With the start of summer just around the corner, Kia is making a series of updates to its Sportage range, with a new streamlined four trim level line-up. 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.

Safety is of great importance, with six airbags, Lane Keep Assist System, Driver Attention Warning, Speed Limit Information Function, Hill-start Assist Control, Trailer Stability Assist and High Beam Assist fitted to all versions of the latest Sportage, in addition to Blind-Sport Collision Warning on ‘3’ and ‘GT-Line S’ models, while Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with pedestrian detection is included as standard on the flagship ‘GT-Line S’ models.

And the long list of equipment fitted to every Sportage also includes alloy wheels, heated front and outer rear seats, dual automatic air conditioning, privacy glass, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, rain sensing front wipers, automatic light control, electrically-folding, adjustable and heated door mirrors and cruise control with speed limiter.

The newly introduced ‘3’ specification builds on the comprehensively equipped ‘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.

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 and LED rear lights.

There are three engines available on the Kia Sportage. The 1.6-litre T-GDi engine produces 174bhp and 265Nm torque, with emissions from 183g/km. The naturally aspirated 130bhp 1.6-litre GDi engine offers a maximum torque output of 161Nm, 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, while maximum torque is 265Nm from 1,500rpm to 4,500rpm. The result is instantaneous response to throttle inputs and rapid acceleration without interruption. It was developed entirely 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 an even faster 8.8 seconds with the AWD 7DCT.

The Sportage offers a diesel engine that feature 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.