10 years ago, Kia produced an SUV called the Sportage; by combining a low sale price with a high level of equipment, Kia managed to make this car a great success.

The original model did leave a lot to be desired though, Kia have taken this on board and with the experience they gained, have now built the new model Kia Sportage. The only thing the new and old models have in common is the name.

Released in 2005, the new Sportage has already established itself as a firm favourite in the SUV market. The new line-up include three redeveloped engines, a 140bhp 2.0 petrol unit, the most favoured 111bhp 2.0 diesel engine and the flagship 2.7 V6 engine which produces a fantastic 173bhp.

The model tested was the 2.0 common rail diesel injection. This turbo-charged unit is great for every day use. It is coupled to a six-speed gearbox which enables you to drive comfortably in town at 30mph and when you wish to unleash the Sportage on a straight road, it will propel you to a very respectable 110mph.

The 183lb/ft torque produced by this unit is readily on tap from 1,800-2,500 rpm which ensures that you always have plenty of pull when you need it and yet with all this performance, the Kia still manages to retain an impressive 39.8mpg (combined). The Kia rewards its driver with smooth gear changes and a minimum of engine noise due to the clever structural designs from the Kia research and development facility.

The new generation Kia Sportage has also gained notoriety for its rugged good looks. The Kia looks quite chunky from the outside; this is probably due to it being slightly larger that other SUVs in the market.

The interior doesn’t fail to impress either, with it’s ultra modern layout and abundance of space, Kia have made the Sportage one of the best places to be when you are stuck in one of the UK’s increasingly frequent traffic jams.

The surroundings in the cabin are well laid out and the silver on black contrast of the dashboard works very well and is easy on the eyes. I particularly like the way the dashboard seem to extend into the doors and this makes for very clean lines inside as well as outside. The Sportage is also very accommodating when it comes to large loads. The rear seats have a onetouch drop and fold system that creates a flat-floored cargo area of just over 1.6 metres in length.

Although the Sportage is produced in Korea, it is plain to tell that it has many European influences. Safety has been taken care of by fitting ABS, EBD, traction control and twin airbags to this SUV.

Customers can also enjoy a good level of standard equipment, even the entry models benefit from the JVC CD/MP3 player, air-conditioning and remote central locking. The new Sportage epitomises the progress that Kia has made since the last model was launched. Prices have been kept low, the entry level 2.0 XE only costs £15,295 and even the 2.7 V6 XS can be bought for just £19,295. This latest offering is a serious contender in the SUV market and I think that it is perfectly placed to continue Kia’s growth in the UK.

The company motto is “Keep It Alive”, the new Sportage more than lives up to it.