The internet is either the greatest tool ever devised, or the biggest pain in the backside for car manufacturers – depending on your perspective. Case in point, the brand new Kia Sportage has been found without camouflage on the official trade mark and design register for the European Union, the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM).
Compared with our spy shots, the resemblance is clear, and with Kia’s new design language, we have to say that it’s definitely a looker. Hyundai’s twin, the ix35 will get the jump first in Australia (CarAdvice will be at the launch next month), but you can expect similar diesel and petrol drivetrains.
Although it does look quite big in the pictures, this will be a compact SUV, growing in size ever slightly from the current Sportage, however quality will be leaps and bounds ahead.
Kia Australia spokesperson Alyson MacDonald tells us we can expect the new Sportage in the third quarter of this year.
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Are you kidding me? Have you been in the current model? Plastics like its packaging material, a million different interior surfaces, the exterior design from the 80s and the wheezy engine.
About the new one though – I can’t wait. I reckon the ix-35 and this will clean up. Honda’s CRV will be dead in the water
Marc, I agree with your points on plastics,surface graining on the interior and dated design, but none of those points affect the reliability of the car. Sportage was featured in a recent article (with owner feedback) in a national newspapers car section. One of the features of the Sportage (and Tucson) is the lack of quality concerns (mechanical, electrical etc) with the cars. Quality and reliability seem to be the high point and owners appear really happy. With a lot of people, design seems to be a feature that is low on their list of priorities.
Not sure I agree that CR-V is dead in the water. My take on this is that the CR-V is slightly larger (more a competitor to Sante-Fe) and I bet that Honda has updates in the pipeline. As a company, Honda never seems to sit still for long.
The current 4 cyl might be wheezy, but the 2.7 6cyl and TD are certainly not wheezy. Yes I have driven a current Sportage on many occasions. At 23 thou drive away even the wheezy 4 cyl looks attractive.
ooooh rear lights look pretty damn cool
Well, considering it will be here this year, I reckon its a 2010 model.
Cars that come out third quarter are considered 2011 models sue to the financial year BS.
Despite the negative score you are absolutely right.
man they are really starting to get their act together. its getting increasingly harder to stay biased.
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Sorry but I’d much rather the ix35 over this. Much better looking.
Good to hear the ix35 release is next month. I’m guessing it will still be a ’2nd quarter of 2010′ that it will actually start driving off the dealership floor though?
Regards
Whitbomb07
Although they suggest ix35s are next month, I’ve seen 3 uncamouflaged models (one on the NSW North Coast and the other two in Suburban Sydney) just this week and they look very good. This Sportage looks pretty bloody good too :)
That is so hot
Saw a ix35 on the northern beaches yesterday. looks awesome. Test runs or something?
Launch vehicles before the press gets a hold of them…
ix35/Tuscon is at US dealer lots already it looks 10 times better in person. It been on sale here since last month. The Interior is better than VW and Volvo quality, well their American products. Leather in a CUV at $25K, nobody sells a product like that here. A Comparally equipped Buick Enclave, or VW Tiguan goes for 10 grand more.
Wow, Hyundai and Kia are pulling no punches.
Good to see.
Another winner from KIA. Expect a punchy diesel in it and a far superior interior to the current model.
Well done KIA.
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Overall, very Audi-ish design.
Rear view is a very VW style.
Not ground breaking but conservative, sophiscated design.
Looks great, especially the tail. Is it just me, or does the car look like it has been jacked up extra high? If it was lower (which it probably will be in the final model) it would be even better.
Looks just like a Tiguan!
ix-35/Tuscon is more upscale than the Sportage, as KIA is the More Economy focused brand out of the 2.
You can get leather as an option in a Tuscon for 24 Grand in the US (thats just on the base trim) Much less the Goodies the Limited model has. Unthinkable in a small Chrysler, Mercury, or Buick Crossover the same size that costs 3 grand more, much less a more economy minded Equinox.
The Sportage will have a more bare interior, and the Tuscon/ix has a host more standard features. Sportage Will have more powertrain Choices than Tuscon/ix, however. The Sportage will has less fuel economy and more power than ix as well over the long run.
However, unlike the ix it will share the 1.6 from Next Gen Accent as a fuel economy option (in some countries-Probably not down under), which bodes well for the Accent and the Extreme Crossover fuel economy lover.
Extreme Fuel Economy=Standard in Hyundais, and optional in KIAs.
…and you know this how? They will be priced similarly and specced similarly. Especially as many of the common parts are made by Hyundai. Hyundai won’t stop KIA from smarting up their interiors . Suggesting the KIA will be less well appointed than the Hyundai is speculation at best.
Callous, becuase Hyundai is the more upscale brand and KIA is the Economy brand out of the 2. 2011 Sportage will be $3000 cheaper than Tuscon here in the States. Its 4 grand cheaper now, so I expect the price to go up by 1 K or even stay the same price. KIA Forte is $500 cheaper than the old Spectra to start, and the KIA Forte is 20 times a more substantial car than the old Spectra was.
The Sportage will be a more barer Tuscon. Leather is available on the base trim of the Tuscon, It wont even be offered on the Base Sportage trim. Tuscon costs 3k more than the last gen model.
I like it. Not sure whether I like the Kia or Hyundai more. The ix35 is growing on me. This Kia looks bigger than it is, so it will be interesting to see it on the road. Seeing out of the back of the Kia will be a challenge: reversing camera a must?
Compared to the previous Tucson and Sportage models, these two beauties are like a two-model leap: it’s like Kia and Hyundai have gone from the 90s to 2010s in one jump. They are on my list: could be my first Korean car.
That’ a very unfair statement. The 90s, based on what?
Hyundai n the past was competing with Toyota in the US anythought it wask to to do it the same way Globally, and if you have ever seen an American Toyota, they are quite bare.
If Hyundai is going to be competing with Buick, Chrysler, VW in the US, and Volvo, Opel, VW globally. Hyundai now has to have better equippmnent, but most importantly better MPG, and Horsepower in its cars. Sonata is Cheaper than Regal just as equipped, better MPG, and Horsepower.
If KIA is supposed to surpass Toyota and Honda but in a Sportier Cheaper way, it must be better than a Toyota in every way. Compare a KIA Forte to a Corolla. The Corolla is an absolute Joke, compared to a Forte.
The Forte has Leather in the US Market, for $19K with the 2.4 L 175 HP engine. You cant even think about getting Leather in a US Corolla for $20K, and they only have 1 engine choice. $20K is about the limit of what most US small car buyers are willing to spend on a small car.
There’s a lot of Mazda CX-9 in the mix there, especially the rear lights. Other than that I like it.
I`m still thinking this is not the finished product. fog lamps; wheels;taillights seem a little conceptual. i really like the design. does anyone know anything about trims & color choices? will it retain the chrome accents? thanks
like the tucson but, if this is what the sportage is going to look like its alot sportier i think.
Have seen the car and this is the finished product exactly.. wheels will differ from country to country. Interior is the best quality in a Kia yet.
Kia you nailed it bigtime..The 2011 Sportage is very sexy yet bold and has a sitting stance appeal.I think it will compete well in the market and I am already in line to take it out for a drive.Pretty sure I will snag one after the drive!Why anyone would pay more for the Hyundai is stooopid..They are both built on the same platform and the Kia will have more powertrain options.The Kia is more attractive and bold looking than the Hyundai.Alright lets get this thing shipped up here to Canada A.S.A.P EH!!
Great looking car. I just hope it drives better than the ix35. What’s the point of great design, a great engine, value for money standard inclusions if the car actually drives like crap.I was all set to buy an ix35 but very disappointed with its driveability. I’m really hoping the sportage will be better. Not much point in drooling over photos.The big decider for me is how it drives.It will need to drive better than the ix35 for me to buy it
They both have electric steering and the Kia has a feature that is great..The car’s steering actually adapts to how you drive.What exactly do you mean anyways..These are CUVs not sportscars and they are never going to steer like one.