Kia hasn't even finished rolling out the current Sportage's facelift in several markets — and it's already chasing the next generation through the streets of South Korea. Camouflaged prototypes have been popping up in spy shots for months, and now Korean Car Blog has published a close-up worth a second look — a shot of what could be the future crossover's headlight.
And it looks nothing like what you're used to. The signature curved “boomerang” daytime running lights are gone, replaced by a sharper, more geometric pattern with a light signature that folds into something resembling the letter Z. Inside sit vertical LED elements, with the main lamp module positioned below, the whole assembly wrapped in a heavy chrome or satin trim. And the headlight, it seems, is only the beginning of a broader design shift.
The cabin is reportedly getting an equally significant overhaul. Test mules have already been spotted with a wide, panoramic digital display spanning the dashboard. Expect the new Pleos Connect system, built on Android Automotive, bringing apps, cloud features, over-the-air updates and a customizable interface. Not everything is being sacrificed to screens, though — climate and audio controls are expected to keep physical buttons. At least something survives without a touchscreen.
Under the skin, the next Sportage is set to lean harder into hybrids. In some markets, hybrid versions could become the backbone of the lineup, while North America will likely hang on to a conventional gasoline engine. Among the best family cars on the market, the future Sportage looks set to stand out not just for its bolder design, but for a far more ambitious digital cabin — assuming the spy shots hold up.
