Kia Sportage Facelift Spotted For the First Time in South Korea

The upcoming facelift version of the Sportage has been spotted for the first time in South Korea.
Design changes under the camouflage attract attention

Kia Sportage has been produced the longest among Korean SUVs and has gained high recognition. The Sportage and its sibling, the Hyundai Tucson, are considered a representative model of Korean compact SUVs. The current Sportage NQ5 model was launched in 2021 and has been on sale for three years this year.

According to the recent sales performance of the South Korean automobile industry, Sportage is still showing high sales volume, with 6,991 units sold in February this year, ranking fourth after Sorento, Carnival, and Santa Fe. In this situation, Kia is preparing to launch a facelift version of the Sportage. However, it is said that the facelift version of the Sportage was recently spotted driving in South Korea for the first time.

Headlights expanded downward

On March 13, a post titled “Kia Sportage facelift captured for the first time in South Korea” was posted on the South Korean automobile online community. In the photo, the Sportage appeared surrounded by camouflage on the front, back, and sides, but even at a glance, it was clear that the design had changed.

The most significant changes were concentrated at the front. In the 4th generation Sportage, it was pointed out that the headlight position was high, so it was lowered to the bottom in the 5th generation. Still, this time, it was further expanded downward using Star Map Signature Lighting. In addition, the lamp and grill were previously connected, but they are expected to be separated in the facelift version.

Minor changes compared to the front with a new rear light design

In the case of the rear, the changes are minimal compared to the front. However, the rear lights, in the shape of the letter ㅅ, were changed to a star map graphic shape unified with the headlights. Additionally, the lamp appears to be slightly larger vertically. It is presumed that, like the current Sportage, which has thin horizontal taillights on both sides, they do not light up separately.

The turn signal lights are in similar positions, and visibility is quite good as they use LEDs. This contrasts with its sibling, the Hyundai Tucson, where the turn signal lights are attached to the bumper and are of the bulb type. Because the design of the rear bumper is covered with camouflage, it is not yet possible to confirm whether it has changed.

Expected to be launched by the end of this year

The facelift version of the Sportage is expected to establish itself as a new car that completes Kia’s family look and strengthens its marketability by giving overall design changes similar to those of the Sorento or Carnival facelift. The launch date of the Sportage facelift version is scheduled for the end of this year, and the powertrain is expected to be not much different from the current model.