• Kia has launched a thirtieth Anniversary model of the Sportage for Korea.
• It has particular wheels, inexperienced quilted leather-based upholstery, and thirtieth Anniversary badging.
• We do not have U.S.-specific data on this mannequin yr, however we expect it would come to our shores.

The Sportage SUV wasn’t the primary Kia mannequin offered within the U.S.—that might be the long-forgotten Sephia sedan—however it’s the Korean model’s longest-running nameplate. Kia is now celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of the Sportage with a special-edition mannequin for the Korean market. The package deal contains distinctive badging, inside trim, and some different exterior tweaks, and we expect it would ultimately make its solution to the U.S. market, probably for the 2024 Sportage.

Our favourite addition is the inexperienced quilted leather-based upholstery discovered inside, which appears to be like nice contrasted with black suede trim. The headrests even have embroidered “30 Sportage” logos. On the skin, the principle adjustments are completely different 19-inch wheels and further black trim for the entrance fascia. The pictured mannequin is completed in matte-gray paint that appears just like the Shadow Matte Grey presently accessible on the 2023 Sportage Hybrid for $595 additional.

Kia has additionally positioned a pristine-looking instance of the unique first-generation Sportage within the foyer of its Kia 360 showroom in Korea to commemorate the event. This era was offered within the U.S. beginning for the 1995 mannequin yr, and we in contrast it towards a number of different small SUVs in a 1998 comparability check.

We’ve not but obtained affirmation whether or not or not the Sportage thirtieth Anniversary Version mannequin will come to the U.S. market, however we count on an identical package deal to be accessible right here ultimately. Keep tuned for extra particulars to return on the 2024 Sportage.

Senior Editor

Regardless of being raised on a gentle food regimen of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or maybe due to it—Joey Capparella nonetheless cultivated an obsession for the automotive trade all through his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He discovered a solution to write about vehicles for the varsity newspaper throughout his school years at Rice College, which ultimately led him to maneuver to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first skilled auto-writing gig at Car Journal. He has been a part of the Automobile and Driver group since 2016 and now lives in New York Metropolis.