Kia Sportage (2010) first official pictures

These are the first pictures of the new Kia Sportage, the Korean car company's latest compact SUV. It will be unveiled at the 2010 Geneva motor show next month, and UK sales start in the autumn.

It’s up against everything from the Nissan Qashqai to the Ford Kuga, and underneath it sits on the same platform as the new Hyundai ix35 – the pair will roll out of the same Slovakian plant. And like the Hyundai, the new Sportage has a longer wheelbase than the model it replaces, which Kia promises will improve ride quality. Both Koreans will also be offered with the choice of two- and four-wheel drive.

Under the bonnet there’ll be the existing 2.0-litre petrol and diesel units, but by the time UK sales start in October the Sportage will also have a new 1.7-litre diesel and a 1.6-litre petrol. Six-speed manual and automatic gearboxes will be on offer initially, but a dual-clutch transmission (plus a turbocharged 1.6 petrol) will follow.

Prices should start from around £16,000.

By Ben Pulman