GIIAS 2018: Kia Sportage facelift sneaks into the show

GIIAS 2018: Kia Sportage facelift sneaks into the show

Kia was not officially present at the 2018 Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS), but the carmaker managed to sneak in a Kia Sportage facelift via the backdoor – the refreshed fourth-gen QL was sitting at the stand of a window tint company.

First revealed in May, the Sportage facelift gets new engines, a lightly altered appearance plus new safety and infotainment tech. More details were released last month ahead of the start of global sales in this quarter.

There are front and rear bumpers, as well as redesigned front and rear lamps. The ‘eyes’ have four-point LED daytime running lights, similar to the new Cerato and Ceed. The GT-Line, seen here, comes with a gloss black hot-stamped radiator grille, a gloss black and silver skid plate, and dark chrome inserts on the side sills and rear tailgate.

GIIAS 2018: Kia Sportage facelift sneaks into the show

Click to enlarge

The GT-Line’s unique 19-inch alloys (245/45 tyres) have been redesigned (new 16- and 17-inch wheels for the other trim levels), and all models are fitted with a dual-exhaust rear valance (look closely and you’ll see the real tailpipe jutting out below the bumper) plus revised ‘ice cube’ LED fog lamps. Just minor refinements inside, including on the steering wheel and instrument cluster.

The big news under the hood is Kia’s new EcoDynamics+ 48V diesel mild-hybrid powertrain for Europe. It combines a 2.0-litre ‘R’ diesel engine, 48-volt battery and a mild-hybrid starter-generator unit. Kia says that the added bits supplements acceleration and extends engine ‘off time’, resulting in 4% lower C02 emissions in the new Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP).

The new powertrain is paired with the Sportage’s all-wheel drive system, transmitting power via six-speed manual or a newly-adopted eight-speed automatic transmission. For other global markets, the 185 PS/400 Nm 2.0 litre diesel engine is now available with a new eight-speed automatic without the mild-hybrid system, and a front-wheel drive option.

GIIAS 2018: Kia Sportage facelift sneaks into the show

The latest Sportage is also available in Europe and South Korea with Kia’s new 1.6 litre ‘U3’ turbodiesel with ‘SmartStream’ tech, said to be the cleanest diesel engine the company has ever made. It replaces the ‘U2’ 1.7 litre CRDi unit and delivers better efficiency and fuel economy. Combustion is made more efficient with the adoption of a new fuel injection system and revised valvetrain. Weighing 18 kg lighter, it’s available in 115 or 136 PS outputs.

It comes with front-wheel drive and a six-speed manual as standard, but 136 PS models are also available with all-wheel drive and a seven-speed double-clutch automatic. No changes to the petrol engine line-up, which includes two turbocharged T-GDi engines (1.6L and 2.0L) and three naturally-aspirated engines – a 2.0 litre MPI unit, as well as 1.6 litre and 2.4 litre GDi engines.

The Sportage facelift can be optioned with Kia’s latest advanced driving assistance systems, including Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Surround View Monitor and Driver Attention Warning. Customers have a choice of new infotainment systems: a 7.0-inch touchscreen or a new ‘frameless’ 8.0-inch infotainment system.


GALLERY: Pre-facelift Kia Sportage 2.0L AWD GT CRDi

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • arowana on Aug 13, 2018 at 11:11 am

    Porsche Macan Korean Edition

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • Autobahn on Aug 13, 2018 at 9:38 pm

      That 2.0 crdi 185hp 400nm now coupled with 8 speed auto. Check bmw 320d or 520d and see if it has the same power output. Eh wait but for less than half the price..now forget crv with 1.5t petrol 240nm with rubber cvt…we are comparing with the german for god sakes

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 1
    • stastasta on Aug 14, 2018 at 11:59 am

      koreans are well known for overstating their power outputs. few years ago they were fined in USA for doing just that. for example the optima gt producing 240bhp on paper is slower than the passat highline which produces 220 bhp.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • Mr Hakim on Aug 13, 2018 at 11:13 am

    Honestly, when this design first came out, it just looks so ugly, but now it just grows on me and looks gorgeous.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 1
  • Same L0rr on Aug 13, 2018 at 11:19 am

    Oh.. kimchi!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • CPONG on Aug 13, 2018 at 11:33 am

    First picture looks so similar to the Ford Focus you post above hahaha

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 2
  • Mikey on Aug 13, 2018 at 12:20 pm

    Bravo to Kia for having many options for this Sportage from 1.6 to 2.2 liter(petrol/diesel/hybrid) & with option of Kia’s latest advanced driving assistance systems not to mention Front wheel Drive & AWD too.
    The GT-Line’s unique 19-inch alloys makes the SUV looks even better.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • looks like Korean version of MACAN

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • musangKing-originalz on Aug 13, 2018 at 1:34 pm

    this one or the hyundai equivalent? kia and hyundai which one quality better? any owners free to tell us?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
    • redknapp on Aug 13, 2018 at 4:31 pm

      KIA ftw!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • I have a 6 yrs old Hyundai C segment car and a 1 yr old Kia D segment car. 130km mileage on my Hyundai and no breakdown so far (touch wood). Major maintenance for me is to change the damaged steering rack which are still under warranty back then. I’d give thumbs up for Kia overall quality, solid build, low NVH, powerful engine, good suspension and great fuel consumption for their Crdi engine. For me Kia and Hyundai would be a great car to drive if they can improve their steering system. I think they know about it, that is why they hired a few former BMW M division guys to do the job. And Kia dealer shouldn’t let people to test drive their car with badly aligned wheel, it almost turned me off during test driving the car.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Hehehe on Aug 13, 2018 at 1:49 pm

    So ugly

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 7
 

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