Another SUV is getting an upgrade, everyone gets ready for the new 2024 Kia Sportage. Currently, the Sportage SUV is one of the most sought-after vehicles in that segment. The Korean manufacturer pulled a lot of stops to make the SUV quite modern and well-performing. It paid off really well since it is a top seller. It has been quite a while since the last redesign. This includes both the exterior and interior. Also, the powertrain might need a change-up as well. The competition is quite fierce, and the segment is getting hotter as time goes by. So for the interior, we don’t expect drastic changes.
But more of a stylish update along with newer technology being implemented. Also, Sportage needs to be more comfortable if this is achieved that will bring a lot of buy appeal. The exterior will keep the popular and well-known look. It is recognizable on the road and no need to change the winning formula. The powertrain getting and upgrade, we will see whether this happens in the end. Electrification is looming around the corner and we are waiting for Kia to pull the trigger on that. Let’s take a closer look at what the new Sportage will look like.
Kia Sportage Interior Refresh
The inside of the 2024 Kia Sportage is updated and more stylish. The seats are updated with great leather upholstery and contrast stitching. The cushioning is improved as well as heated and ventilated seats. A central infotainment system is available and it is the same size as the previous version.
There are only 2 rows of seats so it can accommodate five passengers at the max. The dashboard is fully digital and this is great for tracking valuable information. Safety features are plenty. We get lane change alerts, pedestrian detection, numerous sensors around the vehicle, and other driver-aid software. Hands-free driving is probable but not confirmed.
Exterior Redesign
The new 2024 Kia Sportage is looking mighty fine. It is looking similar to its predecessor. Still, there are boomerang-looking thin LED headlights. The front mesh is big with the Kia logo. Bumpers are seamless and fit well with the overall design. Ride height is unchanged.
There are some noticeable air intakes but not too many since the engine is small and a hybrid version. There are 18-inch wheel rims that are made from lightweight aluminum to shave off some weight. This improves ergonomics and fuel economy. The overall body design is modern and sleek. It has curves to improve aerodynamics.
Sportage and Sportage Hybrid Specs
The new 2024 Kia Sportage will likely continue with the same powertrain lineup. This doesn’t come as a surprise. The current offer of engines is quite powerful and well-performing. Considering the not-so-great size of the compact SUV the seemingly small size of the engine isn’t a problem. It gets the job done and a bit more over that. An electric motor and a 1.6-liter turbo-four engine give power to the Sportage Hybrid. The plug-in version, however, gains a more potent electric engine and a bigger battery that, according to reports, will enable an electric range of 32 miles when fully charged.
Kia won’t disclose the hybrid powertrain’s entire output, but we believe it to be roughly equivalent to larger cousins the Tucson PHEV and the larger Kia Sorento PHEV, which both generate 261 horsepower. The Sportage’s plug-in electricity is put to use through its all-wheel drive and six-speed automatic transmission. The Sportage plug-in has a similar appearance to certain other Sportage versions but gains the X-Line display package as standard, which adds certain unpolished aesthetic components. It’s going to be avilable in two different trim levels and come with more costly X-Line Prestige options like a premium music system and extra driving aids.
Some of the primary electric drive components are enhanced by the Plug-In Hybrid: Just as the 1.49-kWh battery pack utilized in the hybrid version also enables what Kia estimates to be 32 miles of EPA electricity, the 13.8-kWh battery system serves as an energy buffer for the hybrid driving mode. Electric riding is possible because of the higher electric motor output (66.9 kW against 44 kW). As a result, Kia values the Sportage PHEV hybrid system’s overall output at 261 horsepower and 258 pound-feet on the Sorento. Plug-In Hybrid, while the Sportage PHEV’s exact characteristics are still unknown. The 7.2 kW connected charger can charge the battery completely in under two hours on Tier two (240V) charging port.
The Sportage Plug-In Hybrid is only available as an all-wheel-drive model, as opposed to models like the Toyota RAV4 Prime, which has separate rear motors. The Sportage Hybrid is anticipated to produce 39 mpg when combined with front-wheel drive, although Kia has not disclosed the PHEV’s predicted mileage numbers when operating in hybrid mode. No official news concerning full electrification. But we can assume it will happen quite soon. If not this time around, then the next one. The battery doesn’t have to be too big, probably 100 kWh in size. This will surely outmatch the output of the current engine lineup. Also, the range on a single charge will be above 350 miles when all things are accounted for.
Fuel Efficiency
The fresh 2024 Kia Sportage is quite the nimble SUV. The compact vehicle gets up to 32 mpg on the highway. The Sportage Hybrid gets 44 mpg while the plug-in hybrid achieves 84 mpg which is amazing. The mileage differs based on the trim and whether it’s rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. But this is the general average.
2024 Kia Sportage Price and Release Date
The new 2024 Kia Sportage will arrive on our roads later in 2023, probably in the fall. Starting price of around $30000 is reasonable. It will likely increase with more advanced trims but it won’t go through the roof. After all, this is a somewhat budget option when compact SUVs are concerned.