The Kia Sportage has built a strong reputation around the world as a small to mid-size recreational 4WD, so it’s no surprise that the Korean company has chosen to continue with the Sportage name for its latest model – the most sophisticated to date.

At the same time, in keeping with world trends the Sportage is also the least likely to go into tough off-road situations following a reduction in ground clearance from the previous model – despite it having the latest 4WD system and electronic aids such as a hill descent  system, hill start function, and full traction control.

Fact is, Kia has designed its good-looking newcomer to appeal to those who want to go skiing, fishing or surfing rather than bush bashing – with a huge amount of urban street cred thrown in.

That’s probably the reason Queenstown was chosen for the Australasian launch of the new vehicle, with the highlight a blast up to the famous Snow Farm above Cardrona. This was originally also going to include ice driving at the Southern Hemisphere Proving Grounds skid pan, but it was too warm!

The drive showed off Kia’s new 4WD system, developed in conjunction with Magna Powertrain Systems.  Magna Powertrain is part of the world-wide Magna group which includes Magna-Steyr, which was involved in the original design of, and still builds, the Mercedes G-Class (Gelandewagen) 4WD.

Although not a revolutionary system – it has a central clutch pack controlled by electro-hydraulic actuators to split torque between the front and rear axles up to 40 percent rear, or all to the front – what IS new is its computer software, which uses sensors fitted as part of the electronic stability programme to continuously monitor driving conditions and anticipate where to send drive rather than other systems which merely react to conditions.

The system can perform in as little as 150 milliseconds, and also works in conjunction with the ESP system to brake individual wheels when it senses wheel spin, preventing sideways slip on the road.

The result is that both understeer and oversteer are dialled out of ordinary driving, instead being replaced by excellent grip in most conditions.

There is also the choice of switching off the stability programme and to lock the centre clutch pack to deal with more extreme conditions.

The ability of the system to only put drive where it’s needed can also result in better fuel efficiency under dry high-grip conditions when all the power can be fed through the front wheels. Kia claims 8.7 L/100 km for the 2WD petrol and 9.2L/100 km for the 4WD petrol.

In addition the clutch pack has a larger-than-normal oil reservoir which means it is less prone to overheating in high use conditions such as towing, mud, or loose snow.

But the new Sportage is not just about the Dynamax system, for it’s brand-new from the wheels up.

Although it uses a similar platform to other Hyundai-Kia models, that’s where the similarity ends, and Kia was quick to point out that both its suspension, and the 4WD system, is unique to the Sportage.

As well as the body, of course.

This was penned by Massimo Frascella and his team at Kia’s California Design Office, and follows the latest design principles of a high waistline, flowing roofline, and macho front end, with a large “Schreyer” grille (named after Kia’s chief designer Peter Schreyer, who introduced it as the new “face” of the brand) to give a well-balanced and extremely good-looking result.

In terms of size the new model, code-named SL, is 90 mm longer (to 4445 mm) and 15 mm wider (1855 mm) than the outgoing KM series, yet it’s 60 mm lower and has 23 mm less ground clearance (to 172 mm), as well as being lighter by as much as 91 kg. Wheelbase is longer by 10 mm, now 2640 mm, while track is wider by 74 mm and 75 mm front/rear at 1614 mm and 1615 mm.

Luggage space ranges from 740 litres with all seats in place to 1547 litres with the rear seats folded.

There are four distinct models, all fitted with six-speed automatic transmission with sequential manual – a front-wheel drive LX Urban and EX Urban  driven by a 2-litre petrol engine, and 4WD EX and LTD versions with either 2.4-litre petrol or 2-litre R series diesel power, although the latter versions will not get there until next year.

The petrol vehicles will hit showrooms from October, with projected prices between $32,990- $34,990 for the LX 2WD;  $36,990-$38,990 for the EX 2WD; $41,990-$43,990 for the EX 4WD and $45,990-$47,990 for the LTD.

No price indications are yet available for the diesel models.

Power output of the 2-litre DOHC CVVT petrol is 122 kW at 6200 rpm with 197 Nm of torque at 4600 rpm; the 2.4 DOHC CVVT petrol produces 130 kW at 6000 rpm and 227 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm, while the third generation common rail 2-litre turbo-diesel gives 135 kW/392 Nm.

All Sportage models come rich with features. All versions, including the 2WD models, get ABS brakes with EBD, ESP, front, side and curtain airbags, hill descent and hill start systems, plus rollover sensors. They all get audio systems with CD and iPod connectivity, air conditioning, electric windows and mirrors (the latter with built-in indicator lights), and remote central locking (in the LTD by proximity key).

However Bluetooth will not be available until the end of the year.

There are 16 inch alloy wheels on the 2WD models and 17 inch on the 4WD versions, and full size spare wheels on all versions.

Front suspension is by McPherson struts with side load springs, while the back is a true fully independent setup with multi-link.

A feature of the suspension is that the Kia engineers have tuned it for Australasian conditions rather than taking the standard Korean setup, and this has resulted in a more compliant and responsive suspension, giving the best elements of ride and road holding.

Inside the vehicle the styling is just as modern as on the outside, with a flowing dashboard, and a large instrument cluster directly in front of the driver which includes a trip computer.

The steering wheel has a thick leather-trimmed rim on all but the entry level version (with satellite controls for the audio system and cruise control)  and all the seats are height adjustable. Two levels of cloth trim are available, with leather on the LTD.

Space is noticeably greater than before, while all-round vision is excellent, reversing being aided by both sensors and a reversing camera which displays in the rear view mirror (except the entry-level 2WD).

Towing capacity is 750 kg unbraked up to 1600 kg braked.