The 2023 Kia Sportage is ringing in a new era for one of the brand’s most sought-after models, with a comprehensive redesign that is unquestionably dramatic. The fifth-generation model challenges design norms and moves the Sportage identity to the next level, while paying homage to its rich heritage.
“Reinventing the Sportage provided our tremendously talented design teams the opportunity to curate something completely different; to take inspiration from our brand relaunch to inspire customers through contemporary and pioneering SUV design. With the all-new Sportage, we wanted to take more than just one step forward, instead we moved it on to a different level in the SUV class,” commented Karim Habib, Senior Vice President of Head of Global Design Center.
“As Kia’s flagship SUV, the all-new Sportage is as practical as it is compelling, offering copious amounts of space, and a modern suite of hi-tech features that cater to the interests and demands of seasoned drivers and passengers. The all-new design offers customers the opportunity to drive a Kia Sportage that is redefining the rules of SUV design. Bringing spontaneity and modernity to the SUV class, our new Sportage will provide customers with a vehicle that encompasses a clever combination of practicality, functionality and versatility,” said Yaser Shabsogh, Chief Operating Officer of Middle East and Africa, Kia Corporation.
Kia’s new design philosophy – Opposites United – is at the core of the all-new Sportage, inspiring every aspect of its appearance and confident persona. The thought-provoking and daring philosophy strengthens the connection between design and Kia’s brand direction ‘Movement that inspires’.
Opposites United is formed of five pillars: Joy for Reason, Power to Progress, Technology for Life, Tension for Serenity and Bold for Nature. The last pillar – Bold for Nature – has profoundly influenced the design creation of the all-new Sportage, embodying the natural world and creating a design identity that takes a daring, emotional, modern but organic form.
Raising the bar on exterior SUV design
Inspired by ‘Opposites United’, the exterior epitomizes contrast with its bold, impactful lines and assertive presence, balanced with innovation and instinctive characteristics suitable for any road, anywhere.
Tense and crisp lines ripple along the refined body, amplifying dramatic styling tensions. At the same time, clean but muscular surfaces join forces with intricate graphics to give the SUV a dynamic and assertive road presence.
The front of the all-new Sportage creates an instant impact and thought-provoking design statement with a detailed-oriented black grille graphic stretching across the width of the face. Like an intricate web, the technical graphic pulls together the main frontal features of the all-new Sportage, crafting an imposing front volume. The elongated grille links Kia’s modern signature Tiger Nose grille – that acts as the visual focal point of the car – to the distinctive futuristic-styled boomerang-shaped LED DRLs (daytime running lamps), which in turn create solid boundary lines for the striking Matrix LED head lamps.
The side profile of the all-new Sportage stays true to its sports utility DNA, creating a stirring road presence with taut lines cutting across clean but refined body surfaces that seamlessly blend the contrasting volumes together. Representing a first of the Sportage range, a black roof – a different color paint option to the vehicle’s body – is not available with the new model, helping to accentuate the sporting profile and highlight the architecturally dynamic C-pillar. The addition of a chrome beltline kicks up onto the rear of the all-new Sportage and into the D-pillar, creating harmonious lines with the rear spoiler that further adds to the sporting pedigree of the car.
At the rear, the all-new Sportage maintains strong road presence with a muscular swooping fastback design that flows into the rear lamps, allowing the SUV to personify strength and stability. The razor rear lamps are connected by a slim horizontal design, giving the all-new Sportage a stunning wide impression from the back.
Depending on spec and model, the 2023 Sportage rides on 17-inch, 18-inch or range-topping 19-inch wheels, with a choice of five different alloy designs, colors and finishes.
Ultra-modern interior space
The interior of the all-new Sportage plays with boldness in character, offering intuitive and innovative in technology, to create a driver-orientated space that is truly state-of-the-art.
The interior was designed with both operator and passenger in mind, offering a unique high-tech environment that is visually impressive, as well as spacious and intuitive. At the center of the all-new Sportage’s modern cabin sits a beautifully sculpted integrated curved display with a slim touchscreen pad and finely detailed air vents. The curved display sweeps across the front of the interior, giving the cockpit dramatic width and depth.
The high-tech 12-inch touchscreen and advanced integrated controller act as the nerve center for driver and passenger connectivity, functionality, and usability needs. Both systems have been created to be easy-to-use, highly intuitive, and soft to touch. The 12-inch instrument cluster is equipped with the latest-generation full thin-film-transistor liquid-crystal display for incredibly precise and clear graphics.
An ergonomic center console has been optimally positioned for the driver and front passenger, providing storage, operating system configuration, cupholders and soft-touch switches, the latter sitting on a raised profile alongside the shift-by-wire transmission dial.
Throughout the cabin, the highest quality materials that are opulent to touch have been used, while dynamic and vibrant color options add vibrancy and energy. The driver and front passenger seats combine innovation and comfort in a sporting slim shell design.
Further enhancing passenger convenience, at the rear of the driver and front passenger seats are integrated hanger-type designs within the slim headrests, allowing clothing and handbags to be easily and conveniently hooked into place.
Fully immersive, in-car surround sound is delivered to the occupants of the all-new Sportage via an industry-leading speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system.
At the heart of the all-new Sportage lies efficiency, power and performance
The all-new Sportage launches with a comprehensive range of powerful, responsive and efficient powertrains, including the very latest-generation clean gasoline and diesel engine technology.
From the very start of development, all-new Sportage was intended to embrace the latest powertrain technology breakthroughs, making it one of the most efficient and eco-friendly SUVs available.
From the launch, a high-tech 1.6-liter TGDI powertrain will be offered in the all-new Sportage line-up, generating 180PS and 27.0kgf.m torque. The four-cylinder unit realizes enhanced fuel efficiency through a new and optimized combustion process, breakthrough cooling technologies and key friction reduction measures, including an advanced integrated thermal management system and the use of a low-friction ball bearing.
Leading the way in Safety
The all-new Sportage is home to the very latest passive, active and ADAS safety technologies. With safety being top priority during development, the fifth generation Sportage is one of the safest vehicles in its class.
Underneath the sleek and contemporary exterior design of the all-new Sportage is a reinforced and lightweight body structure that has high torsional rigidity. All-new Sportage has different safety restraint and structure system applications, including driver airbag, passenger airbag, side curtain airbags and low-side airbags.
Kia’s acclaimed in-house developed Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) technology helps the Sportage to avoid potential hazards, fully protecting occupants and other road users on every journey. As part of its ADAS package, the all-new Sportage features Kia’s industry-leading Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), which helps avoid collisions with objects in front of the vehicle while driving.
When operating the turning signal to change lanes, if there is a risk of collision with a rear-side vehicle, a new Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA) system will provide a warning to the driver. After the warning, if the risk of collision increases, BCA actively controls the all-new Sportage to help avoid a collision. BCA is also active in situations such as parallel parking maneuvers, further helping to avoid collision with rear-side vehicles. Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM) is also included on the all-new Sportage and further enhances safety and driver visibility when changing lanes by displaying a real-time rear-side image of the vehicle in the instrument cluster.
Each regional market to launch independently throughout the month of April. More information on the pricings and specs in each market will be made available in due course.
