New Digital Renderings Shed Light on 2022 Kia Sportage's “Unsolved Mysteries”

2021 Kia Sportage Pictured

2022 Kia Sportage Concept Video

There are so many bits of fresh automotive news to keep track of this fall here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis. The current vehicles stand out with new features and thorough refreshes, but the coming year's models may be well worth the wait! The staff on duty at CarBuzz provided a great blog post last week about the 2022 Kia Sportage, which enjoyed a facelift of its own this year. 

It featured digital renderings from AtchaCars that gives fans a better look at the incoming design, which obviously takes heavy cues from the Hyundai Tucson. The roofline is similar to that of a coupe, and the headlights offer a futuristic touch after gaining size. From the side one's first impression is that the 2022 Sportage looks just as a two-year-out model would be expected to: It still has all of the flair that Kia has been known to consistently offer, but aggressive lines and stance instill a definite sense of nearly space-age design. It is expected to use the same 2.5-liter 4-cylinder cranking out 190 horsepower and 182 lb-ft of torque. 

2021 Kia Sportage Pictured

Mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, you can also opt for the 1.6-liter turbocharged engine that delivers 230 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, as well as an AWD plug-in hybrid. The 2022 model is a bit longer than this year's, offering more room in the cabin. As it was undergoing frequent testing in South Korea wrapped in heavy camouflage, a few other spy photos have surfaced offering an idea of what to expect for the Sportage. We also paid heavy attention to the obvious inspiration taken from the K5 design, as curves perfectly contrast the triangular shape at many intersections on this SUV. 

According to the experts at Motor1.com, the exciting introduction date for the 2022 Sportage may be pushed back a bit as a new pair of wheelbases are now being perfected and in the final development stages. As for the current model, it is waiting for a test drive and situated perfectly on point with an attractive interior, easy-to-use technology, and a very smooth ride. U.S. News and World Report awarded the 2020 Sportage with the “Best New Car for Teens Award”, as well as a finalist for the 2020 “Best Compact SUV For the Money” title. 

2021 Kia Sportage Pictured

The Sportage's success and superior reception is due to its predicted reliability, high ratings in safety, and accident-avoidance technologies. This direct and no-holds-barred competitor against the likes of the Mazda CX-5 and Honda CR-V boasts plenty of cargo room, and updates for 2020 such as improved fuel economy, standard touch screen, and a rear view camera. Expert reviewers have claimed that the Sportage has more engaging handling and much nicer cabin materials than the competition, and accessibility for the daily drive officially ranks at the highest and most satisfied level. 

2021 Kia Sportage Pictured

2021 Kia Seltos Boasts Capable Off-Road Handling, Elegant Style, and Center-of-Attention Charm

Some of our recent designs have been regarded as the best and most innovative in the entire automotive industry, offering up accomplished greats such as the Telluride crossover, Stinger performance car, and K5 sedan. With a healthy dose of inspiration from the Telluride, the 2021 Seltos is a talented smaller-sized crossover with an abundance of charm and economical sensibility. The Arts and Culture section of WFYI Indianapolis discovered a new personal favorite right away when checking out the Seltos' well-equipped interior. 

The stylish blue swath on the dash, blue stitching on the console and armrests, and black finish on the doors and dash evoke a comfortable and inviting atmosphere that shows no signs of feeling dated in the least. Heated cushions and a leather-wrapped steering wheel offer further amenities, and technology is accessed via the 8” touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Safety for every passenger on board is enhanced with forward collision warning with auto brake, lane keep assist, rear cross-path detection system, and blind-spot warning. 

The 2.0-liter engine makes 146 horsepower, and the 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine offers up 175 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. Paired with a 7-speed automatic transmission, this engine is a great example of just how invigorating and fun a smaller model can be while navigating crowded roads. In the console there is a drive mode knob that provides control of throttle sensitivity and steering heft to the driver's optimal preference. EPA fuel ratings are at 25/30 MPG city/highway, and the Seltos also possesses very capable off-road chops. 

This is probably the most budget-minded SUV out there with a locking center differential, as well as hill descent control to assure the speed is ideal on steep inclines. Hill start assist is available to keep the vehicle from moving while the brake is lifted to throttle, a useful feature when you're in a hurry to go, and may have happened to park on a steep incline. Elegant style and what is most likely the highest level of off-road capability for the price round out this crossover that is based on the same platform as the Hyundai Kona. 

Taller ride height, a spacious cabin, and the option to upgrade to a larger 10.3-inch touchscreen are other reasons why so many customers here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis have decided to make the Seltos their own after a test drive. The staff at Car and Driver claimed that the SX trim model is the best buy, with the addition of All-Wheel-Drive for the constantly-changing Missouri climate. Fractal-textured speaker grilles are just one way that the optional 8-speaker Bose audio system provides epic-sounding tunes for the ride, and we stand firmly behind our 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain coverage on our models!

2021 Kia Soul Sees Trim Level Adjustments, Redesigned Interior, Available Turbocharged Engine

Putting the fun back into driving is a very important task for any automaker, and it is one that should not be taken lightly: from huge trucks to crossover SUVs, a shining light of unique personality can be what it takes to win over a customer! The all-new 2021 Kia Soul sees some adjustment in trim levels, as all now come standard with rear occupant alert system. An alert sounds to let the driver know that the backseat is occupied, and will start blasting its horn in 20 seconds if the smartphone app is not engaged. 

Power is courtesy of the efficient and punchy 2.0-liter 3-cylinder producing 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. If you are eager to ditch trips to the pump and stay fully charged by plugging in, there is also a fully-electric model coming soon. The mid-level X-Line and GT-Line receive new shock valves that greatly improve ride quality, and the EX and top-of-the-line Turbo trims gain a key FOB with built-in remote start. 

The X-line offers a more rugged look complete with black plastic cladding and Undercover Green paint. The GT-line is a bit sportier, with its own unique wheel design and body-color trim that has extras of bright-red exterior bits. Both of these trims come standard with multiple driver assists that include automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross-traffic alert, and lane-keeping assist. After the Car and Driver staff put two different Souls through their custom 200-mile highway fuel-economy test, it was the turbocharged model that did the best, finishing out with a 33-mpg standing. 

The upright style of the Soul's body provides a very spacious interior with enough room for ample cargo and extra passengers, and the inside brandishes enough current flair to go well  with the fashionable exterior. Other things you can add to the inside for extra personality and usefulness include ambient lighting, a smartphone charging pad, a head-up display, push-button ignition with keyless entry, and heated seats and steering wheel. Here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis, we have noticed that customers are happy with the amount of customization offered by the 2020 Soul, unfortunately next year's Soul will have a smaller selection of exterior color schemes. 

Touchscreen infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is now standard with your choice of either 7.0-inch or 10.3-inch display and the easy-to-use UVO interface. The upgrade to the EX trim provides the larger screen as well as SiriusXM satellite radio, real-time traffic monitoring, and in-dash navigation. The 2021 Soul earned a 4-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as well as a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS. 

2022 Kia Sportage: Boasting New Gravity Trim, Bolder Stance, IIHS Safety Pick

The Kia Sportage is the fun and practical smaller-sized crossover with a heavy amount of charm and a unique driving personality. The brand-new flagship trim known as Gravity brings to the table a glossy black radiator grille, black side and bumper moldings, 19-inch wheels, and darkened badges throughout the entire model. The incoming Sportage was recently spotted by spy photographers during testing, but heavier camouflage than usual blocked nearly every pertinent detail, apparently meaning to keep from any leaking of information at all to the general public.

This model derives power from a 2.0-liter engine with 152 horsepower, and high-end diesel cranking out 186 horsepower. Transmission options are the 7-speed DCT, as well as 6-speed and 8-speed auto. After witnessing the very impressive Futuron crossover concept last November, all of us here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis are eager to find out if any of the design elements will be similar to what is found on this compact crossover. The new incoming generation is also rumored to go by the “NQ5” codename, after seeing a launch date that had to be slightly pushed back. 

The Sportage is now being engineered with two separate wheelbase configurations, and many components are said to be sourced from its relative in the form of the brand-new Tucson. There are also plans to have a plug-in hybrid available, with an electrified 1.6-liter offering up 261 horsepower. While the Sportage is fairly certain to brandish a conventional but still-current look, the all-electric Futuron is presented with a quality much like what one would expect from a vehicle in a sci-fi movie. 

Said to have front-row seating that brandishes the same level of comfort as first-class airline passengers, a concept such as this would no doubt be a positive influence on any model that will be pursued by those frequently enduring the urban commute. The current-model Sportage boasts LED Lighting, panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats, and a design that was conceptualized with a solid focus on the driver in mind. The available wireless phone charging tray enables you to leave the tedious cords behind and afterward connect with your favorite apps, maps, music, and texts with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay via a touch-screen display. 

The Sportage is built with high-tensile strength steel alloys to boost the rigidity factor, and advanced systems such as Electronic Stability Control and Traction Control System greatly  improve directional stability and overall ride quality. When properly activated in off-road settings, the Downhill Brake Control applies the brakes to keep a constant and safe speed downs hills or treacherously slippery surfaces. We recently have also been very proud of the consistent level of awards and achievements our complete line enjoys, and it was no surprise to us that the well-equipped 2020 Sportage earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick Award!