First Look: 2005 Kia Sportage

Founded in 1944 and celebrating its 60th anniversary, Kia has recently released photos of the successor to its popular Sportage SUV. First introduced in 1993, Sportage returns to the small SUV market with completely new styling, and will make its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show later this month.

Kia positions the Sportage as a progressive, contemporary SUV that has the strengths of an SUV, the smooth ride and handling of a sedan, and the functionality of a MPV. It is set to compete with its classmates Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V boasting a longer wheelbase, larger overall exterior width and height dimensions, and larger interior dimensions, promising more legroom, second-row seating headroom, and total interior volume.

Powertrain offerings will include a 2.0-liter inline-four-cylinder and 2.7-liter V-6 gasoline engine, as well as a 2.0 diesel engine mated to manual or H-Matic four-speed automatic transmissions (automatic only for the V-6) with an electronic full-time torque-on-demand four-wheel-drive system. The 2.7-liter V-6 version will offer 175 horsepower at 6,000 rpm.

"Adding to our quickly expanding full product line-up, the all-new Sportage will reinforce our SUV offering together with the tremendously popular Sorento," says Yong-Hwan Kim, Senior Executive Vice-President and COO of Kia Motors. "Moreover, the Sportage is a perfect match for Kias new brand identity - 'Exciting and Enabling'."

From a functional standpoint, the Sportage offers spare tire placement at the cargo area floor, convenient upward-swinging hatch and flip-up tailgate glass, and ergonomic center fascia with driver friendly control placement. Seating options allow multiple variations thanks tos full-flat front seats, fold-and-dive type rear seats for maximum cargo space, and seat split function for storage of large cargo items.

Sportage is also equipped with a complement of safety features including anti-lock braking system (ABS) and traction control system (TCS), curtain and side airbags, and electronic stability program (ESP).

Sportage will arrive at North American dealerships at the end of .October. Kia hopes to sell more than 60,000 units in North America and more than 20,000 in Europe.