2019 Kia Sportage updated for a new year

The 2019 Kia Sportage crossover gets sprinkled with some subtle visual updates and a new engine.

Up front, the 2019 Sportage gets a slightly revised version of Kia’s tiger nose grill that is finished in a glossy finish of black, at least in the range-topping GT line version shown in the pictures. The older “ice-cube” fog lights are now gone, replaced by the new air vents which gets a horizontal fin that slices them in half and then extends on to the bumper. The headlights house a light design somewhat similar to the old fog lights. The alloy wheels range in size from 16 to 19-inches. At the back, the faux skid plate and tail lights get the subtlest of updates.

A new steering wheel and updated instrument cluster freshen up the cabin. New two-tone upholstery (black and grey) can be had in fabric or leather, based on the variant hierarchy. Depending on the variant, the 2019 Sportage will also offer a 7-inch touchscreen or a new “frameless” 8-inch display.

The changes are major under the hood but they don’t concern our market much as they’re all tied with diesels. A turbocharged four-cylinder EcoDynamics+ 2.0-liter “R” diesel comes hooked up to a mild-hybrid starter/generator unit and a 48-volt battery. It claims to cut CO2 emissions by as much as 4 percent.

Another big change under the hood is the introduction of a 1.6-litre U3 CRDI diesel engine that comes in as a replacement to the existing 1.7-litre CRDI unit. This engine is presented as Kia’s cleanest diesel to date. Two states of tune, 113 hp, and 134 hp, are being offered with this engine. It is hooked up to an all-wheel-drive and a dual-clutch, seven-speed automatic transmission.

In Europe, the 2019 Kia Sportage will start deliveries during the third quarter of this year. Expect the new model to be available in the UAE and GCC shortly afterwards.