WITH the confidence of a company at the forefront of the booming crossover sector, Kia has given its Sportage a minor visual nip and tuck to keep it looking fresh.

It’s a tough market out there in SUV land - a land with ever-expanding borders that will soon even include the likes of Bentley and Rolls-Royce - and this refresh will keep the Sportage in the minds of potential buyers.

The car’s nose and tail benefit from minor tweaks, while inside there are changes to the cabin’s trim, styling and materials. Eagle-eyed shoppers will also spot improvements to the car’s fascia, plus the inclusion of an updated choice of infotainment systems.

This generation of Sportage, Kia's best-selling model in the UK, boasts the soft curves we’ve come to expect from the current generation of the ‘lifestyle’ SUV genre. Kia has tweaked head and tail-light design, while the grille has been updated to reflect what’s on the rest of the firm’s range.

Inside, there’s a modest uplift in cabin quality thanks to better material choices, while the infotainment system has been boosted to reflect the needs of an increasingly tech-savvy audience. Factor in Kia’s solid reputation for delivering well-built, affordable cars, plus its generous seven-year warranty package, and it’s not difficult to understand the appeal of this family-friendly SUV.

Out in the real world the Sportage offers a sensible compromise of cabin space and footprint size. There’s ample room inside for a growing family, while out back the car’s boot proves practical and versatile in everyday use.

Folding the rear seats increases the car’s versatility, while there’s also ample oddment space for the usual mountain of family orientated clutter. The choice of all-wheel drive also boosts the Sportage’s versatility, be that for towing or simply to ensure a stress-free drive in foul weather.

The higher-powered 181bhp two-litre turbo diesel engine is achingly smooth, making for a relaxed drive whether you find yourself in city traffic or out on the open road.

It's undoubtedly the pick of a four-strong engine line-up that also includes a 134bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel unit, 1.6-litre direct-injection petrol engine and 1.7-litre turbodiesel. The 1.6-litre petrol and 1.7-litre diesel models drive through the front wheels, while the 2.0-litre versions are exclusively all-wheel drive and are available with six-speed automatic transmission as an alternative to the standard six-speed manual.

With its commanding driving position and multi-adjustable seats, it’s easy to get comfortable behind the wheel. And that’s the point; the Sportage offers a refined experience that easily rivals that of cars costing considerably more. Also, its engine line-up delivers a good range of performance and economy, while the ride is the right side of comfortable and keeps pitch and roll to a minimum.

Front-drive cars sacrifice little if you never plan on towing or off-roading, while the flexibility of all-wheel drive ensures an added safety net for more adventurous owners.

Either way, the Sportage is a doddle to drive thanks to its main controls boasting ample assistance, making the car easy to park in town and offering enough feedback on the open road. Factor in the excellent automatic transmission and you have a vehicle that makes for a very easy life on the road.

With its standard kit list that easily embarrasses many of its more costly rivals, the Sportage is a sound proposition for buyers with a modest budget. Naturally diesel power is the way to go if you plan to travel far or tow.

The Sportage offers a compelling blend of easy-on-the-eye looks plus a long list of creature comforts and safety kit for a modest price.

The range is based on 1, 2, 3, 3 Sat Nav and 4 trim levels, and even the standard items list is impressive. It includes ally wheels, air conditioning, all-round electric windows, LED daytime running lights, remote central locking, a leather- covered steering wheel and gear lever knob, front fog lights, rain-sensing wipers, Bluetooth, cruise controls and steering wheel-mounted controls.

Further up the food chain you will find partial or full leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, a seven-inch satellite navigation screen, reversing camera, climate control, bigger wheels, electric driver's seat, parallel park assist system and even a heated steering wheel.

Which makes you think that it's no surprise that the Sportage is able to wrestle more and more buyers from more expensive brands.

Kia Sportage 2.0 CRDI KX4 Auto AWD

Price: £29,505
Engine: 2.0-litre diesel, producing 181bhp
Transmission: Six-speed automatic (manual available)
Performance: 0 to 60mph in 9.4 seconds; top speed 121mph
Economy: 39.2mpg combined
CO2 emissions: 189g/km