Warranty boost for Kia Sportage

Kia's Sportage has been given a slight makeover to take it into 2009, along with a new five-year warranty.

The restyled Kia Sportage's exterior enhancements include a redesigned grille and headlamps, body-coloured front and rear bumpers, revised wheel arches, new 16-inch alloys and twin exhausts for all models.

The interior has been jacked up with a new factory-fitted radio/CD player with an auxiliary jack, USB port and iPod connection. Furthermore, new front seats have longer and wider cushions while the rear seats' cushions are restyled and firmer. The bench has also been lowered to allow for more headroom at the rear.

As for occupant safety, Sportage now has six airbags - two front, two side and two curtain bags.

The three engine derivatives remain unchanged, too.

The 2.0-litre petrol engine, which produces 104 kW at 6 000 r/min and 188 Nm at 4 500 r/min, is available as 4X2 and 4X4 models.

However, the 2.0 CRDi and 2.7-litre petrol V6 are only available as 4X4s. The turbodiesel develops 82 kW at 4 000 r/min and torque of 251 Nm between 1 800 and 2 500 r/min, while the V6 generates 128 kW at 6 000 r/min and 246 Nm at 4 000 r/min.

The 2.0-litre engines are offered with either a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed Shiftronic automatic. The V6 is only offered as an automatic model.

In addition to the SUV's physical changes, Kia has also chosen the Sportage's facelift to reveal its new five-year/100 000 km warranty that is transferable to subsequent owners.

A three-year/60 000 km maintenance plan and a three-year roadside assistance programme are included, too.

Prices:
2.0 Petrol 4X2 Manual - R229 995  
2.0 Petrol 4X2 Automatic - R239 995
2.0 Petrol 4X4 Manual - R244 995
2.0 Petrol 4X4 Automatic - R254 995
2.0 Diesel CRDi 4X4 Manual - R273 995
2.0 Diesel CRDi 4X4 Automatic - R283 995
2.7 V6 4X4 Automatic - R278 995