Priced from £17,995, the fourth-generation line-up includes 18 variants based on four engines, three gearboxes and six trim lines, including a new GT-Line that tops the range at £27,160 in 134bhp 2.0 CRDi guise.

The new Sportage is 40mm longer than its predecessor, with a 30mm greater wheelbase but unchanged width and height.

The five-seat cabin is more spacious thanks to the increase in wheelbase. Legroom and headroom front and rear is up to 16mm greater, while the boot capacity has risen by 26 litres to 491 litres, or 1,480 litres with the seats folded down. The rear seats now fold almost flat, while the lift-over height of the boot lip has been lowered by 47mm. There’s also a two-position cargo floor with space for the luggage cover to be stored beneath it when not in use.  

Engine line-up sees the introduction of a 1.6-litre T-GDi (turbocharged gasoline direct injection) unit and a 7DCT (seven-speed dual-clutch automatic) gearbox, both of which are reserved exclusively for the GT-Line.

They join extensively re-engineered 1.6-litre GDi petrol and 1.7- and 2.0-litre turbodiesel power units with improved fuel economy and CO2 reductions of up to 29g/km.

The economy champion is the 1.7-litre CRDi, which is now more than 7mpg more fuel-efficient in combined mode, while its CO2 output falls by 16g/km to 119g/km.

Six-speed manual gearboxes are fitted to every model, but the 2.0-litre diesels are available with a six-speed torque converter automatic (standard on First Edition). A seven-speed DCT is available on GT-Line models. Intelligent all-wheel-drive is standard on 1.6-litre T-GDi and 2.0-litre CRDi versions.

The six trim lines are badged 1, 2, 3, 4, GT-Line and First Edition. All versions powered by the 1.6-litre GDi and 1.7-litre CRDi engines are front-wheel drive, while those powered by the 1.6-litre T-GDi unit and the two 2.0-litre CRDi diesels have all-wheel drive. Four-wheel-drive versions are distinguished by the 'KX' prefix in the model designation – except for GT-Line and First Edition versions.

Entry-level kit includes 16-inch alloy wheels and all-round disc brakes, electrically adjustable door mirrors, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gearshifter, air conditioning, Bluetooth with music streaming, Trailer Stability Assist, Hill-start Assist, Downhill Brake Control and cruise control with speed limiter. 

All versions except the entry-level grade have a seven or eight-inch touch-screen satellite navigation system linked to Kia Connected Services with TomTom, providing full European mapping and detailed traffic, speed camera, weather and local services information.

Further up the range Speed Limit Information, Lane Keep Assist, High Beam Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking and Blind Spot Detection with Rear Cross Traffic Alert are available.