What's the news?

Remaining relatively unchanged since its launch in 2010, the Kia Sportage has now gone through its mid-life refresh, bringing various visual tweaks and mechanical enhancements throughout the range.

Exterior

On first glance, it's difficult to see where the changes have occurred; which is no bad thing, as the third generation Sportage has always been a good looking car. Up front, the tiger-nosed grille now comes with a different mesh design and its surround can be either painted or finished in chrome. Round the back, the light clusters have been made brighter and clearer for other road users, with LEDs fitted to higher spec models. A shark's fin antenna has also been installed. To finish off the mild external refresh, newly designed 16-, 17- and 18-inch alloy wheels are now available.

Interior

In here, the differences are more obvious, especially on higher grade models. Top-spec Sportages now get an electrically-adjusted driver's seat and a heated steering wheel as standard; while 'smart keys' come with models that feature an engine start-stop button. The dashboard can now be specified with a soft 'nano' paint finish too, and ambient lighting now comes as standard. In terms of gadgetry, various variants of the Sportage have been fitted with a new 4.2-inch TFT display in front of the driver, displaying information including outdoor temperature, FlexSteer settings and a gear shift indicator.

Elsewhere in the range, the dashboard-mounted red-on-black TFT screen has been replaced by a colour touchscreen complete with reversing camera. On higher-spec models this screen can be used to operate the Infinity premium audio system that has previously only been available in the Kia Optima. Upgraded speakers, repositioned tweeters and a subwoofer should all make for a decent audio set up.

Mechanicals

Kia has expanded the engine line-up for the Sportage, offering the 1.7-litre CRDi unit on the two-wheel drive model for the first time; and making the 2.0-litre CRDi engine available in a 134hp, entry-level state of tune on four-wheel drive versions. The 1.6-litre GDi petrol and 181hp 2.0-litre CRDi diesel engines still remain, with a choice of six-speed manual and automatic gearboxes available.

Selected versions of the 2014 Sportage now come with FlexSteer as standard, giving the driver the ability to adjust the weight of the steering depending on situation and preference. Thicker glass has been installed to further reduce cabin noise and both Trailer Stability Assist and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System have been made standard features.

Anything else?

Prices for the 2014 Sportage start at £17,495 and order books are open now. Every model also comes with Kia's seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty as standard; and the company's Care-3 and Care-3 Plus servicing package can be specified, too.

James Giddings - 9 Jan 2014