2019 Kia Sportage: All To Know About This Upcoming Compact SUV

by Mohammed Burman | 19/11/2018
Share this post:
Kia has officially claimed that its first products will be launched in India in 2019, one of which is the popular Kia Sportage compact SUV.

Given the road conditions in India, the demand and interest for SUVs have considerably grown for the past few years. Realizing the marvellous opportunity to penetrate into this teeming segment, many carmakers are making every endeavour to launch new SUVs in India. The giant South Korean automaker is not an exception; it going to participate in the Indian SUV segment with the launch of the well-known mid-size SUV, Kia Sportage. This article will go into details on what to expect from this amazing SUV.

1. Kia Sportage launch date

The Sportage SUV was first introduced into the global market in 1993 and was one of the oldest car models of Kia. The fourth-gen Sportage was debuted in India at the 2018 Delhi Auto Expo. Although no official information as to the launch date of Kia Sportage has been revealed by the Korean carmaker, it is expected to be officially launched in India in the third quarter of 2019. We will inform you of the exact launch date of the vehicle right after Kia officially announces it.

Kia Sportage in the showroom

The Kia Sportage is expected to be launched in India around the third quarter of 2019

2. Kia Sportage Exterior

Exterior Features

The Kia Sportage will come with a confident, masculine and well-proportioned appearance from every angle. In the front, Kia’s typical “Tiger nose” front grille is likely to be made from thoroughly polished material. Other front features of the cars are expected to include large Bi-Xenon headlights with LED DRLs and automatic ORVMs integrated with turn indicators. The body of the car will be covered by a cladding which adds to its butch appearance. On the side profile, the compact SUV is likely to be equipped with body-coloured door handles, fashionable 17-19 inch alloy wheels, sloping roof rails. Coming to the rear, you can realize a large roof-mounted spoiler, a dual exhaust system and beautiful tail lamps, all of which harmonize well with the boot lid. All of these features contribute to the sportiness of the vehicle, explaining for its interesting name “Sportage”

Kia Sportage white colour angular look

The Indian Kia Sportage will have a sporty appearance

Dimensions

In terms of dimensions, the SUV is anticipated to be 4,480mm long, 1855mm wide, 1,635mm high with a 2,670 mm wheelbase and a 503-litre boot space, larger than most of its competitors.

3. Kia Sportage Interior

Interior features

The cabin of the Kia Sportage will be ambient and fashionable with generous leg space, headspace and wonderful visibility for the driver. The car also offers comfortable seats for all the passengers and electrically-adjusted seat with lumbar support for the driver. The boot will have an appropriate size; the rear seats will be pushed forward in a 60:40 split format, making the car more flexible.

Kia Sportage cabin

The ambient space of the Kia Sportage will ensure passengers a comfortable driving experience

Image source: RushLane

The modern instrument cluster would provide notifications if the door is slightly opened or the driver forgets to wear the seatbelt. Furthermore, it will also give the driver information on fuel consumption and average speed, etc.

Some other expected interior features of the Kia Sportage include

  • Telescope and tilt driving wheel adjustment

  • Multifunctional leather-trimmed driving wheel

  • Automatic temperature control

  • Smart entry system

  • Engine start/stop button

  • Touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation connectivity

  • Parking sensors in the front and rear

  • Reversing camera

Kia Sportage interior

The Kia Sportage is likely to be equipped with an impressive of interior features

Safety features

The SUV will leave the passengers with no doubt about safety since it is packed with a wide range of active and passive safety features comprising of

  • Airbags

  • All round 3-point seatbelts

  • ABS with EBD

  • Hill-start control

  • Emergency Stop Signal

  • Dynamic stability control (DSC) with downhill brake control (DBC)

  • Electronic trailer sway control

  • Tyre pressure monitoring system

  • Lane keep assist system

  • Emergency brake assist (EBA)

  • Tethers for ISOFIX child seat top

  • Remote central door locking

  • Anchor fixings

  • Modern anti-theft system

All of these features help Kia Sportage achieve a five-star rating in the Euro NCAP test.

4. Kia Sportage Performance

Engine and transmission

Although Kia has revealed nothing about the mechanical specifications of the new Sportage SUV, it is expected to borrow the engines from Hyundai Tucson. The SUV will be available with multiple powertrain options, a 2.0L VTVT petrol and 2.0L CRDi diesel unit. Whereas the petrol engine can deliver a max power of 155bhp and a peak torque of 192Nm with a mileage of 13kmpl, the diesel one can generate 185bhp/400Nm with a fuel efficiency of 18kmpl. The mileage can alter, depending on various real-life factors such as the curb weight of the car, the road conditions, etc. The transmissions duties are to be undertaken by a 6-speed manual and automatic gearbox.

 Kia Sportage Expected Engine Types Max Power   Peak Torque Transmission   Mileage
 2.0L VTVT petrol  155bhp   192Nm   6-speed MT/AMT  13kmpl
 2.0L CRDi diesel   185bhp  400Nm   6-speed MT/AMT  18kmpl

Handling and riding quality

The responsive and eager engines of Kia Sportage with hardly any turbo intervals help the driver control the vehicle easily. Smooth shifts will be provided by the transmission which can be manually shifted with the paddle shifters.

Its telescopic and tilt adjustable driving wheel is likely to be quite light and can instantly react to the driver’s directions. An effective suspension and braking system will be equipped on the car, creating a good balance and stability.

Kia Sportage running

The Kia Sportage will offer the driver a comfortable and pleasant driving experience

5. Kia Sportage Price and Competition

Although now, it may be too early to pinpoint the price of the new SUV, Kia is anticipated to aggressively price it to make it popular with Indian car buyers, maybe from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. Once launched in India, the Kia Sportage SUV can directly compete with Hyundai Tucson. Although Kia belongs to Hyundai, considering that the two cars share the same platform, the same size and similar engines, the siblings can also become competitors. Besides, the Sportage can also rival Volkswagen Tiguan and Jeep Compass. Another formidable rival is the forthcoming Honda CR-V, which will go on sale in India soon. While the Sportage can effectively compete against the CR-V in terms of price and performance, the former loses its advantage as regards the third seat row.

 Kia Sportage white colour angular look

The Kia Sportage will be priced between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 20 lakh, rivalling many other SUVs in India

6. Kia Sportage verdict

The likelihood that the Kia Sportage will come to India in 2019 is undeniable. The South Korean automaker is going to bring the vehicle to India via CKD (completely knocked down) route and then locally assembled in Kia’s plant in Andhra Pradesh to keep the price at an affordable level. After being launched in India, this flagship SUV of Kia is expected to have many advantages over the other SUVs in terms of design, features, performance and price, helping Kia put the first stable steps in India SUV segment in particular and in this emerging but potential auto market in general.

That’s what we think. What about you? What do you think about the Kia Sportage SUV and its prospect in India? Let us know in the comment section below.

Update the latest car news in India by visiting our website - IndianAuto.com 

>>> Also read: 

Kia Carnival MPV to Launch in India by 2020

Kia Motors to Launch Vehicles in India in 2019

Tracking icon
Would you like to receive notifications with latest news and car deals from IndianAuto?