Kia’s Next Sportage May Get A Wild New Face For 2028

Headlight Design Leaked, And It Looks Weird

The current Kia Sportage just got a major facelift in plenty of markets, but don’t get too comfortable with it. In the world of car development, the next big thing is always lurking around the corner. While buyers are still getting used to the updated model, Kia‘s engineers are already busy testing the next-gen Sportage.

Spy shots of camouflaged prototypes have been making the rounds in South Korea for months, teasing us with just enough detail to keep us guessing. Now, we’ve got another clue to add to the mix.

A reader reportedly sent Korean Car Blog what appears to be a close-up of the next Sportage’s headlight. It’s just one piece, not the whole front end, but it’s enough to give us a taste of Kia’s new design direction. And trust us, it’s a far cry from what Sportage fans are used to.

A Headlight Unlike the Current Sportage

The leaked image shows a headlight that’s ditched the old boomerang curves for something way more angular and geometric. Instead of the familiar swoopy daytime running lights, this new setup is all sharp lines and bold angles, carving out a sort of ‘Z’ shape. The lighting signature drops down the edge, then slices back in toward the middle, giving the whole thing a high-tech vibe.

Peek inside and you’ll spot a stack of vertical LEDs, with the main projector or reflector hanging out down below. The whole thing is wrapped in chunky chrome or satin trim, so even without the rest of the bodywork, the headlight’s shape is impossible to miss.

It’s still anyone’s guess if this part is straight from the production line, but it definitely fits Kia’s recent obsession with bold lighting. If this is the direction they’re headed, the next Sportage might just look taller and more futuristic than anything we’ve seen from them yet.

What We Know About the Next Sportage So Far

But the weird headlight isn’t the only thing shaking up the next Sportage. Spy videos hint at a serious tech overhaul inside, with test cars showing off a massive panoramic screen that runs the width of the dash. Expect it to use Hyundai‘s new Pleos Connect system, built on Android Automotive, so you’ll get all the smartphone-style goodies: downloadable apps, cloud features, over-the-air updates, and screens you can tweak to your liking. Thankfully, Hyundai says the basics like climate and audio will still have real buttons.

Under the skin, the next Sportage is set to double down on electrification, with hybrids taking center stage. Word from South Korea is that some markets might go almost all-in on hybrid power, but North America should still get at least one good old-fashioned gas engine in the mix.

Look for the next-gen Sportage to break cover sometime next year, with US arrivals pegged for the 2028 model year.