Kia offers two different versions of the Sportage as there’s a petite crossover for Europe and a larger model for America. They’re both due for a facelift and spies have snapped the European variant undergoing testing in Germany. Despite wearing bulky cladding, we can see the crossover will have a new front fascia with a wide grille that features horizontal bars. They’re flanked by vertical headlights, which have prominent daytime running lights at the outside edges. We can also get a glimpse of the redesigned bumper, which has new intakes as well as stacked fog lights. The rest of the design appears to largely carryover, but updated taillights can be seen peeking out from beneath the camouflage. The rear bumper is also new, judging by the slender reflectors.
Spy photographers didn’t get a look
inside, but we wouldn’t be surprised to find updated displays and modernized
switchgear. The model could also benefit from improved driver assistance
systems. Powertrain details remain elusive, but the current model offers an
assortment of different options. Kicking things off is a turbocharged 1.6-liter
four-cylinder with mild hybrid technology. It produces 148 hp and can be connected to either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch
transmission.
Customers can also opt for a hybrid that
has a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine, an electric motor, and a 1.49 kWh
lithium-ion battery pack. This setup gives the crossover a combined output of
226 hp. There’s also a plug-in hybrid variant, which echoes
the hybrid but has a more powerful motor and a larger 13.8 kWh battery pack. It
gives the crossover a combined output of 261 hp as well as an
electric-only range of up to 69 km.
