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The next-generation Kia Sportage has been spied investigating up of its expected showroom accomplishment successful 2027, revealing a glimpse of the all-new mid-size SUV's compartment for the archetypal clip – contempt the Toyota RAV4 rival being heavy camouflaged.
Sharing its underpinnings and powertrains with the Hyundai Tucson, fixed Kia is portion of the broader Hyundai Motor Group (HMG), the Sportage is the Korean brand's best-selling exemplary globally and successful Australia.
The fifth-generation Tucson has besides been spied undergoing improvement testing successful Europe up of its expected debut successful 2027 – the aforesaid twelvemonth arsenic the new, sixth-generation Sportage.
These images of the heavy disguised caller Sportage amusement it volition diagnostic akin proportions to the existent (fifth-generation) model, which was introduced successful 2021 (a twelvemonth aboriginal than the existent Tucson, which was primitively named the ix35) and updated successful Australia earlier this year.
The caller Sportage has a much heavy raked windscreen and tapering roofline similar the adjacent Tucson, but without the Hyundai's boxier styling.
Images of the Kia's broadside illustration uncover a glimpse of its interior, revealing a larger cardinal touchscreen show that is astir definite to employment HMG's next-generation Pleos Connect infotainment system.
Revealed earlier this year, Pleos Connect is an Android Automotive-based operating strategy developed in-house by HMG, which the automaker says volition beryllium utilized crossed 20 cardinal Hyundai, Kia and Genesis vehicles by 2030.
The Hyundai Grandeur luxury sedan, which isn't sold successful Australia, was the archetypal exemplary fitted with the system, portion the Hyundai Ioniq 3 tiny electrical SUV (due successful section showrooms from aboriginal 2027) is expected to beryllium among the archetypal models sold present to usage it.
On the outside, the achromatic covering seams suggest the caller Sportage volition diagnostic a clamshell bonnet akin to the caller Tucson's, portion a disposable exhaust outlet astatine the rear indicates this pre-production trial conveyance is powered by a hybrid powertrain.
Powertrains are expected to see mild-hybrid (MHEV), hybrid (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) options, which whitethorn beryllium joined by range-extended electrical conveyance (EREV) variants.
The existent Sportage is offered with a PHEV powertrain overseas, however, Kia Australia did not adhd it to its section lineup arsenic it believed the concern lawsuit wasn't beardown enough.
The caller Sportage is expected to ditch petrol-only engines, arsenic good arsenic diesels, adjacent though the second presently accounts for astir one-third of Sportage income successful Australia.
Kia Australia told CarExpert successful October 2025 that the Sportage and the bigger Kia Sorento ample SUV would some proceed to beryllium disposable with diesel engines for the foreseeable future, fixed their popularity with section customers.
The latest updates to the 2 SUVs saw hybrid powertrains offered crossed much exemplary grades, pursuing a akin determination with the Kia Carnival radical mover, which retains its diesel options for now.
The existing Sportage and Sorento are among the fewer remaining diesel-powered models successful their respective categories.
While Hyundai dropped diesel powerfulness from the section Tucson lineup successful 2025, the Sportage is inactive disposable with a diesel motor successful S, SX, SX+, and GT-Line variants.
Rivals for the Sportage see the hybrid-only Toyota RAV4, portion the Mazda CX-60 is 1 of the fewer competitors inactive offering diesel power.
Similarly, the Sorento is nary longer disposable with a petrol-only powertrain, but tin inactive beryllium had with a diesel motor successful S, Sport, Sport+, and GT-Line grades.
Its rivals see the Hyundai Santa Fe and Mazda CX-80, some of which besides connection diesel powertrains.
In June 2026, much battery-electric cars were sold successful Australia than diesels, with 32,570 EVs sold compared with 31,789 diesel cars, portion petrol vehicles remained the astir fashionable prime for caller car buyers with 34,717 sales. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles combined for 36,809 sales.
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