Kia recently revealed its arrestingly styled 5th-generation Sportage and the Korean firm has now released further details regarding the newcomer’s technology and expected engines. Not only does it fully incorporate the brand’s“Opposites United” design language, its avant-garde fascia (by family-car standards, at least) is dominated by an extendedcurved instrument cluster/touchscreen panel.

Whereas the current generation Sportage has the chunky proportions and upright stance that are hallmarks of virtually all contemporary family cars (in addition to adistinctive tiger-nose-themedfrontal design, to be fair), its 5th-generation successor doesn’t look like a bigger version of theSonet, which was recently introduced in Mzansi, or its smaller Seltoscompact family car sibling, for that matter…

The all-new Sportage X-Line, meanwhile,features a unique bumper, side sill and curved roof rack.

No, just as was the case with its closely related cousin, the new Hyundai Tucson, Kia’s newcomer marksa major departure from the previous model– in terms of its styling, as well as itsadvanced digital interface.It’s the brand’s 2nd model, after theEV6 battery-electric crossover, to incorporate the company’s expressive new “Opposites United” design language.

Like its EV6 sibling, the 5th-generation Sportage features crisp, taught character lines that ripple across the surfaces of its sheet metal. There’sa detailed-orientated black grille graphic that spansthe width of the front end (in fact, it wraps around it!) and elongated boomerang-shaped LED running lights that curve upward totrace the edgeof the family car’s clamshell bonnet.

The side-window area, meanwhile,narrowstowards the rear, where blacked-out C-pillars create a floating roofeffect,while at the rear, the newcomer’s shoulder lines slopegently downward to meet the top edges of the ornate LED tail-light clusters. Although less pronounced than on the EV6, the new Sportage’s tail lights blend intoa distinct ridge halfway up thetailgate, which effectively kicks up the rear end.

The new Sportage rides on either 17-, 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels and buyers will be able to choose from a wide range of wheel designs, body colours and finishes.

Although the new Sportage’s exterior execution is quite dramatic, it’s not entirely unexpected, given that the conservative styling of the current car, whichwas derivedfrom that of the model it replaced. The interior, however, is revolutionary. Like in the recently facelifted Sorento, there are distinctively shaped ventilation outlets and a slim, rectangular climate-control console positioned in the middle of the fascia.

Meanwhile,the driver-orientated cabin is utterly dominated by a beautifully sculpted integratedcurved display that houses both the newcomer’s 12-inch digital instrument clusterand 12-inch infotainment touchscreen. Whereas these elements have gradually been merged in recent designs, this marks the first time Kia has combined them in a Mercedes-Benz-like “Widescreen Cockpit” way.

Finished in a high-end gloss, the centre console provides ample storage and cupholders (plus, we would assume, a wireless charging pad), while the L-shaped raised central control console features soft-touch switches, an engine start/stop button and a shift-by-wire transmission dial.

The rear of the driver and front passenger seats, meanwhile, are integrated hanger-type designs within the slim headrests that allow clothing or bags to be conveniently hooked into place.

The new Sportage stands 4 660 mm long, 1 865 mm wide, 1 660 mm high and has a wheelbase of 2 755 mm. Interior space is generous and Kia says that the new Sportage offers 1 050 mm legroom for second-row passengers and 1 000 mm headroom. Space in the load bay is claimed at 637 litres.

The Sportage comes to market in a rugged X-Line trim which adds features such as curved roof rails, lugged bumper and side sills as well as a signature sage green interior trim with quilted upholstery and black metal wood trim finishesThe Sportage GT-Line , however, adopts a strong black and white interior contrast and overall adopts a more urban-inspired look.

“Taking inspiration where nature meets technology, the all-new Sportage challenges the norm with an adventurous and contemporary exterior and a carefully conceived, beautifully detailed interior,” said Karim Habib, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Design Center. “With the all-new Sportage, we were fully focused on challenging ourselves and pushing our fifth-generation SUV to a new level.”

Whatengines will be offered for the new Kia Sportage?

The new Sportage will be offered with the choice of a petrol or diesel engine. The 1.6-litre TGDI petrol engine offers 132 kW and 265 Nm of torque and will be paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission or a 6-speed manual transmission.

A new 2.0-litre diesel engine will also be available with 137 kW and 416 Nm and will be paired with a re-engineered 8-speed automatic transmission.

The new Sportage will also be offered in both hybrid and plug-in hybrid guises, in selected markets.

The new Sportage also introduces new features such as a new Terrain Mode which automatically adjusts the vehiclesettings to adapt to the driving conditions in mud, sand or snow. Other drive modes include Comfort, Eco, Sport and Smart. Furthermore, handling and ride comfort is further enhanced with new E-Handling technology, electronic all-wheel-drive and a new Electric Control Suspension (ECS) which adjusts damping in real-time according to road conditions.

In terms of safety, the new Sportage is equipped with a full complement of front, side and low-side airbags, ForwardCollision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), Highway Driving Assist (HDA), Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control (NSCC), Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance (BCA), Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM) andRemote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA)

Kia South Africa has introduced a number of new or revised offerings this year, including the Picanto X-Line and Sonet, thePegas budget sedan and revised Sorentoadventure SUV, but whether the new Sportage will make it to the local market before the end of the year remains to be seen; we’d bet that the new newcomer will probably arrive in the Republic early in 2022.

Related content:

New Kia Sedan for SA

Kia Sonet (2021) Launch Review

Kia Sorento (2021) International Launch Review

Kia Picanto X-Line (2021) Review