The facelifted 2019 Kia Sportage has arrived in the UK, featuring an updated exterior and interior design, as well as new powertrains and safety features.
The highlight of the facelift is of course the introduction of Kia’s new ‘EcoDynamics+’ mild-hybrid 48-volt diesel powertrain; a 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel is combined with a belt-starter generator unit and a 0.44kWh lithium-ion battery pack for a combined output of 182hp and 295lb-ft (400Nm) of torque. An eight-speed automatic is the sole transmission option for the hybrid.
The rest of the Kia Sportage’s engine options have been updated to meet the Euro 6d emissions rules. Kia has replaced the 1.7-liter CRDi diesel with a new 1.6-liter unit, available with 114 or 134hp. The more powerful version is also available with all-wheel drive and a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
Petrol options include a naturally aspirated 130hp 1.6-liter, as well as a turbocharged T-GDI version of it with 174hp. The latter can be combined with all-wheel drive and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The new Kia Sportage can be fitted with the latest driver assist technologies, including Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go, Driver Attention Warning, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with pedestrian detection and Blind-Spot Collision Warning among others.
Also new is the infotainment system; depending on trim level, the unit comes with either a 7.0- or an 8.0-inch touchscreen display, as well as a new “frameless” 8.0-inch system. Grade 2 models and above get satellite navigation and Kia’s Connected Services as standard. These include live traffic updates, speed camera locations, weather forecasts and of course Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Sportage, Kia is also launching a special ‘Edition 25’ model, powered by the base 1.6-liter petrol engine exclusively. The special model will feature 17-inch alloy wheels, black cloth and leather upholstery, an eight-speaker JBL premium sound system with sub-woofer, external amp and front centre speaker and an 8.0-inch infotainment system among other.
Pricing for the new Kia Sportage kicks off at £20,305 for the base 1.6-liter 2WD petrol model. The special ‘Edition 25’ version starts from £25,655 while the mild-hybrid AWD diesel starts from £32,545.