2018 Kia Sportage Release Date and Price

The ongoing model of the Sportage has been revealed back in 2015 at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The car went on sale in the US shortly after that with quite a few changes over the European model. The largest was the powertrain but more on that later. It seems that an update is going to be released sooner than expected. This is rumored to arrive with the 2018 Kia Sportage.

The update is likely going to bring improvements to the car’s running gear and powertrain. Most of the design, as well as the interior, are expected to remain mostly the same as before. The new update should also allow Kia to offer a unique car than before while also retaining all of its great features.

2018 Kia Sportage Release Date and Price

There is still no word on the release date up to this point. Most rumors suggest the new model will be showcased sometime in the late 2017 or early 2018. The car is likely going to hit the market a few months after that. Like before, the European model will come first with the US model following shortly after. The price is still unknown, but we still expect anything between $24,000 and north of $35,000. However, like before, at $35,000 there are usually better options than a compact crossover so most people will settle right around $30,000.

Running Gear

This has to be the largest drawback of the current model. While the car is quite fast for its size and engines, the running gear is lacking. It doesn’t offer a good driving experience, there is way too much body roll and it doesn’t do well with small bumps. The 2018 Kia Sportage is expected to solve all of these issues with tuned dampers and possible new springs and bushings. This would allow Kia to offer fun to drive a car while still maintaining the comfort of its passengers. Otherwise, the car’s brakes are great and it will likely continue to be more refined than most of its direct competitors.

Design

Many people complained about the way the new Sportage looked. Despite that, so far the car has been selling quite well. It does offer a unique take on the crossover look but we have to say it is not as bad as most seem to think it is. The front end has the grille quite high with the four iconic LED fog lamps. The headlights are quite high and swept back which create a rather fun design. These are all expected to be retained on the 2018 Kia Sportage. The car’s rear end with its large tail lights, roof spoiler and quite sporty overall design should also remain mostly the same. Kia may add new tail lights and headlights, but these won’t change the look of the car that much.

Inside the Cabin of Kia Sportage 2018

For the price, the Sportage has to be one of the best looking cars on the interior. The dashboard is nicely laid out, the driving position, despite being quite low, offers great visibility and all the materials are great. The new 2018 Kia Sportage might bring a slightly better screen for the infotainment system, possibly a new steering wheel and a few more features on the base model. The layout, as well as the materials inside the cabin, will likely not change much.

Under the Hood

There are quite a few engines available from a 1.6-liter turbo four all the way up to a 2-liter turbo-four. The US model, unfortunately, gets either a 2.4 liter naturally aspirated unit with 181 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque or a 2-liter turbo four with 240 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. Both of them come with a six-speed automatic and either front or all wheel drive. In terms of performance, the US model is fine but the 2-liter engine will usually offer around 22 MPG which is quite bad. Some rumors are suggesting both engines will be replaced. The 2.4-liter unit might get replaced by a 1.6-liter turbo which is already available elsewhere. This engine provides just over 180 horsepower and it might be mated to a 7-speed dual clutch gearbox. The 2-liter engine might also be replaced by Kia’s upcoming direct injected high-performance inline-four engine. This might provide roughly the same amount of power with considerably better fuel economy.