The new Kia Sportage looks great, but is it missing the one thing needed to take down the Toyota RAV4 in the family SUV wars?

Kia has unveiled its new Kia Sportage, with a fresh look and a serious tech overhaul designed to take down Australia's mid-size SUV favourites like the CX-5 and RAV4.

But while it will be packing all of the above and more when it launches in Australia in Q4, one thing it won’t be Sporting (forgive the bad joke…) is electricity, with hybrids and mild-hybrids seemingly not on the table. At least, not yet.

While Australia will make use of three engines — a 2.0-litre petrol (117kW/191Nm), a 1.6-litre TGDI (132kW/265Nm) and a clever 2.0-litre turbo-diesel that makes a considerable 137kW and 417Nm — the Sportage is set-up for hybrid in the future, with the brand promising “the all-new Sportage range will also feature hybrid and plug-in hybrid models that deliver a no-compromise eco-friendly SUV package”.

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That said, when the electrified models will arrive is yet to be confirmed, and they're not yet locked for our market.

This fifth-generation Sportage debuts a new platform, which, along with new tech like Kia E-Handling system and Terrain Mode, is designed to offer a “dynamic, engaging and optimal driving experience”

The E-Handling program is said to help with stability and agility, specifically in rapid changes of direction or when cornering, while the Terrain function includes Snow, Mud and Sand functions, essentially allowing the Sportage to do the thinking for you on less-grippy surfaces.

“Our new Sportage is a true inspiration for the SUV category in every sense,” says Artur Martins, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Brand and Customer Experience Division at Kia.

“Be it the forward-thinking design, stellar interior, next-generation tech, efficient and responsive powertrains, the highest levels in safety systems or the very latest engineering breakthroughs that guarantee a responsive and optimal drive – the all-new Sportage is the ultimate urban SUV.”

The ultimate urban SUV, you say? Let’s take a closer look.

We’ll get to the design in the moment, because there’s some big news on the tech front here. The Sportage has undergone a cabin-technology overhaul, and will now arrive - in higher trim levels of course - with two massive 12.0-inch screens, one to ostensibly control your media and navigations functions, and the other to act as a driver-info display.

But the two curved screens also meet each other perfectly, giving the impression of a wall of glass in the front of the cabin.

There’s also a new centre console design, more storage, soft-touch everything and premium materials, as well as wireless phone charging and the usual Apple CarPlay and Android Auto set-ups.

Australian cars will ride on a 2755mm wheelbase, and will stretch 4660mm in length, 1865mm in width and 1660mm in height. That, says Kia, will deliver “class-leading” leg-room, headroom and luggage space, with the latter listed a 637 litres (VDA) with the seats in place.

Now, those looks. Sleeker, smoother and more sporty than the model it replaces, the new Sportage is all swooping roof, deep-cut DRLs and “razor” rear lamps, and in our humble opinion, it looks the business.

On the safety front, the lighter, more rigid Sportage should deliver a driver airbag, passenger airbag, side curtain airbags and low-side airbags, as well as advanced safety kit like AEB, FCW, active cruise and more.

Expect to see the Sportage arrive in Australia in Q4 this year, with full pricing and specifications yet to be revealed.