Kia has facelifted the Sportage and added a 236bhp, AWD hybrid option

This is the new Kia Sportage: a familiar recipe but with a fresh face, tweaked interior and a choice of combustion or hybrid powertrains. No need to drastically change something that’s sold over *seven million* copies, right?

The entry-level car will get a 1.6-litre turbo four-pot producing 148bhp, mated to either a six-speed manual or seven-speed DCT gearbox. Alternatively, that same engine can be had with a bit of e-motor assistance for up to 236bhp. Both will come with front-wheel drive as standard, but the hybrid gets the option of AWD.

Kia’s styled in its rugged ‘tiger nose’ grille between the ‘star map’ light signatures. The Sportage’s front bumper design is consistent with its siblings, including that almost triangular fog lamp casing and trim space between the upper and lower grille. Those funky alloys can be had in 17-19in sizes.

Inside, there’s a simple two-spoke steering wheel, hidden air vents to create a minimalist look, many cubbyholes for exhausted juice cartons and a panoramic roof. Various fabrics and artificial leathers will upholster the seats, while the door cards use microfibre suede.

You’ll also get a pair of 12.3in panoramic screens glued together and a 10in head-up display. This lot is controlled through the Kia Connect operating system, which issues OTA updates as and when needed and oversees the safety suite - automatic emergency braking, evasive steering assist and so on.

As for space, it’s 562 litres in the boot for the pure-ICE car, which grows to 1,751 litres with the rear seats folded. The hybrid gains an extra 25 litres on both counts.

The new Sportage will go on sale in the UK this summer, with full specs and pricing to be announced in due course.