The short-wheelbase Sportage for Europe will likely make its debut on October 24. It's sporting a new curved widescreen display that stretches across the dash, giving the interior a modern touch. The dashboard's mostly under wraps, but we can see a new two-spoke steering wheel, a minimalist shifter, and updated switchgear.
On the outside, Kia's given the Sportage a makeover too. The front end now has a rectangular grille and vertical headlights that look a bit like those on the Carnival, Sorento, and EV9 models. There's a wide lower intake with cube-like fog lights. At the back, the bumper's been tweaked a bit with new reflectors, and the taillights have gotten a modest refresh.
There is no information on powertrain changes yet. The European Kia Sportage now offers the following options. There's a mild hybrid setup with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine putting out 148 hp. You can get that with either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
If you want more oomph, there's a hybrid version. It pairs that same turbocharged 1.6-liter engine with an electric motor and a 1.49 kWh battery for a combined output of 226 hp.
For those who want to plug in, Kia's got you covered too. The plug-in hybrid Sportage uses an upgraded electric motor and a bigger 13.8 kWh battery. It cranks out 261 hp and can go up to 69 km on electric power alone.
If you're in North America, you'll have to wait a bit longer for your updated Sportage. The longer-wheelbase version for that market will probably get similar upgrades, but it might not show up until the end of this year or early 2025.
Source: Carscoops
