2019 Kia Sportage (facelift) spied up close in South Korea

A 2019 Kia Sportage test mule was recently spied up close in South Korea, courtesy Motorgraph.

The Kia Sportage would receive minor exterior changes with the mid-cycle refresh. At the front, the 2019 Kia Sportage will likely feature tweaked headlamps, updated Tiger-nose grille, new lower air intake, restyled bumper accentuated by a chrome strip and new fog lights. The new headlamps are similar to those of the third-gen 2018 Kia Ceed and appear to have four-element 'ice- cube' LED DRLs with the main beam in the centre.

At the rear, the spy shot shows that the 2019 Kia Sportage will have tweaked tail lamps. Another change may include some revisions to the bumper for a new look. Interior changes may include an upgrade to the infotainment system and new trim and upholstery. Any changes to the engines, if planned, are currently unknown. The pre-facelift model is available with a variety of petrol and diesel engines with displacements ranging from 1.6- to 2.4-litre.

The 2019 Kia Sportage could debut sometime in the second half of this year, possibly at the 2018 Paris Motor Show. Kia is reportedly considering importing CKD kits of the Kia Sportage and assembling them in India. There's no specific timeline available for the Jeep Compass rival's Indian launch, though.