Kia can't let its best-selling model stand still while the competition moves forward. With nearly 570,000 units delivered last year, the Sportage was the company's most popular product, accounting for just over 18 percent of total deliveries. That's even though the fifth-generation model debuted back in 2021, though it did receive a mid-cycle facelift three years later.
A heavily camouflaged prototype of the redesigned Sportage appears to conceal a more upright shape. At the same time, we get the impression the test vehicle is slightly larger than the current model. Eagle-eyed viewers will also notice the turn signals are mounted unusually low in the corners of the rear bumper.
View Price on AmazonEven more significant changes are expected inside with the addition of the new Android-powered Pleos Connect system. The next-generation infotainment setup has already appeared in a handful of Hyundai models, and it looks as though the next Kia Sportage will get it as well. A large screen dominates the center console, but we're hopeful some physical controls will survive.
The two Korean brands have made a point of keeping conventional switchgear for frequently used functions such as climate and audio controls. New entries like Elantra, Ioniq 3, and Grandeur feature a physical row of buttons below the supersized central screen. If the next Sportage follows suit, it should adopt a similar layout, including a rectangular digital instrument cluster mounted deep into the dashboard while remaining within the driver's line of sight.
We likely won't have to wait for the new Sportage to break cover to see its overhauled interior. Its sister model, the Hyundai Tucson, is expected to lead the way, with reports pointing to a world premiere later this year. Since the Sportage has already entered the 2027 model year in the United States, the next generation isn't expected to reach North America before the 2028 model year. Its global debut should occur sometime next year.
Source: motor1.com
