Kia recently sent its Sportage SUV of for some minor surgery to keep it fresh and appealing to prospective customers.
It has received small but significant upgrades to its exterior, as well as a refreshed interior design and new materials throughout the cabin.
Two engines will be available: a 2,0-litre D-CVVT petrol and 2,0-litre VGT CRDi diesel. The petrol engine generates 116kW and 192Nm of torque, while the diesel develops 130kW and 382Nm of torque. Both engines can be mated to either a six-speed manual, or six-speed automatic gearbox.
Exterior wise, there’s a new front grille and changes to the lower bumper and fog lamps. At the rear the tail lamps have been spruced up a bit, while two new alloy wheel designs add a dash of sportiness to the mix.
The interior offers a higher quality finish than ever before, while AWD models feature a new supervision cluster, newly designed centre fascia and a state -of-the-art Infinity sound system.
The supervision instrument cluster features a new 4.2-inch TFT LCD screen, which provides vehicle information and doubles up as a rear-view camera display when reverse mode is activated.
Prices range from R310 000 for the entry-level 2,0-litre 2WD Ignite petrol, up to R409 000 for a 2,0-litre AWD CRDi automatic. All models come standard with a 5-year/150 000 km warranty (up from 100 000km), a 5-year/100 000 km service plan and a 3-year/unlimited roadside assistance plan.