First drive: refreshed Kia Sportage

• New-look Sportage on sale now
• Available in two- or four-wheel-drive
• Prices start at £13,995

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Kia has high hopes for its refreshed Sportage - so high, in fact, that it is predicting that sales of the car will increase by 20% in the next 12 months alone.

One sign of that confidence is the length of the warranty, increased from three to seven years as a result of the faith Kia has in its state-of-the-art factory in Zilina, Slovakia.

It's not just a case of better workmanship, though - the Sportage has been put through its paces by Kia's development engineers in Germany.

They have tuned the car to European road demands for the first time, rather than making do with the Korean-developed set-up of 2005.

The big changes
The merest hint of a bump or corner used to send the old Sportage wobbling, so the face-lift team's first job was to sort out its ride and handling characteristics.

The result is a car that has a stiffer ride, less body roll and more direct steering. Larger brakes also help shrink stopping distances, too.

It's not all good news, however, as the Sportage is still a long way in terms of ride and handling from being a class leader, despite the strides it has taken.

Engine options remain a 2.0-litre petrol and diesel and a 2.7-litre V6 petrol, but there are now 10 model derivatives, offering buyers more choice.

The most significant developments are the arrival of three two-wheel-drive models and automatic transmission being available as standard on the two-wheel-drive 2.0-litre diesel model.

Two-wheel-drive models are expected to appeal to buyers who want the benefits of a higher driving position and larger load space, but who don't intend to go off-road. They cost around £1000 less than the four-wheel-drive equivalents.

Running costs are largely unchanged - there are only minimal fuel economy and carbon dioxide emissions improvements. That means the car sits in the same tax bands as the previous Sportage, so tax bills remain the same.

Other news
There are small styling changes to refresh the Sportage's look.

The front grille, light clusters and wheel designs have been updated, and the range of colour options now matches that of the Cee'd.

Inside, the cabin has been updated, and longer, wider front seats with lumbar support have been fitted to create a more comfortable environment.

It succeeds, although the interior still leans towards functional rather than inspiring, and the steering wheel still doesn't adjust for reach, which makes finding a comfortable driving position harder.

The rear seats are split 60/40 and fold flat. They can also be fixed at three different angles, giving passengers an uncommon but enjoyable choice of sitting positions.

Extra cladding has been added to reduce wind and road noise.

There are three trim levels: XE, XS and Titan. All are generously equipped for the money.

Conclusion
Whether you are buying a two- or four-wheel-drive car, the Sportage remains a reasonable car for anyone on a budget.

Buyers of either, though, will have to accept that compromises come with the financial savings, in terms of ride and handling, the quality of the engines and interior design.

Diesel models are on sale now, while petrol models will go on sale in January. Two-wheel-drive cars will cost from £13,995, and four-wheel-drive cars from £14,995.