Kia at Geneva Motor Show: Kia Sportage (2010)

Kia has revealed the 2010 Sportage at Geneva

As with many of the reveals we’re getting at Geneva, we’ve already told you to expect the car in previous reports. We reported a month ago that Kia’s version of the Hyundai ix35 – the Kia Sportage – would bow in at Geneva, but we had precious little detail beyond a couple of photos. Well, Kia have made up for that with one of the longest press releases in a while on the new Sportage. But we’ll try to extract the bones.

This is the third generation Kia Sportage and the first really convincing ’Euro’ Sportage from Kia. We had half expected that Kia would go stylish but cheap with the Sportage by offering the style of a mini SUV but with just a 2WD option. But no, when the Sportage goes on sale later in 2010 it will eventually get a choice of two petrol and two diesel engines and 2WD or 4wd (but only two engines – the 2.0 litre petrol and 2.0 litre diesel will be available at launch).

Kia UK tell us that they are committed to bringing to the UK all engine, transmission and drive options, so there will be ample choice in the UK for Sportage buyers. Engine choice will, by the end of 2010, include two diesels – the 1.7 and 2.0 litre – and two petrols – a 2.0 litre and a 1.6 litre.

Manual gearboxes are standard across the range and a two mode, six-speed auto ‘box can be specified on the 2.0 litre petrol and diesel. Similarly, the 4WD option is also available only on the 2.0 litre Sportage.

As we said, there are reams of bumph from Kia on the 2010 Sportage, so have a look at the Kia Sportage (2010) Press Release if you’ve got a spare half an hour.

No word on prices yet, but this is going to be a competitively priced C-Segment SUV when it goes on sale.

By Cars UK