The facelifted Kia Sportage has arrived in South Africa, with the local range trimmed from twelve to nine derivatives and priced from R379 995 to R549 995.

Revealed back in May 2018, the updated Sportage gains a handful of styling tweaks, inside and out. The local engine line-up has also been rejigged, with the turbocharged 1,6-litre petrol engine, the 1,7-litre turbodiesel mill and the free-breathing 2,4-litre petrol unit falling away. Similarly, the SX and GT-Line trim levels have been scrapped.

However, the facelifted range gains a new entry-level engine in the form of a naturally aspirated 1,6-litre petrol mill, mated exclusively to a six-speed automatic transmission. This unit sends 97 kW and 161 N.m to the front wheels, facilitating a zero to 100 km/h sprint in a claimed 12,1 seconds.

The naturally aspirated 2,0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine now powers four derivatives, with its peak outputs having changed slightly from the outgoing version’s 114 kW and 192 N.m to 115 kW and 196 N.m. This powerplant is available exclusively in front-wheel-drive guise, with either a six-speed manual or an automatic transmission with the same number of cogs.

And the 2,0-litre turbodiesel? Well, this mill now provides urge to four variants, including the sole all-wheel-drive model in the rejigged range. Interestingly, it now makes 131 kW (up a single unit) and 400 N.m, and comes mated to a new eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Ignite trim level includes manual air-conditioning, automatic headlamps, a six-speaker audio system, rear parking sensors, fabric upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, 16-inch alloys and LED daytime running lights. The revised Ignite Plus models, meanwhile, add auto-folding side mirrors, an electro-chromatic rear-view mirror, front foglamps and new 17-inch wheels.

The EX trim level furthermore includes different 17-inch wheels (note, however, that the AWD models upgrades to 19-inch items wrapped in 245/45 rubber), front parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, an electric parking brake, a voice recognition function, automatic air-conditioning, leather upholstery, electric adjustment for the front seats and a seven-inch colour touchscreen (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality).

The flagship EX Plus features the same 19-inch wheels as the EX AWD model, plus a panoramic sunroof, rear-sited USB port, an eight-inch colour touchscreen (with satellite navigation), a reversing camera and a wireless smartphone charger.

Pricing:
Kia Sportage 1,6 Ignite AT: R379 995
Kia Sportage 2,0 Ignite Plus: R389 995
Kia Sportage 2,0 Ignite Plus AT: R403 995
Kia Sportage 2,0 CRDi Ignite Plus AT: R453 995
Kia Sportage 2,0 EX AT: R459 995
Kia Sportage 2,0 EX Plus AT: R499 995
Kia Sportage 2,0 CRDi EX AT: R509 995
Kia Sportage 2,0 CRDi EX AWD AT: R536 995
Kia Sportage 2,0 CRDi EX Plus AT: R549 995

Original article from Car