Photo: Kia
We've been seeing all kinds of materials related to the 2016 Kia Sportage compact SUV lately, but now we're finally handed some official images ahead of its full debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
Before we delve into a more detailed analysis, it's worth pointing out that this particular Sportage appears to be the GT Line version, as the 'number plates' suggest.
Still, these new images only come to confirm what we've already known about this very important model for the Korean brand. The SUV gets the 'tiger nose' treatment specific for the whole Kia range and while the design will continue to split people's opinions in two, we find it to be... refreshing.
The current Sportage model was also criticized for being too 'toy-like' and not suitable for the serious adult who's looking for a family car with some adventure potential. Kia appears to have ignored all these comments and continues in the same direction, if not even raising the bar a little bit.
Besides the radiator grille, the most important aspect of the front end are the headlights. On the 2016 Kia Sportage, they are no longer level with the grille, but instead sit high along the outer edges of the more aggressively styled bonnet.
The 2016 Kia Sportage looks like it might just pull off this look and we kind of like it, but we can't help remembering the ill-fated Subaru Tribeca which used a similar design solution.
The side profile remains more or less the same with only minor interventions, but it does get a longer wheelbase (should be reflected in a more spacious interior), shorter rear overhangs and "bolder" wheel arches.
The rear is where the designers really got busy again. There are a lot of horizontal lines and shapes that emphasize the car's width, so the SUV gets a more stable appearance. The taillights draw inspiration from the 2013 Kia Provo concept car and are linked by a narrow silver strip highlighting a crease that runs the whole length of the car, with the turning and reverse lights exiled to the bottom half of the car.
The rear undoubtedly looks good, but we still haven't made up our minds about the other end of the car. It's got personality, that's for sure, but on the other hand so does a mole, and nobody ever accused that critter of being beautiful. We reserve our final judgement until we see the car live, but until then we'd really like to know what you think.
Still, these new images only come to confirm what we've already known about this very important model for the Korean brand. The SUV gets the 'tiger nose' treatment specific for the whole Kia range and while the design will continue to split people's opinions in two, we find it to be... refreshing.
The current Sportage model was also criticized for being too 'toy-like' and not suitable for the serious adult who's looking for a family car with some adventure potential. Kia appears to have ignored all these comments and continues in the same direction, if not even raising the bar a little bit.
Besides the radiator grille, the most important aspect of the front end are the headlights. On the 2016 Kia Sportage, they are no longer level with the grille, but instead sit high along the outer edges of the more aggressively styled bonnet.
The 2016 Kia Sportage looks like it might just pull off this look and we kind of like it, but we can't help remembering the ill-fated Subaru Tribeca which used a similar design solution.
The side profile remains more or less the same with only minor interventions, but it does get a longer wheelbase (should be reflected in a more spacious interior), shorter rear overhangs and "bolder" wheel arches.
The rear is where the designers really got busy again. There are a lot of horizontal lines and shapes that emphasize the car's width, so the SUV gets a more stable appearance. The taillights draw inspiration from the 2013 Kia Provo concept car and are linked by a narrow silver strip highlighting a crease that runs the whole length of the car, with the turning and reverse lights exiled to the bottom half of the car.
The rear undoubtedly looks good, but we still haven't made up our minds about the other end of the car. It's got personality, that's for sure, but on the other hand so does a mole, and nobody ever accused that critter of being beautiful. We reserve our final judgement until we see the car live, but until then we'd really like to know what you think.
Google News