Kia bolsters Cerato, Sportage models

Kia Australia has bolstered two of its most popular models by releasing the Cerato Sport and Sportage Si Premium today.

Priced at $22,450 drive-away, the new Cerato Sport slots in between the S automatic AV pack and the Si automatic, effectively replacing the S Premium model but adding extra equipment.

This includes 17-inch alloy wheels with full-size alloy spare, a 7.0-inch colour touch-screen with sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, faux-leather trim for the steering wheel and gear shifter, chrome interior door handles, soft-touch upper door panel trim, ‘aero blade’ windscreen wipers, Sport badging and, for the sedan, a rear spoiler.

The Cerato Sport will be available in four exterior paint colours: Clear White, Snow White Pearl, Silky Silver and Metal Stream.

It joins a popular small-car range that almost doubled its sales in the first quarter of this year and was the fourth most popular small car last month, thanks in part to Kia's market-leading seven-year warranty, fresh design and sharp pricing.

The Sportage Si Premium, meantime, returns to Kia's mid-size SUV line-up priced at $30,990 plus on-road costs, positioning it above the entry-level 2WD Sportage Si 2.0-litre petrol auto ($28,990 plus ORCs).

It features 18-inch alloys, 7.0-inch colour touch-screen, sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, automatic climate control, LED daytime running lights, front parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, electrochromatic rear-view mirror and illuminated vanity mirrors.

The Sportage Si Premium is available in Clear White, Mineral Silver, Fiery Red and Sparkling Silver paint colours.

Sportage sales are also up markedly so far this year, by more than 30 per cent, making it Australia's fifth most popular mid-size SUV after the Mazda CX-5, Hyundai Tucson, Nissan X-TRAIL and Toyota RAV4.