Compact Crossovers: A Crucial Segment
If you take a look at the sales charts, four of the top-ten best-selling models in America are compact crossovers. Granted, pickups still rule the roost, but the compact crossover effectively replaced the good ol' sedan as the default choice. Nearly every top-seller from every brand out there is also a small wagon on tall tires.
For Kia, it's the Sportage that continues to rake in cash for the South Korean automaker. Last year, it sold 182,823 Sportages in America, making it the brand's most crucial model besides the Telluride. Without it, Kia's fortunes might be totally different from what they are now.
An All-New Sportage Coming Soon
It may not look like it, but the current-generation Sportage debuted in 2021. That's thanks to the 2024 refresh that gave it a totally new face and an overhauled interior; it hides its age pretty well. Still, we're getting closer towards the end of this model's life cycle, and it's expected to be revealed by late 2027.
There will be a lot riding on that model, so it has to be better than ever, satisfy ever-tightening regulations, and adapt quickly to constantly shifting consumer demands. According to Korean Car Blog, Kia plans to respond by going purely on hybrid power for the Sportage from that point onwards.
Tried and Tested Formula
If true, it's big news for the Sportage, but it's not particularly groundbreaking. In most markets, at least, Toyota paved the way for its best-sellers to go hybrid-only. The RAV4 is a prime example of that, and it seems Kia is taking a page from its playbook. Yes, there's a hybrid version of the current model, but ICE models are still bought more often.
Kia will have to price the Sportage competitively if it plans to go hybrid-only for it. Currently, the electrified version is about $2,000 more than the standard model. The challenge here is to price it as low as the non-hybrid model so it won't drive people away from Kia showrooms, while still giving the brand a healthy profit. Not easy given that they're developing an entirely new vehicle.
There is an asterisk to this, however. The next-gen Sportage is still pretty far away, and this is probably the first piece of significant news for the redesigned crossover. It's still speculative, and there's a possibility it could be offered with non-electrified powertrains in other markets.
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