Kia Sportage updated for 2018

A mild facelift aimed at attracting more male buyers belies the extent of changes inside and underneath the revised Kia Sportage.

Revealed to the local motoring press earlier this week, the 'MY19' Kia Sportage has been comprehensively revamped and introduces a new eight-speed automatic transmission for the diesel models. Local suspension engineers have also retuned the underpinnings for even better ride quality on Aussie roads, and faster steering response.

"In terms of ride and handling, our research and development team gathered feedback from all over the world to enhance Sportage's road manners," explained Roland Rivero, Kia Australia's General Manager of Product Planning.

"R&D enhanced the subframe rear mounting angle and gave us an improved and more stable platform to work with."

That recommendation originally came from Kia Australia's own chassis tuning experts in the lead-up to the current generation's introduction here in 2016, but was only implemented by the factory for the update model released now.

"Locally, we aimed to give Sportage PE [Product Enhancement – the update model] a more compliant and rounded ride that's comfortable on both urban roads and rough, country roads – all whilst maintaining and enhancing the handling characteristics, ensuring Sportage PE is fun to drive," Rivero explained during the media launch of the updated Kia Sportage.

"Steering gear ratios have also been adjusted for greater response – up two mill [2mm] in rack travel..."

Advanced active safety features added to the standard specification include forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking and lane keeping assistant across the range. Previously, the Kia Sportage was available with lane departure warning for the high-grade models, but lane keeping assistant now actively steers the vehicle through bends with minimal driver intervention and is standard in even the entry-level model.

An eight-speaker (JBL) audio system is incorporated in the premium infotainment system, which includes navigation and digital radio for all grades bar the entry-level Kia Sportage Si. For the base-grade model, the audio system makes do with six speakers. Both systems are operable through a touch screen in the centre fascia, with the Kia Sportage Si running a 7.0-inch LCD touch screen and the higher grades fitted with an 8.0-inch unit.

New equipment added to the various trim levels is as follows:
Sportage Si
• New design of 17-inch alloy wheel
• Autonomous emergency braking with forward collision warning
• Lane keep assist and driver attention alert warning
• Illuminated vanity mirrors
• Rain-sensing wipers
• High-beam assist

Sportage Si Premium (in addition to Si)
• New design of 18-inch alloy wheel
• Eight-inch infotainment touch screen
• Digital radio (DAB+)
• 10-year MapCare and 10-year SUNA Traffic monitoring subscriptions
• JBL eight-speaker audio system

Sportage SLi (in addition to Si Premium)
• Electronic parking brake with auto hold

Sportage GT-Line (in addition to SLi)
• New design of 19-inch alloy wheel
• LED headlights with auto levelling
• Adaptive cruise control

Kia has raised prices for the upgraded Sportage, as follows:
Sportage Si 2.0-litre petrol – $29,990 (+$1000)
Sportage Si 2.0-litre diesel – $35,390 (+$1400)
Sportage Si Premium 2.0-litre petrol – $32,290* (+$600)
Sportage Si Premium 2.0-litre diesel – $37,690* (+$1000)
Sportage SLi 2.0-litre petrol – $36,790 (+$1300)
Sportage SLi 2.0-litre diesel – $42,190 (+$1700)
Sportage GT-Line 2.4-litre petrol – $44,790 (+$1300)
Sportage GT-Line 2.0-litre diesel – $ 47,690 (+$1700)

* Driveaway prices (on-road costs included) are $31,990 for the petrol variant and $37,390 for the diesel.