[ĐÁNH GIÁ XE] Kia Sportage 2022 – Transformed inside and out, adding a new hybrid version

After nearly three decades on the market, Kia Sportage has reached its 5th generation, and is aiming for a bigger goal than its competitors in the same segment of compact high-rise urban cars such as Ford Escape, Mazda CX-5 and Volkswagen Tiguan.

In 1993, the Korean car company first introduced the completely new Sportage name in its product line. At that time, Kia Sportage borrowed Mazda’s engine platform and body-on-frame chassis system, with three different body versions: short-wheelbase convertible, long-wheelbase hardtop with 5 doors and long-wheelbase hardtop with 5 doors and extended trunk. Unfortunately, the actual sales of the Sportage later shattered all expectations, showing that Kia’s efforts were not enough.

After Hyundai acquired 51% of Kia’s shares, the two Korean automakers began working together and sharing common platforms. Starting from the second generation, the Kia Sportage was developed on the Hyundai Tucson platform – the same “formula” was used until the fifth generation. This is also a key factor to help revive sales of Kia Sportage.

As expected, with the 5th generation, Kia Sportage now possesses a completely new look, bringing a futuristic beauty with sharper and more modern features than the previous version. And yet, the interior space of the Kia Sportage 2023 has also been “transformed” with stronger investment in technology and design philosophy.

Exterior design

Since the 4th generation, Kia Sportage has had a signature “Tiger Nose” grille written by famous designer Peter Schreyer. Entering the 5th generation, Sportage now applies the “Opposites United” design philosophy similar to the latest Kia EV6 electric car model. Thanks to that, the entire exterior of the car has been modified and refined to an amazingly sharp and angular level. The “Tiger Nose” grille still appears at the front of the car but has been converted to a “Digital Tiger Face” form that extends to the sides. The LED daytime running lights are thinly shaped in a boomerang shape surrounding the Matrix-LED headlight cluster, which looks modern and equally powerful and imposing.

Unlike its predecessor, the 2022 Kia Sportage is currently available with 2 version options that differ in wheelbase length. This change causes Sportage to now compete with the Volkswagen Tiguan – a car model that also offers customers two versions with different wheelbase lengths. When viewed from the side, the sturdy shoulder line along with strong embossed lines on the car door and convex lines on the wheel arches hide the increased wheelbase length, instead emphasizing the dynamic and strong beauty of the Kia Sportage 2022. In addition, the new generation also adds a large L-shaped decorative chrome piece surrounding the lower edge of the rear window frame.

At the rear, the rear of the Kia Sportage 2022 benefits from a wide shoulder line, and the C-pillar claws forward to look stylish and full of energy. LED taillights with sophisticated graphics and sharp shapes, connected by a slender LED strip. Below is a decorative dual exhaust tip integrated into the sporty rear bumper with a satin gray anti-slip plate.

Director of Kia’s Global Design Center, Karim Habib said, “With the 5th generation, a completely new version of Kia Sportage, we (Kia) not only want to go one step further but also move to another level in the SUV segment.” This look is the result of Kia’s global design network in Korea, Germany, the US and China.

Interior design and comfortable equipment

The interior compartment of the Kia Sportage 2022 has a futuristic design, featuring a floating touch screen in the center that integrates a digital instrument screen housed in a curved piece of glass. The infotainment screen and control buttons on the dashboard are built with a bias towards the driver, making operations easier and more convenient. More specifically, this screen cluster is also surrounded by two uniquely shaped air conditioning vents that span the entire width of the dashboard. Supporting the ultimate infotainment experience on the 2022 Kia Sportage is the Harman Kardon sound system – an equipment usually only seen in high-end luxury cars.

In the new generation, Kia Sportage pays special attention to interior decoration details, shown in the finished piano black color scheme and highlights with shiny metal borders on the air conditioning vents and door handles. The touch buttons that control functions are neatly arranged below the central touch screen and around the knob-shaped gear lever area. There’s also a smartphone charging pad with high-speed wireless charging capabilities. Overall, the overall cockpit design of the Kia Sportage 2022 looks modern and sophisticated with a neat and beautiful layout.