Kia’s bold new 2022 Sportage revealed

South Korean car maker Kia has revealed the new Sportage family SUV ahead of its arrival in the UK later this year. The car you see in these pictures is not quite the same as the car that will arrive on these shores, however. For the first time ever, Kia plans to launch a standard wheelbase version of the car specifically for customers on this side of the Atlantic.

The car you see here is destined for the USA and China with a long wheelbase, but it shows us the basic design, complete with Kia’s new design language. Up front, the bold new front end is vaguely reminiscent of the Hyundai Tucson, with headlights integrated into the grille. Boomerang LED daytime running lights set the tone for a more sculpted, muscular look. Further back, there’s a “fastback” rear end with a gently sloping roofline that meets the rising window line. Across the tailgate, big rear lights are joined by a strip across the boot, while there’s a chunky looking rear bumper. Kia’s latest badging also appears on the Sportage for the first time.

The cabin is more evolutionary, with a pair of digital displays creating a widescreen effect across the dashboard. Part of that space is taken up by the digital instrument cluster, while the rest is the central infotainment system. Otherwise, the dashboard architecture looks as chunky as before, with big air vents and a solid-looking steering wheel. We will know more about the Sportage when the European-specification car is launched in September. Until then, we also have to speculate on the price, which is expected to be higher than for the existing model. With the current Sportage costing from £25,005 in diesel guise, it seems reasonable to assume prices for the new version will start from around £27k when it reaches UK showrooms at the end of this year. Petrol and diesel versions will be joined by hybrid and plug-in hybrid editions.