Kia Teases Design of New SUV; Model Likely to Come to the U.S.

Kia is preparing to reveal its newest small SUV model by the end of the year and reports are surfacing that it’s on its way to the United States.

The SUV is believed to be bigger than the subcompact Soul and smaller than the compact Sportage, and will be competing against the Honda HR-V and Subaru Crosstrek in the market.

Exterior and interior sketches of the vehicle were recently released by the Korean automaker, drawing attention even before its official release.

According to insiders, the new model already appears to be production ready. It comes with a bold face and an interesting headlight setup. It also has a chunky, tall profile.

Like many other SUVs, the yet unnamed model features rugged design such as faux skid plates, black contrasting trim around the bumpers and side sills, as well as a roof rack. Based on the sketches released by Kia, most of these exterior styling will likely translate to the actual production car.

Interior sketches, meanwhile, show an upscale cabin fitted with a 10.3-inch touchscreen navigation system on the dashboard which provides seamless access to several features. Functionality-wise, it focuses on maximum ease of use for consumers.

The youthful, luxurious, and sporty vibe of the model’s overall design suggest it is targeted to appeal to a younger, tech-savvy market.

Rumors are swirling around that Kia’s newest SUV will be named “Tusker,” but the company was revealed to have not yet filed for the moniker in the United States trademark database. Whatever the name is, Kia has confirmed that the model will go on sale in Korea in 2019.

Whether it will be sold in the United States anytime soon, Kia spokesperson James Hope said the company is “studying it closely” for the American market. Once decided, the new SUV model is likely to be released in the United States sometime in 2020.