Kia teases the brand-new Sportage
Kia has made it known that they have one busy year ahead of themselves. Earlier this month, the South Korean manufacturers locally launched their brand new Sonet. But time is of the essence, and with so much more launch, Kia has decided to share a small teaser of their all-new Sportage too. Now entering its fifth generation, the Sportage has established itself as one of Kia’s most popular models. It’s set to be fully revealed sometime in July and promises to set a new benchmark within its highly competitive segment.
In the teaser images its revealed that the Sportage will be adopting Kia’s new design language. Some noticeable details can be seen in its crisped character lines across the exterior. The front is instantly eye-catching with the detailed black grille expanding the width of the car. The rear too will benefit from muscular shoulder lines and new slim daytime-running lamps. The new Kia logo and Sportage emblem will further complete the rear’s overall look.
Inside, the Sportage will get a more driver-orientated cabin, with cutting technology emphasizing its modern appeal. At the centre will be a wonderfully sculpted curved display too. More details regarding the Sportage will be revealed in the next upcoming weeks, with Karim Habib, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Design Center, adding “With new Sportage, we didn’t simply want to take one step forward, but rather move to a completely different level within the SUV class.”
Also worth a look: the Kia Seltos and the Kia Sportage.
FAQ
Q: When will the new Kia Sportage be released in South Africa?
The fifth-generation Kia Sportage is set to be fully revealed in July, with local South African availability expected to follow sometime in late 2021 or early 2022.
Q: What does the new Kia Sportage cost in South Africa?
Pricing for the new Sportage hasn't been officially announced yet, but expect it to start around R450,000 for the base model, positioning it competitively against rivals like the Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5.
Q: What new features will the Kia Sportage have?
The new Sportage will feature Kia's latest design language with a bold black grille, muscular shoulder lines, slim daytime running lamps, a driver-orientated cabin, and a curved display screen as the centrepiece of the interior.
Q: Is the new Kia Sportage worth buying over the current model?
Based on the teasers, the new Sportage promises significant upgrades in design, technology, and interior quality, making it worth waiting for if you're in the market for a medium SUV and can hold off a few more months.
Q: How does the new Kia Sportage compare to competitors like the Toyota RAV4?
While full specifications aren't available yet, Kia promises the new Sportage will set a new benchmark in its segment, likely offering more standard features and a longer warranty than competitors like the RAV4 and Honda CR-V.
Should You Buy It?
Hold your horses on this one, boet. The new Sportage looks absolutely stunning from these teasers and Kia's promise to move to a "completely different level" has us properly excited. With expected pricing starting around R450,000, it should offer excellent value against pricier rivals like the Toyota RAV4 (from R539,100). However, since it's still in teaser phase with a July reveal, you'll need to wait a few months before making any decisions. If you need an SUV right now, the current Sportage at around R399,995 is still a solid shout, but if you can wait until late 2021, this new fifth-generation model looks like it'll be worth every rand.
