With the start of summer just weeks away, Kia is making a series of updates to its Sportage range, with a new streamlined four trim level line-up. The company says that the most significant change is the introduction of a new ‘3’ grade, joining ‘2’, ‘GT-Line’ and ‘GT-Line S’ specifications.

All versions in the latest Sportage range are well equipped, with every iteration featuring a ‘frameless’ eight-inch touchscreen satellite navigation system with the latest UVO Connect telematics system, as well as Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth smartphone connectivity. DAB digital radio is standard and Kia’s Connected Services powered by TomTom is included, offering a wide range of driving-oriented information. Connectivity features include live traffic updates, speed camera locations and alerts, local search and weather forecasts. The Kia Connected Services system can show drivers the price of fuel at nearby filling stations, as well as the location and real-time availability of parking spaces. The touchscreen also integrates a reversing camera system, in addition to rear parking sensors.

Six airbags, Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), Speed Limit Information Function (SLIF), Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) and High Beam Assist (HBA) are fitted to all versions of the latest Sportage, in addition to Blind-Sport Collision Warning (BCW) on ‘3’ and ‘GT-Line S’ models, while Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with pedestrian detection is included as standard on the flagship ‘GT-Line S’ models.

The newly introduced ‘3’ specification builds on the ‘2’ grade and features a panoramic sunroof, front wiper de-icer, black leather upholstery, 10-way driver’s and 8-way passenger’s power adjustable seat (sliding, reclining, height adjustment), a high-gloss black centre fascia, aluminium door scuff plates, engine start/stop button with Smart Entry system, heated steering wheel, a 4.2-inch colour supervision cluster display and Electronic Parking Brake (EPB). On the outside of the Sportage ‘3’, there’s front parking sensors, black wheel arch body mouldings and side sills with chrome insert, silver painted front and rear skid plates, LED bi-function headlights, LED rear lights and Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW)

‘GT-Line’ versions take grade ‘2’ specification as their basis, but with sportier styling flourishes. There are exclusive 19-inch alloy wheels, a high gloss ‘diamond’ mesh radiator grille with dark chrome surround, silver painted skid plates front and rear, LED rear combination lamps, front parking sensors, engine start/stop button with Smart Entry system, front wiper de-icer and paddle shifters on DCT versions. A ‘GT-Line’ exterior styling pack adds ice-cube LED front fog lights, LED Bi-function headlights with adaptive lighting system and dual exhausts. On the inside, there’s a high-gloss black centre fascia, black headlining, aluminium pedals and scuff plates, a chrome boot sill guard, a 4.2-inch colour supervision cluster display and a D-shaped leather-covered sports steering wheel.

The top-of-the-range ‘GT-Line S’ models offer all of the equipment that ‘GT-Line’ features plus more luxurious touches – adaptive cruise control, a panoramic sunroof, 10-way power adjustable driver and 8-way adjustable front passenger seats, ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, 8-speaker JBL® premium sound system with subwoofer, external amplifier and front centre speaker, Smart Power Tailgate and a wireless phone charger.

Choice of engines
There are three engines available on the Kia Sportage. The 1.6-litre T-GDi (Turbocharged Gasoline Direct injection) engine produces 174bhp, with emissions from 183g/km. The naturally aspirated 130bhp 1.6-litre GDi engine offers CO₂ emissions from 177g/km and fuel economy of up to 36.2mpg on the combined cycle. With a top speed of 113mph, acceleration to 60mph takes 11.1 seconds. Diesel variants with mild-hybrid technology are also offered.

The petrol engines are direct-injection (GDi) 1.6-litre units from Kia’s Gamma family. In the Sportage, the T-GDi engine develops 174bhp at 5,500rpm. The result is instantaneous response to throttle inputs and rapid acceleration without interruption. It was developed in-house by Kia engineers at the Namyang research and development centre in Korea, with input from Kia’s European technical centre in Frankfurt. It accelerates the Sportage from 0-60mph in 8.9 seconds (2WD manual) or 8.8 seconds with the AWD 7DCT.

The Sportage offers a diesel engine that features Kia’s all-new ‘EcoDynamics+’ 1.6-litre diesel mild-hybrid powertrains. The 1.6-litre diesel mild-hybrid powertrains are offered with a six-speed manual gearbox with front-wheel-drive or seven-speed Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT) gearbox. In addition, a seven-speed Dual-Clutch Transmission with all-wheel-drive is offered. Producing 134bhp, the manual version has CO₂ emissions from 141g/km and is capable of up to 52.3mpg on the WLTP combined cycle. With a top speed of 112mph, acceleration to 60mph takes 10.8 seconds. The seven-speed DCT automatic 2WD versions also emit CO₂ from 141g/km and achieve 52.3mpg, with a top speed of 112mph and acceleration to 62mph in 11.4 seconds. For extra traction, buyers have the choice of a four-wheel-drive edition with seven-speed DCT automatic transmission, that manages CO₂ emissions from 159g/km and fuel economy on the combined cycle from 46.3mpg, while accelerating to 60mph takes 11.6 seconds, with the same top speed of 112mph.

All models on the updated line-up for the Sportage are RDE2 compliant. Prices fr diesel models start at £25,150.