New 2016 Kia Sportage: prices and specs revealed

Kia Sportage prices have been announced, ahead of the model's 5 February on-sale date. 

Kia's Nissan Qashqai rival will cost from £17,995 for the entry-level petrol 1.6 GDI Sportage, with a six-speed manual gearbox. A special, range-topping First Edition Sportage has also been announced, priced at £31,645, with the top-spec 182bhp, 2.0-litre CRDi engine and six-speed automatic gearbox. 

The Sportage range includes six trim levels: 1, 2, 3 and 4, GT-Line and First Edition, with all-wheel drive models signified by KX-1, -2, -3, or -4 badging. Base 1 spec starts at £17,995, rising to £21,995 for KX-1, 2 is priced from £20,500, rising to £25,610 for the 2.0-litre 134bhp CRDi with six-speed automatic gearbox, while KX-2 costs £24,300; 3 trim starts at £24,750, rising to £28,310 for the six-speed auto KX-3, while 4 starts at £26,550 for the 1.7-litre CRDi manual, and increases to £30,710 for KX-4 with six-speed auto 'box. GT-Line is available with a 1.6-litre petrol engine with either six-speed manual or 7-speed dual-clutch automatic - £24,350 and £25,650 respectively - or the 2.0-litre CRDi engine in either manual or automatic at £25,850 and £27,160.

Standard equipment across the range includes a leather-trimmed steering wheel, air-con, DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity, Hill-start assist and cruise control. All models from 2 spec upwards will have a 7in or 8in touchscreen with sat-nav, while higher-spec cars will gain added tech, such as Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist and other safety and driver assistance technologies. 

GT-Line spec is new to the Sportage, and is marked out by 19in alloys, Kia GT's signature quad front foglights, dual exhausts and metallic exterior trim. Where a DCT gearbox has been chosen, paddle shifters will also feature, as well as various interior trim upgrades. 

A new T-GDi turbocharged petrol engine is also claimed to deliver more than 37mpg and 177g/km and 175g/km in manual and DCT guises. 

Kia claims the latest Sportage engines have improved emissions and economy; the most popular 1.7-litre CRDi engine improves the 52.3mpg and 143g/km CO2 of the outgoing unit by more than 7mpg and emissions by 16g/km. Kia also claims the 2.0-litre CRDI engine in 134bhp and 182bhp automatic formats have emissions reduced by 29g/km and 23g/km respectively. The torque of these engines is also improved, as Kia claims the less-powerful 2.0-litre diesel now produces 275lb ft compared with the previous model's 236lb ft, and the 182bhp engine increases to from 282lb ft to 295lb ft. 

The fourth-generation Kia Sportage was first revealed at the Frankfurt motor show. It gets totally new styling for the sides and rear, although the biggest changes are at the front. The headlights are no longer integrated into the grille, as they were on the third-generation Sportage, but now sit higher up on the side of the bonnet. This leaves the now familiar Kia nose, which features on the majority of the company’s range, with a stand-alone grille.