2022 Kia Sportage rendered from spy shots
The 2022 Kia Sportage is being readied for its unveiling in the coming months, but heavily-camouflaged mules have meant little is known about the new car's exterior.
These renders from Russian website Kolesa imagine what the Sportage may look like, based on what's been seen from recent spy images.
While these renders present a bold, unique front end, it follows a similar design language from the most recent Kia models, including the Chinese-market-only Sportage, which recently leaked on social media.
The new-generation Sportage will share its platform with the new Hyundai Tucson, first revealed in September 2020.
It's probable Australian buyers will have a choice of either a 114kW/192Nm 2.0-litre petrol four-cylinder, a 135kW/237Nm 2.4-litre petrol four, or a 136kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel, as per the current model.
Spies on the ground have reported prototype vehicles driving silently for moderate distances under electric power, which would almost certainly point to the inclusion of a variant of the plug-in hybrid powertrain found in the Tucson, consisting of a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine coupled with a 67kW/304Nm electric motor, for a total output of 195kW and 350Nm.
Considering the popularity of the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Kia Australia will likely be studying the business case for an electrified variant for our local market, as a smaller cousin to the larger Kia Sorento hybrid and plug-in hybrid models due later in 2021.
The 2022 Kia Sportage is rumoured to debut in April 2021, before arriving into local dealerships in late 2021 or early 2022.