New Kia Sportage is out. Touted to be the most fuel-efficient compact crossover, let us check out it's impressive features.
The 2021 Kia Sportage is not the most fuel-efficient compact crossover out there, but it scores high marks for style and sportiness. It carries a very striking exterior design, especially at the front end. For 2021, the only change to the Sportage lineup is the newly introduced Nightfall Edition and more premium options. The gloss black mesh appears quite premium, and even though it isn’t outright stunning, it's extraordinary striking. The headlights integrate seamlessly into it, and it also gets protruding turn signals, sharp-looking LED DRLs and myriad other black exterior accents.
Interior
The cabin is well designed and executed and filled with a pleasing mix of quality materials and neat, functional features. It's a spacious enough surroundings for passengers, however, not cargo. Both the driver and front passenger get comfortable seats that are perfect for relaxed cruising but could offer a tad more side bolstering, however, you may hear some complaints about the low placement of the cushion.
Cargo space is limited for the class and storage room for smaller items is lacking, but its seats-down carry-on-luggage capacity and adjustable load floor frame up for some of that. We tend to expect it to offer a 7-inch full-digital instrument screen and 10.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
The system is easy to use the physical knobs and buttons, but its menus have tiny icons, and therefore, the style doesn't appear as sophisticated as the rest of the interior. Other options include ventilated front seats, leather surfaces, upgraded audio system, adaptive cruise control, wireless device charging, dual-zone climate control, passive entry, heated front seats and built-in navigation.
Exterior
On the exterior, the side remains unchanged. At the rear, the car sports a new design for the taillights, inspired by the Kia Telluride and Sorento. The complete nose section is overlined by a horizontal silver-finished bar, that further adds a touch of premium-ness. The GT variant, showcased here, additionally offers an orange splitter on the front bumper, which appears sporty.
The base model has 17-inch allloy wheels, a tinted windshield, projector headlights with LED daytime running lights and a rear spoiler. The upcoming vehicle wore a pair of unique silver and black wheels, shod with all-terrain tyres. The back bumper, also gets a fake diffuser treatment, with orange accents and integrated dual exhausts. There is ‘SPORTAGE’ inscription on the tailgate, underlined by a chrome bar running horizontally, which looks brilliant. The facelifted China-spec Sportage is also longer than the previous model, adding 40mm to its length.
Engine
As for the powertrain options, the 2021 Kia Sportage is available with two engine options- 2.0-litre, inline-4, naturally aspirated petrol engine which produces 240hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, with peak torque available between 1450 rpm and 3500 rpm will be carried forward into the facelift model and a new 1.5-litre, inline-4, turbocharged gasoline engine has also been showcased, which generates around 200 HP. Engines are equipped with a six-speed transmission that provide clean and relaxed shifts, however, will get a touch busy, once paired with the less powerful engine.
Will this product come to India? Only time will tell.
