2011 Kia Sportage

[carcrazy]

A very promising design. The pictures are not great but enough to get an idea. Much nicer than the Tucson IMO.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/16/european-registry-pulls-wraps-off-2011-kia-sportage/

[Minou]

I don't like the D pillar treatment with no window.  It looks like a piece of camo was left on and it severely compromises visibility.  Overall, it looks heavy and resembles the ugly Scion xB and Toyota Matrix from the side.

Which is unfortunate because the front end looks better than the Tucson's.

[EV Dan]

I don't like the D pillar treatment with no window.  It looks like a piece of camo was left on and it severely compromises visibility.  Overall, it looks heavy and resembles the ugly Scion xB and Toyota Matrix from the side.

Which is unfortunate because the front end looks better than the Tucson's.

I don't know where it was designed but I see some resemblance in D-pillar with Mitsu Outlander, and a small Lexus SUV (forgot the name). Based on these pictures I think the new Sportage looks more serious and "manly" compared to the new Tucson.

[Ontariodriver]

I think it's fugy. I don't like that front. Looks awful on the Magentis.  I prefer the Tuscon front.

[Spheric]

A Pontiac Vibe on steroids.

Still, looks better than the Tucson (IMHO). Let's hope they provide rear amber turn lights instead of bland red ones.

[carcrazy]

Official pictures of the new Sportage. Pretty nice and certainly nicer than the Tucson IMO. However, I bet the Tucson will get the better bits.

[nifty6]

Look at the front of the 2010 Mazda 3, talk about fugly, to smiley for me... the Sportage and Tucson look way way better. JMHO...

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Absolutely love it... far and away best in class for appearance. Talk about VW-Audi-esque design, executed even better than them. Clean creased, classy, and upscale.

Wonder if the lack of a 3rd side window will lead shoppers to think it's more compact than it is - more of a raised Astra or Golf than compact utility. I really think it hot, and could see myself driving one.

[Shnak]

Absolutely love it... far and away best in class for appearance. Talk about VW-Audi-esque design, executed even better than them. Clean creased, classy, and upscale.

Wonder if the lack of a 3rd side window will lead shoppers to think it's more compact than it is - more of a raised Astra or Golf than compact utility. I really think it hot, and could see myself driving one.

Love the look, but hate the loss of the 3rd side windows; I'm afraid it'll impact visibility too much! Other than that, great looking!

Official pictures of the new Sportage. Pretty nice and certaily nicer than the Tucson IMO. However, I bet the Tucson will get the better bits.

What the heck are you talking about? What "better bits"?

[carcrazy]

Official pictures of the new Sportage. Pretty nice and certaily nicer than the Tucson IMO. However, I bet the Tucson will get the better bits.

What the heck are you talking about? What "better bits"?

I'm talking powertrain (perhaps tranny), suspension (maybe), interior/exterior materials, etc.
My point: I think Hyundai is trying to widen the gap between the Hyundai and Kia and Hyundai is getting the better bits. Think about the new Forte, which is a rather nice design, especially the Koup, but it gets torsion beam and 4A/T, while I would suspect the new Elantra will get a better platform (independent suspension), powertrain (6A/T) and more upscale interior materials. I'm not sure, but I think this is where it's going.
Out of the two - Tuscson and Sportage, based on the design alone, I would take the Sportage in a heartbeat.

[carcrazy]

Talk about VW-Audi-esque design, executed even better than them. Clean creased, classy, and upscale.

 

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Think Hyundai will offer more vehicles at the top end of the market, but in the same segment the gap will be miniscule.

Hyundai is going more mature, dramatic, and swoopy curves. Toyota/Lexus-ish.
Kia is going youthful, sporty, and solid creased squared. Mazda/VW-ish.

Do expect interior materials to be different, but not necessarily for better or worse.

[Zoo]

I wonder what the powertrain options will be? The Direct Injection 2.4L 4 cylinder would work nicely in this. With a V-6 it would make a nice tow vehicle for a lightweight travel trailer. 

[Shnak]

Think Hyundai will offer more vehicles at the top end of the market, but in the same segment the gap will be miniscule.

Hyundai is going more mature, dramatic, and swoopy curves. Toyota/Lexus-ish.
Kia is going youthful, sporty, and solid creased squared. Mazda/VW-ish.

Do expect interior materials to be different, but not necessarily for better or worse.

Exactly. Why would Kia actually lower their quality just so that Hyundai looks better? Doesn't make sense. And Hyundai won't be able to increase their interior materials that much without also increasing their pricepoints, which they don't want to, or can't, increase at this point in time.

[carcrazy]

Like I said, compare a new Kia versus a Hyundai vehicle in the same class and I gave the Forte-Elantra example. We already know the Kia Forte comes with a torsion beam platform and 4 A/T base. the new Elantra is not out yet, but I bet it will have independent rear suspension and at least 5 A/T standard if not 6 A/T.
Kia Forte interior quality is basic - all low-ish grade hard plastic while I guess again Elantra will have nicer materials (soft touch?).
In my opinion, Hyundai is keeping the Kia to compete on the lower spectrum of the class (Corolla, Lancer, old Focus, Cobalt), with its main attributes being lots of features, lower price (just like Hyundais used to be) while Elantra will be higher quality and higher price competing with Civic, Jetta/Golf, Mazda3.

[EV Dan]

Looks astonishingly good, beyond any of my expectations based on the previous sketches. I think mechanical bits will be the same or identical to the Tucson, but overall my impression is Kia wants to cater to the younger crowd who are not always the richest buyer. Interior materials is one way to keep costs down without compromising quality or performance. An example could be current gen. Majentis vs Sonata. Same platform, but Kia goes for a little less. I don't mind having hard plastics inside as long as the layout is visually pleasing, and based on what Kia lately has in store e.g. 2011 Sorento they have figured out how to pull it off.
Again, clearly the best looking CUV in the price range.

[carcrazy]

I think the 2.4L I4 (not DI) would be a good guess, but I have a feeling it will not get Tucson's 6 speed transmissions. This CUV doesn't need a V6 so it should be OK.

[jww]

This has a taste of a Vauxhall Antara/Saturn Vue - not bad company at all. I felt that the original Sportage had better design than the original Tuscon, but now see them as pretty much on equal design footing.

Hyundai is doing some very smart stuff -- and from what I have read, they are the only manufacturer that increased unit sales of new vehicles in Canada over the period of the economic downturn -- that tells you something, I think.

Yes - I am an unabashed Hyundai supporter. 

[BillyMaxer]

Think Hyundai will offer more vehicles at the top end of the market, but in the same segment the gap will be miniscule.

Hyundai is going more mature, dramatic, and swoopy curves. Toyota/Lexus-ish.
Kia is going youthful, sporty, and solid creased squared. Mazda/VW-ish.

Do expect interior materials to be different, but not necessarily for better or worse.

Actually I think the exact opposite. I was just in the new Tucson and Santa Fe. I was also in the new 2011 Kia Sorento this weekend. The Tucson is definitely designed for the younger crowd. The dash looks like a kids boom box, where the Sportage if it looks like the Sorento's interior (which is likely)(exterior is almost the same) the interior is very rich looking, more suited to older folks. More suited to my wife's liking. We ordered the new 2011 Sportage already, didn't like the Tucson at all.Too toyish looking.

[EV Dan]

In the past couple of years Kia’s lineup has grown to include three different SUV models as well as the stylish Forte sedan and Soul hatchback, all while improving quality levels and maintaining the brand’s traditions of affordability and good value. This rollercoaster of product launches doesn’t show any signs of slowing--even with the recent economic crisis--with first the new 2010 Sorrento and now the 2011 Sportage due for release soon.

The first images of the U.S.-spec 2011 Kia Sportage have now been revealed, several weeks ahead of its March 2 premiere at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.

Due for a sales launch later this year, the new Sportage appears to retain the boxy styling of the current model, though it features a sportier edge that it shares with the Sorrento, as well as Kia's new family styling.

Mechanically, the latest Sportage shares much in common with the 2010 Hyundai Tucson though there will be some differences. A direct-injection, four-cylinder engine with six-speed manual and automatic transmissions are expected for the U.S. market, with front- or all-wheel drive versions.