back, the wrap-around taillights look stunning. And to complement it further, the taillights extend across the boot giving it a more fluid look. The blacked-out rear bumper with silver accents makes the rear profile look more appealing.

Inside the cabin, the Sportage focuses on a driver-oriented space and innovative technology. The car features a curved instrument cluster and infotainment system for maximum comfort for the driver. Both the digital displays are 12-inch units and the infotainment system supports touch controls. The instrument cluster features a liquid crystal display to provide a crisp and clear view while driving. The Sportage will also receive OTA and map updates to keep pace with the ongoing trends. The Sportage offers 1050 mm of legroom for second-row passengers, making it class-leading in terms of legroom, headroom, and luggage capacity. Kia has also fitted the Sportage with Harman Kardon speakers for crisp sound quality and passenger entertainment. 

The Sportage comes with 2 engine options. Both the IC engines are powerful, efficient and are derived from the latest engine technology. A 4-cylinder, 1.6-litre, TGDI engine is in the line-up which puts out 175 BHP and 265 Nm of torque. The TGDI engine also comes with an advanced integrated thermal management system and low-friction ball bearing. Kia is also offering a new diesel engine with the Sportage. The R2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, diesel engine churns out 183 bhp and 416 Nm of torque with the help of a variable geometry turbocharger. The diesel powerhouse also features solenoid valve control, a variable capacity oil pump, an electric thermostat, and efficient cooling and lubrication set-up. 

Kia is offering a 6-speed manual transmission with the 1.6-litre gasoline burner as well as a 7-speed DCT gearbox. Whereas, the diesel engine only gets an 8-speed automatic transmission. Kia has also stated that the Sportage will come with Hybrid (HEV) and Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) guises shortly. 

The Sportage which is based on the new N3 architecture gets the all-new Terrain Mode. With that, it also comes with multiple driving modes such as Comfort, Eco, Sport and Smart.  

Apart from all the features, Kia is also offering an in-house developed Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), Highway Driving Assist (HDA), Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control (NSCC), Blind Spot Collison Avoidance Assist (BCA), Blind Spot View Monitor (BVM) and Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA). With all of this, the Sportage sure seems like it will be a complete package when it launches. Kia has also mentioned that more information will be made available in the coming months. Will it make it to India? Watch this space for more.