Just ahead of its world debut in Frankfurt 
, Kia has released details on the new Sportage compact crossover. Now entering its fourth generation, the new Sportage brings a redesigned exterior, a hugely updated interior, cutting-edge technology packages and new drivetrain options.
, Kia has released details on the new Sportage compact crossover. Now entering its fourth generation, the new Sportage brings a redesigned exterior, a hugely updated interior, cutting-edge technology packages and new drivetrain options.
Compact crossovers have always been a jack-of-all-trades kinds of vehicles, and the Sportage is no different, touting a combination of efficiency, practicality, performance and refinement in a single, affordable package. For 2016, Kia says it managed to enhance each of these characteristics.
crossovers have always been a jack-of-all-trades kinds of vehicles, and the Sportage is no different, touting a combination of efficiency, practicality, performance and refinement in a single, affordable package. For 2016, Kia says it managed to enhance each of these characteristics.
The Sportage was first introduced in the early ‘90s, and since then it’s grown to become the cornerstone to Kia’s lineup. Clearly, the make isn’t taking any chances with the release of the new model, but one question remains – how does it stack up against the competition?
Updated 09/02/2015: Kia dropped the first official details and interior images for the new Sportage with just a few days before its official debut in Frankfurt.
SOURCE:TOPSPEED
Exterior
The fourth generation of the Sportage is more of an evolution rather than a revolution when it comes to the exterior design. Kia’s chief designer, Peter Schreyer, is the same guy that helped create the Audi TT , and under his guidance, Kia has been revamping its lineup since 2006. For the 2016 Sportage, Kia’s design studios in Frankfurt, Germany, Namyang, Korea, and Irvine, California, all contributed to the final look. Kia says the final result resembles a fighter jet.
, and under his guidance, Kia has been revamping its lineup since 2006. For the 2016 Sportage, Kia’s design studios in Frankfurt, Germany, Namyang, Korea, and Irvine, California, all contributed to the final look. Kia says the final result resembles a fighter jet.
The “tiger-nose” grille, the most prominent styling cue for the Kia brand, is now disconnected from the headlights, set lower and drawn wider to help keep the engine cooler.
Military aircraft references aside, it’s easy to tell the old and new models apart, especially from the front. First and foremost, the “tiger-nose” grille, the most prominent styling cue for the Kia brand, is now disconnected from the headlights, set lower and drawn wider to help keep the engine cooler. The headlight design is similar to that on the 2014 Kia KX3 concept , and the units are now moved higher, stretched back into the hood line. These come with an optional “Dynamic Bending” feature for navigating winding roads at night. In the bumper corners are “ice-cube” fog lights inspired by the 2014 Kia Pro_cee’d GT , with LEDs installed for superior illumination.
, and the units are now moved higher, stretched back into the hood line. These come with an optional “Dynamic Bending” feature for navigating winding roads at night. In the bumper corners are “ice-cube” fog lights inspired by the 2014 Kia Pro_cee’d GT , with LEDs installed for superior illumination.
Moving to the flanks, we find slightly beefed up wheel arches. The lines and creases come at sharper angles, while the roof falls into the rear at a more gradual incline.
The rear is significantly altered, gaining several horizontal lines that emphasize the Sportage’s width. Up top is a longer rear spoiler that extends the roof line. The 2013 Kia Provo concept was used as inspiration for the slender taillight design, and a metal strip running just below the hatch glass connects the two lights. An additional dividing crease splits the hatch, while the turn signals and reverse lights are once again positioned lower in the bumper corners to square off the design. The exhaust now has dual oval tips framed by a metal-effect diffuser, and aluminum-look skid plates add a whiff of faux off-roadiness.
was used as inspiration for the slender taillight design, and a metal strip running just below the hatch glass connects the two lights. An additional dividing crease splits the hatch, while the turn signals and reverse lights are once again positioned lower in the bumper corners to square off the design. The exhaust now has dual oval tips framed by a metal-effect diffuser, and aluminum-look skid plates add a whiff of faux off-roadiness.
Kia says the design yields the most aerodynamically efficient Sportage ever made, but not by much – the Cd drops from 0.35 to 0.33.
Dimensionally, the Sportage has gained a bit of length, with the wheelbase extended by 1.18 inches to 105.1inches total. The overall vehicle length is now 1.57 inches longer as well, extended to 176.4 inches total. The cabin has shifted a bit, with the front overhang increased by 0.79 inch to 35.8 inches, and the rear overhang decreased by 0.39-inch to 35.4-inches. Kia says this creates a more raked profile.
The car’s width (73-inches) and height (64.4-inches) remain unchanged.
Finally, customers will have several aluminum alloy wheel options to choose from, with rollers sized at 16-inches, 17-inches, and an impressive 19-inches.
EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS
| Overall length | 4,480 MM (176.37 Inches) |
|---|---|
| Overall width | 1,855 MM (73.03 Inches) |
| Overall height | 1,635 MM (64.37 Inches) |
| Wheelbase | 2,670 MM (105.11 Inches) |
| Front overhang | 910 MM (35.8 Inches) |
| Rear overhang | 900 MM (35.43 Inches) |
Interior
Kia claims the most “significant” improvements to the new Sportage are in the cabin, where the compact crossover gets more up-market features and a quieter, more refined ride.
First, like the exterior, the dashboard was redesigned with plenty of horizontal lines, including in the air vents, lending it a sense of greater width. The interface is now more driver-oriented as well, with the buttons and switches angled slightly towards the seat behind the new three-spoke multifunction steering wheel. The gauges now sit astride a central information display, a nice change from the large speedometer that dominated the cluster on the old model.
Like the exterior, the dashboard was redesigned with plenty of horizontal lines, including in the air vents, lending it a sense of greater width.
There are a few different color schemes offered, including a single-tone black, Dark and Light Grey two-tone, and Black and Canyon Beige two-tone. Meanwhile, the console is finished in black. Above, the optional sunroof has been extended by 4.09-inches, up to 19.3-inches total.
For infotainment, there are several new options, including either a 7- or 8-inch touchscreen located on the dash. Through this unit, Kia offers its Connected Services and satellite navigation, with TomTom providing stuff like real-time traffic updates, the location of speed cameras, live alerts, and weather forecasts. European buyers will get seven years of free service after the initial vehicle purchase.
A DAB digital radio is an available option for European customers. The Sportage comes standard with a 160-watt, six-speaker stereo system, but audiophiles can opt for the 320-watt, eight-speaker system from JBL if desired. This upgrade also throws in an external amp and Harman’s Clari-Fi technology.
There’s also available wireless mobile device charging, a feature Kia claims as a first for the segment. This comes with a 5W charging system positioned at the bottom of the central stack, with a safety system to prevent overheating. While in use, the device’s charge state is displayed on the instrument cluster, and a warning is issued if you leave the device on the charger after exiting the vehicle (just to prevent a parking lot smash-and-grab).
The Sportage comes standard with a single USB charging point up front, but an additional charging point is available for the rear.
Market-dependent available features (Kia does no specify) include a rear-view backup camera, an automatic up/down tailgate, and Smart Welcome, which turns on the interior lights and door handle lights when the key fob is detected nearby.
Other available features include a heated steering wheel and dual-zone climate control. The front seats also get available ventilation and three-way heating. Those in the driver’s seat can opt for 10-way power control and lumbar support, while front-row passengers can opt for eight-way power control. There’s also available seat heating for the rear passengers.
Kia went to great lengths to reduce noise/vibration/harshness (NVH) in the new Sportage. The front and rear seats now have stiffer frames and redesigned springs and pads. The transmission comes with sturdier mounts and the wheels are 49 percent stiffer. The rear cross member is also stiffer, the rear subframe is mounted on isolated bushings, and the dampers come with a longer stroke. The body is also stronger. All of these changes should add up to big dividends when it comes to piloting less-than-ideal road surfaces.
The Sportage comes standard with a single USB charging point up front, but an additional charging point is available for the rear.
Kia also added sound deadening to the dash, engine compartment, door panels and wheel arches. The front side glass is thicker, and there’s a dual-lip seal for the sunroof. The result is 36 decibels of noise in the cabin while idling in a Sportage equipped with a gasoline engine, while the diesel engine records 44 decibels in the cabin. That’s a 2-decibel decrease for both engine types compared to the previous model, which might not sound like a lot, but should be noticeable, especially when enjoying the premium sound system.
On the move, decibel levels decrease by 3 to 63 total.
With the exterior dimensions increased slightly over the previous model, the latest Sportage also gains some space inside. Headroom increases by 0.2-inches up front for 39.3-inches total, while the rear headroom increases 0.63-inches for 39.1-inches total. Legroom up front gets an additional 0.75-inches for 44.4-inches total, and the rear gets another 0.28-inch for 38.2-inches total. The rear floor was also lowered by 1.57-inches and the bench hip point was raised by 1.18-inches, all in the name of greater passenger comfort. The rear reclining seats can tilt from 23 to 37 degrees, and the reclining lever was relocated for easier access.
Finally, Kia says the new Sportage is more practical, with the cargo space benefitting from the new, larger exterior dimensions. Stowage has increased to 17.8 cubic-feet, a decent increase compared to previous generation’s 16.4 cubic-feet. There’s also an additional 1.38-inches of width. Items can be compartmentalized in the dual-height luggage floor and a new under-floor tonneau cover box, and the load height is now 1.85-inches lower at 28.8-inches.
Drivetrain
While Kia has yet to release specs on the U.S.-bound Sportage (we’ll update as soon as we get details), we do have a complete rundown on what will be offered to European customers.
Kia’s engineers were tasked with the contradictory goals of improving the Sportage’s efficiency while also upping performance, and the result is a slew of gasoline and diesel powerplant options.
Kia’s engineers were tasked with the contradictory goals of improving the Sportage’s efficiency while also upping performance, and the result is a slew of gasoline and diesel powerplant options.
At the top of the line is a turbocharged 1.6-liter T-GDI direct injection gas unit, a new addition for the Sportage. Also known as the “Gamma” engine, this powerplant is based on the same mill found in the cee’d GT and pro_cee’d GT, and is exclusive to the Sportage’s GT Line trim level. It comes with a single-scroll turbo, a high-energy ignition coil and a low-friction timing chain. Compared to the engine found in the cee’d GT, the compression ratio is also increased from 9.5:0 to 10.0:0. Peak output is 175 horsepower, with torque rated at 195 pound-feet between 1,500 and 4,500 rpm.
Other options include a few engines carried over from the third-generation Sportage, which benefit from the new crossover’s improved aero efficiency to return lower emissions and improved fuel economy. The first is a naturally aspirated 1.6-liter GDI, producing 130 horsepower and 119 pound-feet of torque. There’s also a 1.7-liter CRDi diesel, producing 113 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque.
Those looking for a bit of performance from their oil burner should check out the upgraded 2.0-liter “R” diesel, which is offered in two levels of tune: 134 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque, or 181 horsepower and a whopping 295 pound-feet of torque. Both are available on the standard Sportage and GT Line. This unit comes with a slightly lighter engine block (11 pounds), a new battery management system, and a continuously variable displacement oil pump.
The new “R” diesel engine has boasts higher efficiency and lower emissions thanks to features like a lower compression ratio, cooler combustion temperatures, a new exhaust gas recirculation system and stiffer valve springs. The pistons also receive a new “nano-diamond” coating that reduces friction even further.
Those looking for a bit of performance from their oil burner should check out the upgraded 2.0-liter “R” diesel, which is offered in two levels of tune: 134 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque, or 181 horsepower and a whopping 295 pound-feet of torque.
New for the Sportage is Kia’s seven-speed double-clutch transmission, first seen on the cee’d. Available exclusively on GT Line models equipped with the 1.6-liter T-GDI engine, this gearbox offers faster cog changes and the same emissions as a manual. The rest of the Sportage lineup gets either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic. Both FWD and AWD are available.
Kia says the new Sportage manages to ride better and handle more sharply, thanks in part to modifications to the suspension. The setup is fully independent all around, and there are new bushing mounting points in the front. The wheel bearings are stiffer, and the rear suspension has a dual lower-arm multi-link layout for FWD models. The rear suspension geometry has also been revised to help alleviate some of the inherent understeer.
Torsional rigidity is also improved thanks to the new 39 percent stiffer body. Steering feel is enhanced thanks to a rack-mounted electric motor-driven power steering gearbox located forward on the axle, a standard feature on the GT Line and an available option on other models. The brakes have been redesigned with new calipers, new pad return springs, and larger rotors, and there’s an electronic parking brake that automatically activates when the engine is turned off.
Finally, the fuel tank is now larger, up to 16.4 gallons compared to the previous model’s 15.3 gallons.
DRIVETRAIN SPECIFICATIONS
| Type | Four cylinder in-line, turbocharged | Four cylinder in-line, naturally aspirated | DOHC, four cylinder in-line, turbocharged | Four cylinder in-line, turbocharged | Four cylinder in-line, turbocharged |
| Capacity | 1.6-litres, 1,591 cc | 1.6-litres, 1,591 cc | 1.7-litres, 1,685 cc | 2.0-litres, 1,995 cc | 2.0-litres, 1,995 cc |
| Bore and stroke | 77.0 x 85.4 mm | 77.0 x 85.4 mm | 77.2 x 90.0 mm | 84.0 x 90.0 mm | 84.0 x 90.0 mm |
| Compression ratio | 10.0:1 | 11.0:1 | 15.7:1 | 16.0:1 | 16.0:1 |
| Max power | 174 HP @ 5,500 RPM | 130 HP @ 6,300 RPM | 113 HP @ 4,000 RPM | 134 HP @ 4,000 RPM | 182 HP @ 4,000 RPM |
| Max torque | 195 LB-FT @ 1,500-4,500 RPM | 119 LB-FT @ 4,850 RPM | 207 LB-FT @ 1,250-2,750 RPM | 275 LB-FT @ 1,500-2,500 RPM | 295 LB-FT @ 1,750-2,750 RPM |
| Valves | 16 (four per cylinder) | 16 (four per cylinder) | 16 (four per cylinder) | 16 (four per cylinder) | 16 (four per cylinder) |
| Fuel system | Direct injection | Direct injection | Common-rail direct injection | Common-rail direct injection | Common-rail direct injection |
Prices
The new Sportage will make its global debut at the Frankfurt International Motor Show on September 15th, and should go on sale in the U.S. shortly thereafter. European dealerships will get it January 1st, 2016. Exact pricing details will coincide with the Frankfurt debut, but for now, expect roughly the same MSRP as the third-gen model, starting at $21,600 and ranging up just under $30,000.
GT LINE
The top-spec GT Line was designed for those looking to eke every bit of sport from their Sportage. In the corners, you’ll find unique 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels as standard, while the suspension tuning was designed specifically to tackle European roads with nippier handling and a firmer ride. The interior comes with a flat-bottomed steering wheel upholstered in leather and offset by contrast stitching. Contrast stitching can also be found in the seats. The interior fascia trim is a classy piano black, while the pedals are hewn from aluminum. Finally, the GT Line is the only Sportage model offered with the 1.6-liter T-GDI turbo gasoline engine and seven-speed double-clutch transmission.
Details on U.S. availability are currently unavailable.
Safety
To coincide with the redesigned exterior, interior appointment and drivetrain options, Kia made sure the new Sportage was made safer as well. For starters, visibility out the front and rear has improved. This comes thanks to thinner A-pillars with a lower base, side mirrors that are located a bit lower on the door, thinner C-pillars and taller rear glass.
For the new model, 51 percent of the body is ultra-high tensile strength steel, compared to the third-gen’s 18 percent.
The body is also quite a bit stronger, which helps its crash-worthiness. For the new model, 51 percent of the body is ultra-high tensile strength steel, compared to the third-gen’s 18 percent. There’s also more advanced hot-stamped steel. Overall, the pillars, side sills, roof and wheel arches have all been strengthened.
Pedestrian crash safety standards have been enhanced with a lower leading edge on the hood. There’s also a larger impact absorption area that incorporates new “safety foam and synthetic rubber.”
Frontal and side protection airbags for the driver and front passenger and first and second row curtain airbags are standard. ISOFIX child seat anchor-points in the rear are also standard, as is a Vehicle Stability Management system that uses an Electronic Stability Control program to keep the rubber side down under heavy braking and cornering.
Complementing this is a suite of available autonomous safety technologies, including rear cross-traffic alert, high beam assist, lane departure warning, automatic braking, and a speed limit information function that uses outboard cameras to read road signs and relay the information to the driver.
Conclusion
The new Sportage is a very important vehicle for Kia. Not only is it Kia’s bestseller, it consistently performs well in a segment fraught with cutthroat competition. With crossover sales showing no signs of decline, making a strong showing with the fourth-generation Sportage is vital to Kia’s success.
The strategy, it would seem, is one of many tweaks that add up to a package that, taken as a whole, bests the last in every category. The exterior, while not necessarily jaw dropping, is a marked improvement to my eye. Some might find it too fussy, but I like the new fascia – in my opinion, it adds a bit of aggression and up-market appeal that the old model lacked.
The interior echoes this approach, with many nice features, both standard and optional. The redesigned dash looks fantastic, and the infotainment and autonomous safety systems are top-notch for this segment. On top of it, all those NVH tweaks should make the new Sportage much more comfortable for the long haul.
All told, I think Kia did good work with the fourth generation Sportage. Whether or not customers feel the same remains to be seen.
Update History
Updated 08/28/2015: The 2016 Sportage’s exterior has already been revealed in official photos, but our spy photographers also sent us a batch with the model caught completely undisguised on the road. Check them out in the gallery!
Updated 08/27/2015: The first official exterior images of the new 2016 Sportage have been released by Kia, ahead of the model’s public unveiling at the 2015 Frankfurt Auto Show. Check them out below.
Updated 08/17/2015: Kia has released three official sketches of the upcoming 2016 Sportage, confirming a similar design language as the KX3 Concept.
Spy Shots
JULY 27, 2015 - KIA SPORTAGE SPIED INSIDE AND OUT
FEBRUARY 2, 2015 - KIA SPORTAGE PLAYING IN THE SNOW
JANUARY 14, 2015 - FIRST TESTING SESSION
Official Sketches
Press Release
Kia Motors today takes the wraps off the all-new Kia Sportage, with an attractive, all-new interior and exterior design, a host of advanced new technology features and greater quality. The all-new Sportage will make its global debut at the Frankfurt International Motor Show on 15 September 2015.
Now entering its fourth-generation, the new Kia Sportage compact SUV builds comprehensively on the success of the outgoing model, offering an innovative and sophisticated package to buyers in an increasingly competitive market. The new-look interior features high quality materials and design integrity, as well as great practicality and a range of technologies to improve comfort, convenience, connectivity and safety. A range of new and updated engines and transmissions will result in enhanced efficiency and performance, while ride, handling and refinement are all improved.
For the first time, a new ‘GT Line’ specification is available to Sportage customers. Designed and engineered to appeal to those looking for a sportier driving experience from their Sportage, the GT Line specification delivers all the versatility of the standard Sportage while adding greater visual and dynamic appeal to those customers that desire it.
Michael Cole, Chief Operating Officer, Kia Motors Europe, commented: “The Kia Sportage has helped drive our sustained growth and success across Europe in recent years. It’s an incredibly important car for us, particularly as more customers are turning to SUVs and competition in the rapidly growing compact segment is now fiercer than ever.”
Cole added: “In Europe, the Sportage is Kia’s flagship car, clearly demonstrating our brand values best and consistently accounting for more than a quarter of our European sales. As this hotly-contested segment continues to expand, the new Sportage will reinforce our position among the market leaders, leading the way in terms of its refined innovation, distinctive design and high material quality.”
The Kia Sportage is manufactured at Kia’s production facility in Žilina, Slovakia, and remains the brand’s bestselling model in Europe, with more than 97,000 sold across Europe in 2014, accounting for 27.5% of Kia sales.
Bold new design for 2016 Kia Sportage
The fourth-generation Kia Sportage features a bold new look, with the vehicle’s designers creating a sense of sporty and powerful energy from every angle. The design of the new Sportage has been led by Kia’s European design studio in Frankfurt, Germany, with input from the brand’s Namyang, Korea and Irvine, California design centres.
Echoing the contrast of smooth and sharp shapes found on some of the most iconic modern fighter jets, the Sportage creates visual harmony out of the tension between sharp, defined feature lines and smooth surfacing.
The attractive ‘face’ of the Sportage features the biggest change to the car’s design over the outgoing model, with Kia’s hallmark ‘tiger-nose’ grille and the car’s headlamps separated for the new model. The headlamps are now positioned higher, sweeping back along the outer edges of the sharply-detailed bonnet. A lower, wider grille – enlarged to support greater engine cooling – adds more volume to the lower half of the Sportage’s face. The result is a more imposing appearance and a more stable-looking stance, despite the new model retaining the same 1,855 mm width as its predecessor. GT Line models develop the exterior look further, featuring new ‘ice-cube’ LED fog lamps, inspired by those found on the high-powered cee’d GT, and aluminium-effect skid plates.
The all-new Sportage maintains its highly-recognisable profile, with a 30 mm longer wheelbase (now 2,670 mm), 40 mm greater overall vehicle length (to 4,480 mm) and longer, more aerodynamic rear spoiler resulting in a more swept-back shape. From the highest point of the roof (1,635 mm – unchanged over the outgoing model), the Sportage’s silhouette gently tapers towards the rear of the car, while bolder wheel arches, sharp features lines, and smooth surfacing endow the Sportage with a more dynamic look. The overall effect is inspired by the defined musculature of a sprinter driving out of the starting blocks. Longer front overhangs (up by 20 mm) and shorter rear overhangs (reduced by 10 mm) add to the car’s more raked profile.
At the rear, the new Sportage features more horizontal forms and clearly defined features lines, with smooth bodywork on the tailgate, emphasising the car’s width and giving the compact SUV a more stable appearance. Inspired by the 2013 Kia Provo concept, slim combination lamps running along a horizontal parallel are joined together by a strip that runs the width of the rear, while the turn signals and reversing lights are separate, located lower down to add more visual weight to the lower half. The Kia Sportage GT Line also features dual exhaust mufflers and metal-effect rear underbody diffuser for a sportier appearance.
The attractive new design also makes this the most aerodynamic Sportage to date, with drag reduced from 0.35 to 0.33 Cd – a result of the re-profiled undercover and newly-designed bumper.
The all-new Sportage is available with a choice of 16-, 17- or 19-inch aluminium alloy wheel designs, while the GT Line specification comes with a unique 19-inch wheel option as standard.
Modern layout and greater refinement for high quality new cabin
The Sportage boasts an all-new interior, representing one of the most significant improvements over the third-generation car. The focus for the design team behind the new interior was to create a cabin which offered a wide, driver-oriented dashboard, with a simple, modern design. The interior blends metalwork with soft-touch materials and clearly defined horizontal lines, portraying a high level of mechanical precision.
The Sportage’s all-new cabin boasts a high standard of material quality, with a far greater proportion of soft-touch materials and the use of cloth, leather and stitching creating a more luxurious ambience. The result is an interior that majors on refinement and modern sophistication, with greater soundproofing measures adopted to reduce significantly the intrusion of exterior noise.
Where the cabin of the outgoing Sportage is focused around a clearly-defined central console, with a vertical design, the new model features horizontal lines to emphasise the width of the interior more effectively and generate a greater impression of space and sportiness.
The confident lateral design of the dashboard divides it into two clear zones – ‘display’ and ‘control’. The ‘display’ zone is focused purely on delivering information to occupants in the clearest way possible via the driver’s instrument binnacle and optional new 7.0- or 8.0-inch HMI (human-machine interface) systems in the centre of the dashboard.
Below a clear line running the length of the dashboard is the ‘control’ zone, with the central console cascading downwards and tilted 10 degrees towards the driver. With many functions now found on the optional touchscreen infotainment and navigation system, the new, uncluttered dashboard offers drivers a highly ergonomic layout with the ‘control’ zone’s functions designed to be clearly visible when on the move.
The division between the interior’s two zones also lends itself to single or two-tone colour schemes, with customers able to choose from either a single-tone (black) or two-tone (Dark and Light Grey or Black and Canyon Beige) cabin. The console is finished in black, for a classy, stylish appearance, regardless of the interior colours chosen. Buyers specifying the new GT Line can enjoy a cabin with a slightly sportier feel, with a D-shaped leather steering wheel, high quality piano black fascia and aluminium alloy pedals.
Greater space and improved passenger comfort
The fourth-generation model is set to be the most practical Sportage yet thanks to increased exterior and interior dimensions, with the vehicle’s development teams realising greater space and comfort for all passengers.
The most significant change to the Sportage’s dimensions is a 30 mm growth in its wheelbase, to 2,670 mm, helping to liberate greater space in the cabin. The whole vehicle is 40 mm longer, at 4,480 mm, with the front overhang expanding to 910 mm (+20 mm) and the rear overhang shrinking slightly to 900 mm (-10 mm). The latest model remains the same height (1,635 mm) and width (1,855 mm) as the outgoing Sportage.
Passenger space is increased, with headroom rising to 997 mm (+5 mm) and 993 mm (+16 mm) for front and rear passengers respectively, while maximum legroom has expanded to 1,129 mm (+ 19 mm) and 970 mm (+7 mm).
With passengers able to enjoy extra space, development teams have delivered on a promise to improve comfort even more.
In the front, drivers not only enjoy more legroom, but the seats have been redesigned. The Sportage can now be specified with three-way front heat seating, 10-way power control with lumbar support for the driver’s seat and eight-way power control for the passenger seat. Stiffer seat frames, with greater use of high tensile steel, and redesigned springs and pads – for front and rear – cut the level of vibration in the seats, while reducing seat weight by 2.5 kg and improving durability.
In the rear, a 40 mm lower interior floor – without sacrificing exterior ground clearance – and 30 mm higher rear bench hip point mean second-row passengers benefit from a more natural and comfortable seating posture and improved under-thigh support.
The Sportage’s reclining rear seats now offer 17 steps – from 23 to 37 degrees, with the reclining lever relocated from the upper seat-back to the lower side of the seat to make it easier for rear passengers to get truly comfortable. Rear passengers can also choose from dual-strength seat heating for cushion and back rest – ideal for colder mornings.
For all models, visibility is improved out of the front and rear. Forward visibility is aided by a lowered A-pillar base, while the A-pillar itself has been made thinner. Side mirrors sit slightly lower on the door without impairing the driver’s rear view – this is further aided by the new thinner C-pillars (62 mm thinner compared to the third-generation Sportage) and taller rear glass (+30 mm). Not only do these changes help visibility, they add a greater feeling of air and space to the cabin – enhanced by the 104 mm-longer optional panoramic sunroof opening (now 490 mm).
The new body’s larger dimensions mean cargo space in the fourth-generation Sportage has expanded from 465 litres to 503 litres (VDA), made more practical by a dual-height luggage floor, allowing taller items to fit into the boot and still remain hidden by the tonneau cover. The Sportage also features a new under-floor tonneau cover storage area – unique in the class. Despite the new Sportage being no wider than the outgoing model, by re-engineering the rear section of the body the luggage area is 35 mm wider, while the upper edge of the boot lip is lowered so the lift-over height for heavy items is just 732 mm (down 47 mm).
The all-new Sportage has greater fuel capacity than the third-generation model, with the fuel tank increasing from 58 litres to 62, cutting the number of fuel pump visits that owners of the new car will have to make throughout the lifetime of the vehicle (particularly when combined with all-round improvements to fuel economy).
NVH: All-round improvements to refinement
Key to the comfort of occupants in the new Sportage are the efforts made by Kia engineers to cut noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). Significant changes over the outgoing model render the Sportage one of the most refined cars in its class, with less cabin noise than many other rivals in the C-SUV segment.
At idle, the new Sportage records just 36 decibels when equipped with a petrol engine (2 dB lower than the outgoing model) and 44 decibels for diesel models (down from 46 dB). The improvements to engine NVH are a result of extensive extra dashboard insulation, as well as new acoustic shields fitted to engines to ensure greater suppression of NVH.
Road noise is further reduced – from 66 to 63 dB – with the adoption of new bushings in the rear suspension to isolate road noise at source, and more sound-absorbent materials throughout the Sportage’s wheel arches. Wind noise is also reduced as a result of thicker front side glass, a new dual lip seal for the panoramic sunroof and additional soundproofing in the doors.
A range of improvements cuts vibrations throughout the car, making the Sportage’s cabin one of the most refined and relaxing among rivals. This has been achieved with all-round improvements to body stiffness, particularly through the floor of the vehicle, as well as the introduction of larger, more absorbent mounts for the transmission, and improved seat design. Alloy wheels that are 49% stiffer also reduce the level of vibration intruding on the interior.
The safest Sportage yet – stronger body and a wealth of active safety systems
Safety, as always, is a top priority for Kia, and the all-new Kia Sportage builds on the brand’s reputation for offering the highest standards in occupant and pedestrian crash safety. The fourth-generation of Kia’s best-seller has been engineered to meet the toughest and most demanding crash safety tests, thanks to an even stronger bodyshell, a wide array of passive safety equipment and the latest active safety and autonomous hazard avoidance technologies.
The structure of the new Sportage is significantly stronger, thanks in large part to the extensive use of ultra-high tensile steel (UHTS) to improve joint stiffness and introduce more effective impact load paths throughout the body. By dramatically strengthening the core structure of the new Sportage, torsional rigidity has been improved by 39% from one generation to the next.
The third-generation Sportage was made up of 18% UHTS, compared to 51% for the body of the new model. The increased use of advanced hot-stamped steel further improves the integrity of the body. The stronger steel has been used in particular to reinforce the A-, B- and C-pillars, side sills, roof structures and wheel arches.
The Sportage is fitted as standard with a large number of airbags, further improving passive safety for occupants, with airbags for driver and front passenger, first row side airbags, and first and second row curtain airbags. ISOFIX child-seat tether and anchor points are fitted as standard to the second row of seats, to safely secure younger passengers.
Pedestrian safety is further improved with a lower leading edge on the bonnet and a larger impact absorption area, which has been revised with greater use of highly-absorbent safety foam and synthetic rubber, further helping to protect pedestrians in the event of a collision. The Sportage is also available with a range of active safety systems to mitigate the chances of a pedestrian collision (see below).
The new Sportage will perform strongly in the Euro NCAP’s important Safety Assist category, which analyses the latest driver assistance technologies and their effectiveness in avoiding accidents and mitigating injuries. Kia’s Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system, fitted as standard to the fourth-generation car, helps ensure stability under braking and cornering through careful management of the vehicle’s Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and electric motor-driven power steering. Both systems come into play as soon as the Sportage’s many sensors detect a loss of traction, helping the driver to remain safely in control of the vehicle.
Buyers of the new Sportage will be able to choose from the most up-to-date active hazard-avoidance technologies to ensure occupants’ safety at all times – depending on market. Available systems will include:
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)*, which employs a radar detection system to detect a potential collision with another vehicle or pedestrian and help bring the car to a halt
Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), which emits an audible alert when the driver strays from the current lane without indicating
Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), which detects the position of the Sportage in relation to lane markings and takes automatic corrective action if it senses the car starting to draft without the use of indicators
High Beam Assist (HBA), which automatically adjusts headlamp range according to other vehicles and road conditions
Speed Limit Information Function (SLIF), displaying the speed limit and overtaking restrictions in the driver’s instrument cluster based on cameras detecting roadside signs
Blind Spot Detection (BSD) with Lane Change Assist (LCA), which monitors cars up to 70 metres behind the Sportage and provides the driver with a visual warning in the door mirror when another car enters the blind spot
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), which warns against other cars driving behind the Sportage in car parks while reversing.
Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), which emits an audible alert when the driver strays from the current lane without indicating
Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), which detects the position of the Sportage in relation to lane markings and takes automatic corrective action if it senses the car starting to draft without the use of indicators
High Beam Assist (HBA), which automatically adjusts headlamp range according to other vehicles and road conditions
Speed Limit Information Function (SLIF), displaying the speed limit and overtaking restrictions in the driver’s instrument cluster based on cameras detecting roadside signs
Blind Spot Detection (BSD) with Lane Change Assist (LCA), which monitors cars up to 70 metres behind the Sportage and provides the driver with a visual warning in the door mirror when another car enters the blind spot
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), which warns against other cars driving behind the Sportage in car parks while reversing.
*The Autonomous Emergency Braking System (AEBS) is an assistance system and does not relieve the driver from his/her responsibility to safely operate the vehicle at any time. The driver still has to adapt his/her driving behavior to his/her personal driving capabilities, to the legal requirements and to the overall road and traffic conditions. AEBS is not designed to drive the vehicle autonomously. For further information, please refer to the owner’s manual.
Smoother, more refined ride and greater handling agility
Throughout the development programme for the all-new Sportage, engineers have aimed to build upon the ride comfort, stability and handling responses offered to drivers by the outgoing car. The new model achieves improvements in all of these areas, and will be the best-handling Sportage yet.
The fully-independent front suspension carries over the format of the outgoing model, but features a range of modifications to make the best use of the new bodyshell. The new setup achieves a leap forward in ride quality, while also delivering sharper handling. Modifications include revised bushing mount positions for greater stability and more natural responses to changing road surfaces, as well as stiffer wheel bearings and bushings resulting in more direct handling and greater stability in all conditions. The steering gearbox is also mounted further forward on the axle for smoother steering inputs.
For the rear suspension – also fully-independent, including the adoption of dual lower-arm multi-link suspension for two-wheel drive models – the new Sportage receives a stiffer cross member to cut road noise and vibrations from intruding into the cabin. Specially-tuned dampers have a longer rebound stroke to eliminate smaller vibrations from poor road surfaces, while the rear subframe is now mounted on isolated bushings to further improve the NVH performance of the suspension. Finally, slight changes to the suspension geometry, as well as stiffer wheel bearings and lateral bushings, quell understeer and allow for more direct handling.
These suspension upgrades, combined with the 40 mm growth in the Sportage’s wheelbase over the outgoing model, provide the all-new model with far superior damping over poor road surfaces, while offering drivers more driving fun through improved handling responses and reduced understeer.
GT Line models receive their own unique suspension characteristics. Tested on European roads with European buyers in mind, the suspension of the GT Line models has been tuned to endow the Sportage with sharper, more athletic handling and a slightly firmer ride, crucially without compromising comfort.
The fourth-generation Sportage is fitted with a new rack-mounted electric motor-driven power steering system (R-MDPS), available as standard on GT Line and optional for all Sportage models across Europe. Mounted directly on the steering rack, rather than on the column, the new R-MDPS provides greater steering feel and quicker, more linear responses to driver inputs – particularly around the centre. When equipped, this upgrade to the steering ensures that the new Sportage sits among the most agile cars in the C-SUV segment, without compromising the ride comfort and stability that consumers expect from a vehicle of this type.
The all-new Sportage boasts greater braking performance compared to the third-generation model, with redesigned calipers and new brake pad return springs reducing braking drag. Combined with larger brake discs, the Sportage offers better stopping power than ever before.
The electronic parking brake in the all-new Sportage has also been upgraded and now switches on automatically when the engine is switched off.
As before, the Sportage continues to be offered with a choice of front- and all-wheel drive, with the revisions to suspension and steering, and the latest electronic driver aids, providing stable handling and high levels of grip in all conditions.
Navigation System with Kia’s Connected Services and wireless phone charging
The all-new Sportage debuts a number of new, advanced on-board technologies to improve the ownership experience for buyers. The new features added to the Sportage make it the most modern, innovative and high-tech car in its class.
Kia’s latest audio-visual navigation (AVN) system introduces a more modern appearance at the centre of the dashboard. Buyers can choose between 7.0- or 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment and satellite navigation systems, each supporting the addition of DAB digital radio, which is available across a number of European markets.
A new addition is the Navigation System with Kia’s Connected Services, offering a wide range of up-to-date driving-oriented information. Powered by technology company TomTom®, the new connectivity features include live traffic updates*, speed camera locations and alerts*, local search and weather forecasts. In Europe, the system will be available to Sportage buyers free of charge for seven years after the car’s purchase. The Kia Sportage is among the first models in the European compact SUV segment to adopt this advanced technology.
The infotainment system is paired with a 160 watt six-speaker audio system, while music lovers can specify a powerful 320 watt JBL® Sound system, featuring eight speakers, an external amplifier and Clari-Fi music restoration technology for unrivalled audio quality.
A first for any car in the C-SUV segment, the new Sportage will be available with a new wireless charger for mobile devices, as Kia looks to meet the increasing demand for new convenience technologies from car buyers. Located at the base of the central instrument stack, the wireless charger enables users to charge their phone or tablet without a wire connection, for a cleaner appearance. With ‘foreign object detection’, the 5W charging system activates when a compatible device is placed on the pad, and warns car security-conscious owners when they’ve left a phone on the charger when they leave the vehicle. The system displays the phone’s charging condition on the instrument cluster, and features a safety system to prevent overheating while in use. The Sportage also features up to two USB charging points, one in the front and an optional one in the rear, to allow all occupants to charge their mobile devices while on the move.
Depending on market, other new available features will include: a rear-view parking camera with dynamic parking lines, a Smart Power Tailgate, which opens the tailgate automatically when the key is ‘sensed’ in close proximity to the tailgate; Dynamic Bending Headlamps, which sweep the road ahead in line with the steering wheel for greater visibility and improved safety at night; and a new Smart Welcome function, which turns on interior and door handle lamps and unfolds the door mirrors once the smart key fob is located within 1.3-1.7 metres of the door handle.
New 1.6-litre T-GDI and significantly upgraded 2.0-litre turbodiesel
When developing the new Sportage, a major focus for engineers was realising efficiency and driving performance from the new vehicle’s various power units. Every engine in the range is compliant with the latest Euro 6 emission standard, resulting in cleaner exhaust emissions. This has been achieved, not only without compromising on-road performance, but enhancing it.
As with the outgoing model, the all-new Sportage offers buyers – both private and fleet – a wide choice of petrol and diesel engines. The fourth-generation model carries over many of the engines found in the current vehicle, and most benefit from a broad range of modifications to improve fuel efficiency, NVH and power delivery. A new 1.6-litre T-GDI (turbo petrol direct injection) is also available for the first time on the Sportage, exclusively for GT Line buyers, offering a combination of lively performance and high fuel economy to customers looking for a sportier drive.
The range of petrol engines is made up of a 1.6-litre GDI (petrol direct injection) engine and the brand’s latest 1.6-litre T-GDI power unit.
The GDI engine, producing 132 ps and 161 Nm torque, is carried over directly from the third-generation Sportage. With the car’s numerous upgrades for the latest model – such as improved aerodynamic efficiency – and the adoption of Kia’s ISG system, this engine promises lower emissions and fuel consumption, pending homologation tests later this year.
The ‘Gamma’ 1.6-litre T-GDI engine is based on the same unit powering the Kia cee’d GT and pro_cee’d GT, offering greater and more emotive engine performance for keener drivers. Available exclusively on the Sportage GT Line, the 1.6-litre T-GDI engine boasts a range of upgrades to ensure it meets owners’ demands for quicker accelerative response, greater fuel efficiency and easier access to engine torque. Producing 177 ps – and peak 265 Nm torque from 1,500-4,500 rpm – the T-GDI engine features a new single-scroll turbocharger with electronic wastegate actuator for quicker engine response and better economy under acceleration.
Further boosting efficiency, the 1.6-litre T-GDI engine receives a new high-energy ignition coil, higher-tumble intake ports, a low-friction timing chain and marginally higher compression ratio (from 9.5:0 in the cee’d GT to 10.0:0 in the new Sportage).
Diesel engines account for the lion’s share of Sportage models sold in Europe, and the new model will continue to offer the 115 ps 1.7-litre CRDi engine – carried over from the third-generation model – and a significantly-upgraded 2.0-litre ‘R’ power unit, establishing a step forward in terms of fuel economy, performance and NVH over the outgoing Sportage and other C-SUV rivals.
The 2.0-litre turbodiesel is available with two power outputs – 136 ps with 373 Nm torque, and 184 ps with 400 Nm – with both benefiting from a 5 kg lighter engine block, up-to-date battery management system, continuously variable displacement oil pump – which senses and modifies oil pressure in real-time – and a new oil filter module.
Lower combustion temperatures in the 2.0-litre ‘R’ engine have reduced NOx emissions to meet strict new emissions standards, aided by a relatively low compression ratio, a new exhaust gas recirculation cooler system, and a new lean NOx trap. A lower-inertia turbine wheel in the turbocharger and electronically-controlled wastegate actuator result in more efficient turbocharging than the ‘R’ engine found in the outgoing Sportage, while stiffer valve springs and high-pressure 2000 bar fuel pump injection allow closer control of combustion within the engine cylinders.
NVH is also dramatically improved for the 2.0-litre diesel, featuring a new heat-resistant engine block cover, a new timing chain cover with integrated acoustic shield, a sound-absorbent cover for the diesel particulate filter, and new intercooler pipe acoustic shield. Mechanical friction is also reduced, further cutting engine noise and improving efficiency, with a new nano-diamond piston coating.
Both high- and lower-powered versions of the 2.0-litre ‘R’ diesel are available both on the standard Sportage and with the GT Line specification.
Sportage available with advanced new seven-speed DCT
The new Sportage features the brand’s all-new seven-speed double-clutch transmission (DCT), recently launched in the enhanced Kia cee’d and available exclusively on models equipped with the new 177 ps 1.6-litre T-GDI engine. Kia’s new DCT is capable of handling the higher torque outputs of the turbocharged engine and offers a sportier driving experience.
Kia’s new DCT has also been developed in-house and has been engineered with low fuel consumption and a sporty driving feel when in manual mode, and with comfort and smoothness when left in automatic mode.
Drivers specifying the new DCT will benefit from faster gear changes than a traditional automatic transmission, as well as lower running costs. When equipped with the new DCT, the 1.6-litre T-GDI engine is expected to return similar carbon dioxide emissions to the manual transmission also available with this engine, pending homologation.
The wider Sportage range continues to be offered with a choice of six-speed manual and automatic transmissions.
2016 Kia Sportage on-sale from Q1 2016
The all-new Kia Sportage will go on sale across Europe in Q1 2016, offering the company’s unique 7-Year, 150,000 km warranty as standard. Further technical details for the all-new Sportage will be announced closer to the car’s on-sale date.
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