New 2014 Kia Sportage launched

Kia has announced the launch of the new 2014 Kia Sportage, with the car set to hit showrooms in February.

The Nissan Qashqai and Skoda Yeti rival gets a range of new styling touches for 2014. These include a redesigned front grille, chrome rather than painted surrounds, new rear lights and the option of LED lights on top end Sportage models. A new alloy wheel design is available across the entire range, too.

Inside the car, Kia has upgraded materials used for the interior and added a heated steering wheel and an electrically adjustable driver’s seat to the best-specced models. The dashboard dials and instruments have been given a makeover, and selected models get a new 4.3-inch colour touchscreen audio system. Versions of the system with sat-nav also get a bigger touchscreen and a range of traffic information and route planning tools.

Several new safety systems have been made available to Sportage customers, with Kia’s Trailer Stability Assist helping out those using the car for towing. A tyre pressure monitoring system alerts the driver to flat tyres, while selected models of the Sportage also get Kia’s Flex Steer, which allows the driver to choose between different levels of power-assisted steering depending on where the car is being driven.

The basic Sportage model is now available as a four-wheel drive 2.0-litre diesel model and customers ordering the top spec two-wheel drive model can choose the 1.7-litre CRDi turbodiesel engine, the second new engine option for 2014.

As with all new Kias, the updated Sportage will come with the brand's industry-leading seven-year/100,000-mile warranty.

The car is available to pre-order now and prices remain unchanged, with the entry-level 1.6-litre petrol model costing £17,495. The new KX-1 diesel model is available from £21,495, with the new top-spec 1.7-litre diesel ‘4’ model starting at £24,995.

For the full Kia range, visit the Carbuyer Kia reviews page.