2018 Kia Sportage REVEALED complete with 2.0 litre Mild Hybrid DIESEL

The new Kia Sportage has been revealed with a bit of a facelift, new technology and a new 2.0 litre mild-hybrid and 1.6 litre U3 diesel.

Last week, Kia revealed a new 48V Mild Hybrid diesel engine was going to arrive this year as they tackle emissions, and here it is under the bonnet of the new facelift 2018 Kia Sportage.

The arrival of the 2.0 litre mild hybrid engine in the new Sportage is another step along the road for Kia’s plans to launch 16 advanced powertrain vehicles by 2025, including five new hybrids, five plug-ins and five BEVs, as well as a hydrogen fuel-cell option.

The 2.0 litre diesel mild hybrid is designed to address the negative perception of diesels, and comes with a 48V battery which adds a bit of extra power, extends the ‘off’ time with a new starter-generator and reduces CO2 emissions by up to four per cent.

Kia has also dumped the current 1.7 litre CRDi and replaced it with a new 1.6 litre ‘U3’ CRDi which, claim Kia, is the cleanest diesel they’ve ever delivered and comes with either 113bhp or 134bhp, with the 134bhp version offering four-wheel drive and a seven-speed dual-clutch ‘box. Kia hasn’t revealed economy of emissions figures for either the new mild hybrid or 1.6 litre diesel.

The facelift elements of the 2018 Sportage are pretty much what you’d expect, with new bumpers titivated lights and new alloys, with GT-Line models getting a gloss black grille, gloss black and silver skid plate and dark chrome bits.

Inside there’s a refreshed instrument cluster and new black and grey upholstery, with GT-Line models available with two-tone black and grey or black and red leather seats.

On the tech front, the new Sportage comes with Smart Cruise Control, Stop-Go, Around View Monitor, Driver Attention Warning and either a 7″ or 8″ infotainment screen.

The new Kia Sportage goes on sale in the UK in Q3, by which time Kia will have worked out hoe efficient their new engines ar and how much they’re going to charge.