2022 Kia Sportage revealed

Kia has unveiled its all-new Sportage medium SUV due in Australia late this year.

As with the current model — and its Hyundai Tucson cousin — the Sportage has bold styling to stand out from the crowd.

A detailed black grille graphic extends across the width of the front end, linking Kia’s signature Tiger Nose with boomerang-shaped daytime running lights and striking headlamps.

For the first time a black roof is available on the Sportage, while the rear boot lid flows into the rear lights, which have been designed to look like they are cutting into the body.

A slim horizontal design connects the rear lights, while the Sportage has another recent Kia styling hallmark: a chrome finished D-pillar.

Kia senior vice-president of global design Karim Habib said reinventing the Sportage was a chance for designers to do something new and take inspiration from the introduction of the EV6.

“With the all-new Sportage, we didn’t simply want to take one step forward but instead move on to a different level in the SUV class,” Habib said.

“When you see the all-new Sportage in person, with its sleek but powerfully dynamic stance, and when you sit inside the detailed-oriented cabin with its beautifully detailed interior and first-class materials, you’ll see we have achieved those goals and set new benchmarks.

“In the all-new Sportage, we believe you can see the future of our brand and our products.”

We’ll have to see if it proves as polarising as the current, rather amphibious version’s exterior, which has been a solid seller for Kia in Australia regardless.

Inside is a curved, twin-display display spread across the the front, integrating with detailed air vents.

Digital climate controls sit below the screen.

A shift-by-wire transmission dial frees up space in the centre console, while Kia says “the highest quality materials” will be used.

Going by the images, this means leather, chrome and gloss black inserts.

Not a lot of other details have been divulged, but going by the Tucson’s Australian range, the Sportage will likely offer a choice of petrol and diesel.

We’ll have to wit and see if the Sportage gets the option of hybrid and plug-in hybrid power found overseas.