By The new, fifth generation of Kia’s compact pickup is on the way. According to the latest reports, it will hit the market next year, like the 2023 Kia Sportage. At this point, we know a lot of things about the new model, starting from the new design, mechanics etc. Moreover, some sources even speculate about the pickup truck version, which would come in a similar fashion as the new Hyundai Santa Cruz, which is heavily based on its crossover sibling – Tucson.
The new Sportage will ride on a new platform and it will get slightly bigger compared to the outgoing model. It will bring quite controversial styling, but also one of the nicest cabins in the segment. Finally, there is the matter of powertrain options, which should include a couple of gasoline models, as well as a couple of electrified versions.
We expect that the 2023 Kia Sportage will hit the market sometime in the second half of 2022.
2023 Kia Sportage Redesign
Without any doubt, the 2023 Kia Sportage redesign will bring a lot of novelties. The new model has already been presented and from what we can see, the Korean manufacturer brings a quite controversial styling. That’s particularly notable at the front, where you can see a uniquely designed grille and headlights, which feature a futuristic design, characterized by a lot of sharp edges. The rear end also looks pretty futuristic and takes a bit of inspiration from the all-electric EV6.
Mechanically, changes won’t be that radical. The new generation will bring improvements regarding ride quality, but the overall approach will be pretty similar to the current model. We expect to see slightly bigger dimensions, which would provide a little bit more space on the inside as well. We will get on that in a moment.
Interior
From what we can see in the photos, the new 2023 Kia Sportage will bring big improvements on the inside as well. The new cabin looks way more upscale, as it utilizes finer materials and probably offers even better build quality. Furthermore, there is a full load of tech features, which makes everything look even more upscale. That particularly refers to a couple of large screens, for the instrument cluster and for the infotainment screen, which comes in some kind of unity.
Of course, we also count on a generous amount of interior space. The new model should feature two generous rows of seats, which accommodate adults with ease. Furthermore, the cargo area should offer some pretty respectable numbers.
2023 Kia Sportage Engines
We expect that the 2023 Kia Sportage will be offered in two variants regarding the powertrain. The base model will come equipped with a 2.5-liter inline-four that puts out around 190 horsepower and comes in pair with 8-speed automatic transmission.
Higher trim levels should be offered with a 2.5-liter turbo-four, with a max output of 280 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. This engine would probably come equipped with a dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Besides gasoline versions, the new 2023 Kia Sportage will also come with hybrid powertrains. We could on two versions, both hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants. Both models will be based on a 1.6-liter turbo-four engine.
Release Date and Price
We expect that the 2023 Kia Sportage will hit the market sometime in the second half of 2022, with a starting price of around 27.000 dollars. Some of the key competitors are models like Mazda CX-5, VW Tiguan, Ford Escape etc.
What about 2023 Kia Sportage Pickup Truck?
These days, we can also find reports about the 2023 Kia Sportage pickup truck. The segment of small unibody pickups is growing. So, there is no reason why Kia wouldn’t do the same thing as Hyundai, which launched a model called Santa Cruz, which is heavily related to Tucson.
So, the new pickup would be heavily based on the new Sportage. We expect to see the same front end, while most of the mechanics would be the same too. On the other hand, the new model would come in a classic pickup layout, in a double cab body style only, most likely. The interior should look nearly the same as the one in the SUV, at least in terms of the dashboard design. The cab should be able to accommodate adults comfortably, while a 4-foot bed should offer a decent level of practicality.
When it comes to the powertrain, we presume that the 2023 Kia Sportage would come with the same gasoline options on the offer. The base version would come with the naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine, while the turbo-four would be on the offer too.
We believe that the 2023 Kia Sportage could also debut sometime in the next year, with a starting price of around 25.000 dollars.
Comments