The 2027 Kia Sportage medium SUV has been spotted undergoing road testing, with spy shots giving us a great idea of the proportions of the Mk6 model and revealing it is following its platform partner, the new Hyundai Tucson, in adopting a more rugged look.

Despite Kia‘s rapidly expanding electric vehicle range, the petrol and hybrid-powered Sportage remains one of the South Korean brand’s biggest sellers, making the sixth-generation model a crucial addition to its line-up.

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The heavily disguised prototype reveals little in the way of finer design details, but its proportions suggest Kia is only slightly tweaking the current Sportage’s familiar SUV formula when it comes to the proportions. A tall bonnet, substantial ground clearance and relatively high roofline remain, although the styling appears to be taking inspiration from Kia’s latest electric vehicles.

The EV3, EV4 and EV5 have introduced a more angular interpretation of the company’s Opposites United design philosophy, and the next Sportage is tipped to adopt similar cues. Expect distinctive Star Map lighting, a more upright front end and sharper bodywork that brings the petrol and hybrid models closer to their electric siblings.

The new Sportage is also expected to grow, following the lead of the Tucson, in addition to taking on a similar, more solid stance and the same more sharply angled edges. Hyundai’s latest SUV is 35mm wider, 20mm taller and 35mm longer than its predecessor, suggesting the Sportage could receive similar increases to improve passenger accommodation and luggage capacity. The current Sportage offers 460 litres of boot space in some configurations, while the new Tucson boasts up to 695 litres.

Inside, the biggest changes are likely to involve tech upgrades. The Sportage is expected to adopt Hyundai Motor Group’s new Pleos infotainment platform, which supports artificial intelligence-enhanced voice commands, third-party applications and connected services. The system offers touchscreen displays measuring up to 17 inches in the latest Tucson, alongside access to entertainment applications including YouTube and Spotify.

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Under the bonnet, Kia is expected to retain petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid options, with front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations. An entry-level 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing approximately 110kW is anticipated, potentially paired with a six-speed manual transmission or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.

A 48-volt mild-hybrid system is also expected, while the full hybrid could produce around 179kW through a six-speed automatic transmission. Plug-in hybrid buyers may receive a significant improvement in electric driving range.

The new Tucson’s 17.1kWh battery delivers a claimed 80km of electric-only driving, compared with approximately 71km from the outgoing Sportage plug-in hybrid’s 13.8kWh battery. If Kia adopts the same hardware, the new Sportage could offer a useful boost in efficiency and everyday electric driving capability.

A full unveiling is expected in 2027, although Australian launch timing, pricing and final specifications remain unconfirmed.