Kia Motors has announced that its best-selling Sportage SUV has crossed five million cumulative sales globally.

Launched in 1993, and spanning four generations since, the Kia Sportage has achieved this milestone on the year of its 25^th anniversary. The latest model, launched in 2016, notched average global sales of 38,000 units per month in 2017.

“We are extremely proud to have achieved this milestone production figure for our global best-seller. The continued and accelerating popularity of the Sportage demonstrates the breadth of the car’s abilities and the strength of its appeal to buyers in markets all around the world,” said Ho Sung Song, executive vice-president of Kia’s Global Operations Division. “Since 1993, the Sportage has become a benchmark car in the compact SUV segment, and its success has also led to the creation of a diverse and comprehensive range of SUVs and crossovers from Kia – with other new models to follow in future,” he added.

In 2016 and 2017, the Sportage surpassed the B-segment Rio as the brand’s global best-selling model. Strong sales of the Sportage in January and February 2018 – 36,632 and 32,930 units respectively – contributed to the model’s production landmark.

Urban SUV
The Sportage made its first appearance at the 1991 Tokyo Motor Show, introducing the concept of the ‘Urban SUV’ to consumers for the first time – it set the blueprint for a compact, practical SUV, suitable for use in a variety of environments. This first-generation Sportage was an instant hit, recording total lifetime sales of over 500,000 units.

Sales of the second-generation Sportage totalled 1,223,776 units globally after seven years of production. The third-generation model surpassed one million sales in just four years, helping the Sportage reach two million cumulative sales during its sixth year in production.

The fourth and current-generation Sportage, which saw its one-millionth model sold in January, after just 29 months on sale, features a bold, progressive design, while offering greater practicality and an array of comfort, convenience and safety technologies. Its engine and transmission line-up also provides enhanced efficiency and performance to address a broad range of customer needs.

The Kia Sportage has historically been acknowledged for the strength of its design, having been awarded ‘iF Design’ and ‘red dot’ design prizes in both its third and fourth generations. Furthermore, the vehicle achieved the highest safety rating from the USA’s Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in 2017.

Coming to India
The Sportage SUV is part of the Kia model line-up headed for launch in India. Autocar India has learned that the Korean carmaker is planning a product offensive that will see a total of five cars being launched in just 18 months' time.

With the production version of the SP Concept, revealed at the Auto Expo 2018, set to go into production mid-2019, Kia will follow it up with four more cars over the next year and a half – two of them locally manufactured, two shipped in as CKDs – to have a five-strong line-up by 2021.

After the SP, Kia will bring out a sub-4m compact SUV, which will likely share its basic underpinnings with the Hyundai Carlino compact SUV (due in 2019). However, Kia's version of the compact SUV will look entirely different. Kia is globally renowned for its funky, off-beat designs and you can expect to see the signature 'Tiger Nose' grille, LED lighting and other nifty design touches on its compact SUV. The company has shown it intends to offer customisation options such as a contrast roof and interior colour choices with the SP, and the same should be the case with the compact SUV.

While the third car to be manufactured locally hasn't yet been confirmed, it is understood it will also be SUV-flavoured. The Sportage (Tucson-sized) and Sorento Santa Fe-sized) are the SUVs that are being considered for the CKD operation.

Kia's intention to burst on to the scene with an extensive (and SUV-heavy) line-up in a rather short amount of time shows just how serious it is about the Indian market.

Kia Motors India had in August 2017 showcased the Sportage, among many other models, at its dealer roadshows in the country. The Sportage is powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine developing 185hp and 402Nm of torque. Its diesel engine is paired with a six-speed automatic gearbox that helps deliver a claimed fuel efficiency of 14.93kpl and a claimed top speed of 201kph.

The Sportage is 4480mm long, 1635mm wide and 1855mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2670mm. It has a ground clearance of 182mm, a boot space of 466 litres, and weighs 2,170kg. In the Indian market, Kia’s Sportage will rival the likes of the Volkswagen Tiguan, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson and the Jeep Compass.

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Kia Motors India to begin production by mid-2019