All-new Kia Sportage interior detailed

Following last week’s unveiling of the new Kia Sportage exterior, the Korean car maker has now revealed the SUV’s new-look interior which is said to feature higher quality materials and design integrity.

The Sportage’s all-new interior represents one of the most significant improvements over the third-generation car. The focus for the design team behind the new interior was to create a cabin which offered a wide, driver-oriented dashboard, with a simple, modern design.

Cabin refinement is lifted with greater use of soft-touch materials, leather and stitching, creating a more luxurious ambience. There’s also greater soundproofing measures adopted to reduce road noise.

Where the cabin of the outgoing Sportage is focused around a clearly-defined central console, with a vertical design, the new model features horizontal lines to emphasise the width of the interior more effectively and generate a greater impression of space and sportiness.

The fourth-generation model is set to be the most practical Sportage yet thanks to increased exterior and interior dimensions.

The most significant change to the Sportage’s dimensions is a 30 mm growth in its wheelbase, to 2,670 mm, helping to liberate greater space in the cabin. The car is 40 mm longer, at 4,480 mm, with the front overhang expanding to 910 mm (+20 mm) and the rear overhang shrinking slightly to 900 mm (-10 mm). The latest model remains the same height (1,635 mm) and width (1,855 mm) as the outgoing Sportage.

Passenger space is increased, with headroom rising to 997 mm (+5 mm) and 993 mm (+16 mm) for front and rear passengers respectively, while maximum legroom has expanded to 1,129 mm (+ 19 mm) and 970 mm (+7 mm).

On top of reduced NVH levels, a range of improvements cuts vibrations throughout the car. The Sportage’s cabin is said to be one of the most refined and relaxing among rivals. This has been achieved with all-round improvements to body stiffness, particularly through the floor of the SUV, as well as the introduction of larger, more absorbent mounts for the transmission, and improved seat design. Alloy wheels that are 49% stiffer also reduce the level of vibration intruding on the interior.

The 2016 Kia Sportage will be officially unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show on 15 September 2015.