Kia Sportage facelift unveiled, updated styling & more tech



Kia Motors has just revealed the refreshed Kia Sportage, the Korean carmaker’s global best seller. The Sportage facelift gets revised styling inside and out, new tech as well as the brand’s first mild-hybrid diesel powertrain.

Starting with the exterior, the Sportage’s sporty appearance has been enhanced with new front and rear bumpers, revised headlamps and taillamps as well as new 16-, 17- and 19-inch alloy wheels options. Kia had also added new options for the Sportage including chrome sill trims, metallic skid plates and five new paint colours.

The top of the range GT-Line models comes further equipped with a gloss black radiator grille, restyled “ice cube” LED fog lamps, skid plates and dark chrome inserts on the side sills and rear tailgate. It rides on a set of unique 19-inch multi-spoke alloys.

New additions to the cabin includes a reshaped steering wheel, a revised instrument cluster, an 8.0-inch “frameless” touchscreen infotainment system and optional black and grey two-tone upholstery. The GT-Line has the option for black leather upholstery with red accents.

The Sportage facelift also debuts with Kia’s new 2.0-litre EcoDynamics+ mild-hybrid diesel engine that features a 48-volt mild-hybrid technology to boost performance and improve fuel economy. Other engine options include a 1.6-litre U3 CRDi turbodiesel available with 115 hp or 136 hp. All-wheel drive and a seven-speed double-clutch transmission is standard on higher-powered models.

On the technology side of things, the Sportage now gets Kia’s latest advanced driving assistance systems such as Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go, a 360-degree Around View Monitor, Driver Attention Warning and more.

Locally, Naza Kia Malaysia (NKM) offers the Sportage in both petrol and diesel guise. The facelift takes the Sportage’s quirkiness up a notch, but the question is, can buyers accept a face like this despite its abundance of tech?