New Kia Tusker mini-SUV espied out in the open

Car paparazzi have succeeded in tracking out and photographing the new subcompact SUV called the Kia Tusker. The vehicle should premiere sometime in the spring of 2019 and arrive in showrooms across the world shortly afterwards.

The test mule depicted here may wear heavy mascara, but it remains pretty obvious that it takes after the Kia SP Concept we’ve been introduced to at the 2018 New Delhi Auto Show. Compared to that one, the car has newly styled bumpers and lights.

The Kia Tusker uses the same basic architecture as the Hyundai Creta. If the rumors are to be trusted, it will ship with a choice between a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine producing 200 hp (149 kW) and a 1.4L turbo V4 with 140 hp (104 kW). The former will get an iVT, while the latter will utilize a DCT box. 4WD isn’t going to be available, whether in base or as an option.

The South Korean car manufacturer has another big reveal planned for March, a mini-SUV based on the 3rd-gen Kia Ceed. This one will debut ahead of the Tusker.

Photo: motor1.com