Kia launches refreshed US-spec Sportage

MANILA: Kia has launched the updated Sportage compact crossover at the Los Angeles Auto Show. 

Per the Korean car brand, the revamped US-spec model boasts an extensive list of enhancements in design, technology, and convenience. With the said combination, it is touted to fit the savvy, modern-day car buyer. 

Plus, the new version of one of Kia’s long-running nameplates has a version for the varying tastes of would-be adopters. It is available in a multitude of variants with hybrid or internal combustion-only powertrains. 

Let’s check out the next-gen Kia Sportage in detail to find out what it is offering.

Exterior

Where styling is concerned, Kia gave the new Sportage a more confident look, which combines sleek lines with rugged and sharp design cues. 

Up front, the model bears a redesigned front bumper with large air-intakes. Flanking its sizable grille are Kia’s LED “star map” headlamp clusters, which are surrounded by T-shaped amber LED daytime running lights. 

From the side, it retains the familiar shape of the fifth-generation version, but its rear now sports new LED star map taillights. Depending on the variant, the facelifted Sportage rides on a set of 17-19-inch alloy wheels. 

Standing out from the rest of its trim lineup are the X-Line and X-Pro Prestige versions. The X-Pro Prestige, in particular, was given a more aggressive appearance thanks to the following additions:

• BF Goodrich all-terrain tires
• Matte black off-road wheels
• LED fog lamps
• Two-tone roof paint job
• Heated windshield
• Raised roof rails

Interior

The interior of the updated Sportage retains a five-seater configuration with plenty of soft-touch surfaces, combined with a smattering of brushed or polished decorative pieces. 

The driver, however, now has access to a new two-spoke steering wheel, which looks like a callback to the first-gen model’s steering wheel. 

Otherwise, it has the same center console arrangement as the pre-facelifted version. Also, it boasts a new front cabin air-conditioning vent design that runs straight across the dash. 

For its digital displays, the refreshed Sportage comes with a 12.3-inch infotainment system, a similarly-sized digital gauge cluster, and a 10-inch heads-up display (HUD). 

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto ensure connectivity aboard the updated Kia. Plus, the infotainment screen comes with over-the-air updates, a wi-fi hotspot feature, and integration with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. 

Additionally, its HUD is able to show turn-by-turn navigation, as well as the status of the crossover’s many advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS). 

Other notable interior features available to the new Sportage include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Wireless smartphone charging
• Power-adjustable driver's seat
• Overhead interior lighting
• Optional heated rear seats
• Panoramic sunroof (X-Line)
• Optional Harman Kardon premium sound system
• Optional digital key
• Push-to-start button with smart key

Moreover, the trunk of the Kia-made crossover has up to 1,121 liters of space with the rear seats up. Providing more functionality for its generous trunk are a power tailgate and a dual-level cargo floor. 

Safety

Primarily handling safety for the revamped US-spec Sportage is an array of ADAS systems listed here: 

• Rear cross-traffic collision avoidance
• Blindspot collision warning
• Safe exit assist
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Automatic emergency braking
• Lane following assist
• Parking distance warning

Powertrain

The updated US-spec Kia Sportage has three different engine options. 

First off, its lower-spec trims are propelled by a 2.5-liter inline-4 gasoline engine capable of producing up to 187 horsepower (hp). The hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) trims, meanwhile, come with a 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine and a 47.7-kilowatt (kW) motor, outputting a total of 231 hp. 

The HEV and the internal combustion (ICE) versions may either come with a front-wheel-drive (FWD) or an all-wheel-drive (AWD) layout. The ICE trims use an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the HEV trims feature a six-speed automatic transmission. 

The most powerful engine available to the updated Sportage is a plug-in hybrid system comprised of a 1.6-liter turbo mill and a 72 kW motor. It can put out up to 268 hp, and it boasts an AWD system as well as a six-speed automatic gearbox. 

Available to all AWD versions of the Sportage is a driver-selectable terrain mode (snow, mud, and sand.) Likewise present is the Active AWD, which provides an electronic center-locking differential for optimized power distribution while driving in certain low traction situations. 

Availability

According to the US arm of the South Korean marque, the model is expected to start its selling period for the North American market in the second quarter of 2026. Pricing will be revealed during its launch. 

For now, there’s no word yet on whether the updated crossover will reach the local market, but be aware that it has already been sold in its home country of South Korea. 

Notably, the fifth-gen pre-facelifted version was not launched locally, but the previous fourth-gen version was included for a long time in Kia Philippines’ lineup. As such, many are hoping for the nameplate's return on local roads. 

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