2021 Kia Sportage: reinvented SUV priced from £26,745

Kia's reinvented Sportage SUV will go on sale on 15 December priced from £26,745 and with a wide array of pure-combustion and electrified powertrains.

Six specification levels are available with eight powertrain options, following the same structure as the rest of the Kia model range. 

The entry-level 2 specification starts from £26,745 with a choice of two powertrains: a 1.6-litre T-GDi petrol producing 148bhp, and a 1.6-litre CRDi diesel producing 113bhp. Standard equipment includes 17in wheels, LED headlights, parking sensors, a reversing camera, cruise control, an 8.0in touchscreen and a selection of assist systems. 

The next step up is GT-Line, which is available from £29,745 with five engine options. These range from the 1.6-litre diesel to the range-topping plug-in hybrid, from £38,395, which produces 261bhp and is set to arrive early in 2022. 

The GT-Line gains black detailing on its radiator grille, side sills and wheel arches and has 19in wheels, a 12.3in infotainment display with sat-nav, rear privacy glass, Kia’s smart entry system and chrome skid plates. 

The 3 specification is based on the equipment level of the 2 but offers the same engine line-up as the GT-Line. Prices start from £30,945 and rise to £39,595. The 3 also gains 18in wheels, the 12.3in display, a digital driver's display, heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel and smart cruise control. 

The 4 trim level underpins the range-topping GT-Line S, offering 48V mild-hybrid technology for all engine options, with four-wheel drive. Prices kick off from £36,445 and climb to £41,795 for plug-in models. 

This specification includes a panoramic sunroof, a premium Harman Kardon speaker system, adaptive LED headlights, ambient lighting, a 360deg camera and a blind-spot view monitor. 

The flagship GT-Line S receives similar equipment to the 4 and adds GT-Line styling, 19in alloy wheels, artificial leather and suede upholstery, a 10-way adjustable driver’s seat and eight-way passenger seat with memory function, a smart tailgate and an optional two-tone black roof. Prices start from £38,445 and rise to £43,495. 

This new iteration of the fifth-generation Sportage, which made its public debut at the 2021 Munich motor show, represents the first time in 28 years that Kia has offered a version of the SUV specifically developed for Europe.

The Sportage is among the Korean firm’s most successful models sold globally and the new version switches to the Hyundai Motor Group’s N3 platform. 

That architecture has allowed Kia to develop two distinct versions: a long-wheelbase model launched in June, intended for the South Korean and US markets; and this short-wheelbase variant, developed specifically for Europe, where it will be offered with a choice of mild-hybrid, ‘traditional’ hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. There won’t be an electric version, in part because the Sportage is a similar size to the EV6, a bespoke electric crossover. 

The European version is 4515mm long, a significant 85mm shorter than the global model – although it is 30mm longer than the previous generation. The 2680mm wheelbase is 10mm longer than before but 75mm shorter than its global sibling’s.