There's no denying that the Kia Sportage is a truly outstanding SUV that represents everything the South Korean marque has worked towards, in terms of improving both its physical product and its brand perception, among its fans and the public alike.
And as icing on the cake, Kia has given the third generation Sportage a facelift for 2014 - made up of minor visual upgrades and a spanking new powerplant.
Up close and Personal
The car is quite identical to the pre-facelift model on first glance except for a new mesh pattern on the 'Tiger Nose' grille that makes the car look sportier and bolder.
Rear design cues vary slightly with redesigned tail lamps that were first seen on the Kia Sorento, while the rear reflector cluster now incorporates fog lamps. There is even a new model badge now.
The Sportage is indeed a very stylish model - more so than some of its European rivals that undeniably carry a little more badge appeal.
Cockpit ergonomics are well-sorted, resulting in a car that is easy to get in and drive from the outset. Once inside, you are treated to a funky fresh cabin that is well put together.
The most obvious change in the new Sportage's interior would be the 4.2-inch full colour instrument cluster that replaces the old orangey illuminated console, serving up vital information in a more sophisticated way.
Other upgrades include some pretty minor stuff such as more soft-touch materials on the dash and revisions to the buttons on the centre console, making them clearer and more concise.
Offering ample headroom and legroom for all five passengers, the Sportage definitely isn't lacking in terms of cabin space. With 564 litres worth of cargo space, the SUV will easily caters to your weekend shopping bags or luggage.
The Drive
The biggest change on the updated Sportage is under the bonnet. With a peak output of 151bhp and 191Nm of torque, the new 2.0-litre Nu engine does a commendable job of whisking the car away from the traffic lights, allowing the car to hit 100km/h in 11.7 seconds.
Though its power and torque figures may be lesser than the old 2.0-litre lump, the new four-cylinder engine is more efficient in terms of mechanical design. It is also more compact in size and weighs 10kg lighter than the Theta II engine.
And thanks to the new Active ECO mode, we were able to achieve a better fuel consumption figure - 11.2km/L compared to 10.5km/L on the outgoing model.
What's surprising, though, is how quiet the car actually is, even when fitted with biggish 18-inchers. Thanks to improvements to the NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) of the vehicle, tyre and road noise are kept to bare minimum.
The biggest change on the updated Sportage is under the bonnet. With a peak output of 151bhp and 191Nm of torque, the new 2.0-litre Nu engine does a commendable job of whisking the car away from the traffic lights, allowing the car to hit 100km/h in 11.7 seconds.
Though its power and torque figures may be lesser than the old 2.0-litre lump, the new four-cylinder engine is more efficient in terms of mechanical design. It is also more compact in size and weighs 10kg lighter than the Theta II engine.
And thanks to the new Active ECO mode, we were able to achieve a better fuel consumption figure - 11.2km/L compared to 10.5km/L on the outgoing model.
What's surprising, though, is how quiet the car actually is, even when fitted with biggish 18-inchers. Thanks to improvements to the NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) of the vehicle, tyre and road noise are kept to bare minimum.
While we remembered the previous model to have a fairly light steering, the level of steering assistance can now be adjusted at the touch of a button (called Flex Steer), which is also available on the Sorento and the Forte K3, hence improving the level of engagement with the driver.
The ride remains largely unchanged and the chassis and suspension are well-sorted for a vehicle in this class. The dampers and springs are happily married together, keeping things firm enough while absorbing the worst of the imperfections.
Conclusion
The Kia Sportage does everything of which it is asked in a proper manner, has a solid feeling inside and out, and will serve any buyer well. And with the recent update, this South Korean presents established players with quite a challenge, not just on value but on outright competence.
