Kia adds hybrid option, rugged trims to bigger, next-gen Sportage

LOS ANGELES — The fifth-generation Kia Sportage is getting significantly larger for the U.S. when the compact crossover goes on sale in the first half of 2022, and it will come with a hybrid option and two new rugged trims for light off-road driving.

The Sportage, which has been hampered by a smaller footprint compared with segment leaders such as the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, grows by 7 inches in length and receives some eye-catching styling elements to stand out from the crowded crossover crowd.

U.S. sales of the Sportage rose 0.8 percent to 78,778 through September, making it the No. 10 seller in a compact-crossover segment that has expanded 22 percent this year.

Kia also is moving assembly of most versions of the Sportage to the company's plant in West Point, Ga.

The automaker didn't specify how U.S. production will be allocated, but corporate sibling Hyundai moved output of gasoline versions of the compact Tucson crossover to an Alabama plant this year while importing hybrids from Korea. The Tucson and Sportage share a platform.

The Sportage will also get a hybrid version for the first time, following in the steps of the larger Sorento crossover now available as both a standard hybrid and a plug-in hybrid. Kia will release more information later on electrified versions of the Sportage.

The compact Kia likely will follow in the footsteps of Hyundai with both a hybrid and plug-in hybrid. Both brands are owned by Hyundai Motor Group and share platforms and engines. The Tucson was redesigned this year with a larger version for the U.S. market.

The 2023 Sportage has a more powerful base engine. The standard 2.5-liter nonturbo motor offers 187 hp compared with the current 2.4-liter with 181 hp, the automaker said. In the Sorento, the hybrid versions are more powerful than the standard motor but less powerful than the turbocharged engine on top trims.

"The Sportage delivers something for everyone, with a diverse lineup and trim levels that include the LX, EX, SX, SX-Prestige and X-Line, while the all-new Sportage X-Pro and X-Pro Prestige trims allow drivers to venture further into nature with off-road-ready features including all-terrain tires," Kia said.

Pricing will be released at a later date.