Monday, July 27, 2015

Kia Small Crossover Spied, Could Take on Honda HR-V and Mazda CX-3



Kia wants a subcompact crossover to help take on the likes of the Honda HR-V and Mazda CX-3 in the U.S., and this prototype is likely that car. Despite the camouflage, it appears the car being tested is a close relative of the Chinese-market Kia KX3, which in turn is related to the Hyundai ix25 and Hyundai Creta small crossovers sold overseas.

The look of this Kia subcompact evokes some of the design cues seen on the 2013 Kia Niro concept car, which gave us some hints about the design of a possible Kia B-segment crossover. Up front, Kia's familiar "Tiger grille" is visible on the rounded front end, while the large headlights sweep up onto the car's front fenders. A curving roofline lowers the car's height behind the rear doors, where the liftgate bears tall, wide taillights.

Kia's future crossover would likely offer both front- and all-wheel drive, and could be based on the same platform as the Soul. However, we expected Kia to skip the process of launching a new vehicle and simply add AWD to the Soul. Officials have hinted over time that all-wheel drive might help bolster the boxy hatchback's sales in cold-weather states. In fact, the Kia Trail'ster concept shown at this year's Chicago auto show gave the Soul a more rugged look and electrically powered all-wheel drive.

This future Kia crossover is likely still some way from hitting U.S. showrooms, with reports suggesting a 2017 debut, so stay tuned for more news about Kia's potential entry into the B-crossover segment.

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