2022 Kia Sportage SUV: What’s new?

Kia's fifth-generation Sportage SUV is larger and more practical, has sharp new clothes and fresh tech, but misses out on hybrid power.

The 2022 Kia Sportage is radically different to the out-going model, here's what's changed.

What's new?

2022 Kia Sportage: Re-designed exterior

Kia states the new Sportage has an "instant visual impact", or in plain English, it's an eye-catching design.

Designers followed Kia's "Opposites United" styling approach.

The result is a futuristic, sharp and angular style, with a domineering front grille. Boomerang-shaped LED Daytime Running Lamps give the side profile a sense of speed, as does the subtle fastback trailing roofline.

At the rear, the 2 dynamically-shaped tail lamps melt into each other, connected by a pencil-thin band. It gives the SUV a sense of speed, even when parked.

Kia's designers have managed to take the Tiger-nose grille motif and produce something entirely different with it. It looks superb, though aesthetically its sister SUV the Hyundai Tucson, probably edges out the Sportage slightly.

2022 Kia Sportage: New tech

The passenger cabin is bejewelled with technology.

Top spec GT-Line Kia Sportages have a large, curved 12.3-inch touchscreen display that sits next to an equally-sized digital driver instrument cluster. The driver's display has a resolution of 720P, so it should be crisp.

Standard S models get a smaller 4.2-inch Multi-Function Display, paired with an 8-inch touchscreen, while the SX and SX+ receive the 12.3-inch touch-enabled display.

S and SX buyers get cloth upholstery. Higher up models have things like quilted artificial leather (SX+), while the GT-Line range-topper gets leather-appointed seating with synthetic suede uppers. The SX+ and GT-Line models also boast a power tailgate, heated front seats and a sat-nav.

The GT-Line is the only model to benefit from a panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charging and 64 colour ambient interior mood lighting.

There's plenty inside the 2022 Kia Sportage to keep driver and passengers comfortable and make those longer journeys seem shorter.

2022 Kia Sportage: More power and efficiency

Kia gives buyers the choice of 3 improved engines for the new Sportage.

There's a 2.0-litre petrol, which has 115kW and 192Nm and is available as a 2WD manual or automatic. This engine has a claimed combined fuel usage of 8.1L/100km.

There's a 1.6-litre, turbocharged petrol, that's available as an AWD-only 7-speed DCT automatic. This engine boasts 132kW and 265Nm, with a reasonable 7.2L/100km fuel economy. This engine replaces a less efficient 2.4-litre engine from the previous Kia Sportage. The new engine has 28Nm more torque than the outgoing powertrain. Crucially, the CO2 emissions for this engine are lower than previously too.

Finally, a 2.0-litre diesel is mated to an 8-speed automatic and outputs 137kW of power and a decent 416Nm of torque. Combined fuel usage is 6.3L/100km. Again, the diesel is an AWD-only option.

TL;DR, the engines maintain performance, despite the Sportage's larger size, and the 1.6-litre turbo petrol has more oomph.

2022 Kia Sportage: Safety adjustments

Kia labels the 2022 Sportage one of the safest SUVs in its segment.

Engineers created a strengthened body shell that is reinforced, with redesigned impact absorption zones. Hot stamped parts are concentrated around the passenger compartment offering high strength, while also reducing weight. The body is much stiffer than the older fourth-generation Sportage.

Complementing the safety-oriented design is a host of advanced safety tech, as standard.

In addition to the functions seen on the previous Kia Sportage, like Lane Keep Assist, rear parking sensors and a rear view camera, Kia has improved or added:

• Front centre airbag, deploys from the left hand side of the driver's seat and is designed to minimise the chance of the front occupants knocking heads if they are involved in a side-on impact.
• Blind Sport Collision Assist*, a new system for the model.
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Assist*
• Lane Follow Assist
• Multi-Collision Braking, seen for the first time on a Kia Sportage, intended to stop any additional collisions after airbag deployment.
• Autonomous Emergency Braking, now with cyclist and junction assist.
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring
• Advanced Smart Cruise Control*, an extremely handy feature that uses radar to maintain a set gap from the lead vehicle. The system will also come to a halt, for example when encountering traffic, and can accelerate back up to speed if the stop duration was less than 3 seconds.
• Electronic Park Brake*
• Haptic steering wheel feedback

*Available only for automatic 2022 Kia Sportage models.

A final plus point – the entire range has a full-size spare wheel, located under the boot floor.

All in, some decent safety features.

2022 Kia Sportage: Dimension changes

Kia has made the Sportage larger and more practical, thanks to the modular N3 platform it's built on. It's grown in every direction.

Engineers lengthened the wheelbase to improve internal space, it's now 3.9% (175mm) longer than the Sportage it replaces. The wheelbase has been lengthened 85mm and the SUV has a giant 1-metre overhang to make the most of the bootspace, which now measures 16.5% larger. The older model had a 466-litre boot capacity, where the 2022 Kia Sportage has 543 litres of boot volume, besting the RAV4 by a single litre.

Overall, the Sportage is now bigger than the Toyota RAV4, apart from in height (though it matches the RAV4's second row head clearance).

That all translates to more legroom than the previous model for rear passengers, as well as more headroom, so the 2022 Kia Sportage will be easier to buckle your kids into. Plus, when you need to get some flat pack furniture or take the bikes for a ride, there's 374 more litres of boot volume with the second row seats folded down.

In summary, there's more room for your passengers and cargo.

2022 Kia Sportage: Pricing

The Kia Sportage range kicks off from $34,690 drive-away.

Here's a breakdown of the costs.

Summary

Bold new looks, an all-new platform, more space and better tech make the 2022 Kia Sportage a compelling SUV that is sure to sell well.

Picture: Supplied