The upcoming Kia Sportage appears bigger and more squared-off.
An updated cabin includes a prominent display screen.
Some traditional buttons are anticipated to remain.

While the saying advises against altering a successful formula, Kia cannot allow its flagship model to stagnate as rivals progress. With close to 570,000 units sold last year, the Sportage led the lineup by making up more than 18 percent of overall sales. This occurred even though the fifth-generation version launched in 2021 and received a refresh three years afterward.

Thanks to footage from YouTuber Healer TV, Kia has been observed evaluating the successor on domestic roads. A prototype wrapped in heavy camouflage suggests a taller, more vertical design. Observers also sense the test unit measures a bit bigger than today's version.

Close inspection reveals the turn indicators placed unusually low at the rear bumper edges. This placement, which separates signals from the primary taillamps, is a frequent but inconvenient feature on Korean vehicles that reduces visibility from behind.

2027 Hyundai Ioniq 3 interior

2027 Hyundai Grandeur interior

2027 Hyundai Avante/Elantra interior

Photos by: Hyundai

More notable revisions are planned for the cabin through the introduction of the Android-based Pleos Connect platform. This fresh infotainment arrangement has already debuted in select Hyundai vehicles and seems destined for the next Sportage. A sizable display takes center stage on the console, yet some physical switches are expected to persist. The two brands have prioritized retaining conventional controls for key functions like climate and audio settings.

As illustrated, recent models such as the Elantra, Ioniq 3, and Grandeur include a physical button row beneath the large central display. Should the next Sportage follow this pattern, it would feature a comparable arrangement along with a rectangular digital gauge cluster set into the dashboard yet still aligned with the driver's view.

The New Hyundai Tucson Is Likely Coming Out First

We probably will not need to wait for the new Sportage to appear before viewing its refreshed cabin. The related Hyundai Tucson is set to arrive first, with indications of a global reveal later this year. Because the Sportage has already entered the 2027 model year in the United States, the successor is not anticipated in North America until the 2028 model year. Its worldwide introduction should take place sometime next year.

Certain interior styling distinctions will exist between the Tucson and Sportage. Nevertheless, the displays and physical switches are expected to be shared across both compact crossovers to realize production efficiencies. In addition to their fully redesigned interiors, both models are projected to gain more assertive styling and a stronger focus on hybrid powertrains.

What do you think?

Motor1's Take: In characteristic Korean style, Kia seems prepared to implement significant updates during the Sportage generational shift. The company has developed a pattern of refreshing its vehicles at replacement time, and that approach appears applicable here.

Although this may appear bold, the strategy has clearly benefited both Kia and Hyundai through their strong growth in recent decades.

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