Shown earlier this year after initially debuting at the Geneva Motor Show three years ago, the Aussie spec Sportage will come in a choice of four trim levels, two GDI petrol engines and a single CRDI turbodiesel, all connected to an automatic gearbox.

Starting the range off, the Si comes equipped with a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system incorporating Bluetooth Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and USB, a six-speaker sound system, cloth seats, 17-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, automatic headlights, rain sense wipers and on the safety side, High Beam Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking with Forward Collision Warning, reverse camera with rear parking sensors, Lane Keep Assist and Driver Attention Alert.

Moving one up, the Si Premium swaps the 17-inch alloys for 18-inch rollers, gains an extra inch on the infotainment system with added satellite navigation and DAB+ digital and eschews the standard sound system for an eight-speaker JBL setup. Completing the additions are front parking sensors and daytime running LEDs.

Slotting in the middle, the SLi comes with leather seats, keyless entry, Tyre Pressure Monitor, push-button start, 10-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat and LED taillights, while the flagship GT-Line boasts Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control, Park Assist, eight-way electrically adjustable passenger’s seat and auto-levelling LED headlights, 19-inch alloys, model specific bodykit, ventilated front seats, flat bottom sports steering wheel with paddle shifters, wireless smartphone charger and an electric tailgate.

Powering the Sportage, Si, Si Premium and SLi models use a 2.0-litre normally aspirated petrol engine developing 114kW/192Nm, linked to a six-speed automatic ‘box with drive going to the front wheels only. The GT-Line meanwhile utilises a 2.4-litre mill that outputs 135kW/237Nm, but while it comes with the same ‘box, drive is routed to all four wheels.

Available on all models, the sole diesel engine displaces 2.0-litres and produces 136kW/400Nm, but swaps the old six-speed self-shifter for a brand-new eight-speed auto. Regardless of trim level, the diesel’s grunt is send to the black stuff via all four wheels.

For South Africa, the Sportage will most likely continue with above mentioned powerunits, but also the 85kW/280Nm 1.7-litre CRDI and 130kW/265Nm 1.6 T-GDI with a six-speed manual gearbox available on lower spec variants. A likely no-no is the new 2.0-litre CRDI mated to a 48-volt battery system known as EcoDynamics+ and the equally new 1.6-litre U3 CRDI claimed by Kia to be its “cleanest diesel engine ever”.

Local pricing and spec will only be announced closer to the Sportage’s launch date.

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