Kia has facelifted the Sportage, and it has done a decent job. You have to look carefully to spot the styling changes, but the more important work has been done under the skin. Revised suspension settings give a more comfortable ride, both when towing and in everyday driving, and a thicker windscreen reduces wind noise. The dashboard is better finished than before, and the list of standard equipment has grown.

Our range-topping test car has the 181bhp version of Kia’s 2.0-litre diesel, so there’s plenty of go. Towing from 30-60mph took 13.7 seconds.

At motorway speeds the Kia proved stable, only caught out by a gusty crosswind. In the lane-change test, however, it struggled for grip on a dry track and was pushed around by the caravan.

The hill start was more to the Kia’s liking. The handbrake held as long as it was pulled on firmly, and the combination of a strong engine, four-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox made short work of the 1-in-6 slope.

The Sportage picks up mixed scores for practicality. We’re pleased the car comes with a Trailer Stability Programme, a reversing camera and a full-sized spare wheel. However, we couldn’t find room for two items from our typical holiday luggage load.

Choose the top KX-4 spec and the Sportage nudges close to a £30k price tag, but the long list of toys and seven-year warranty go some way to justifying the price.

2019
Category Winners
2019 Up to 1400kg

Škoda Octavia

Hatch 1.5 TSI 150PS SE L DSG

2019 1400-1549kg

Seat Ateca

2.0 TSI 190PS FR DSG

2019 1550-1699kg

Volkswagen Arteon

2.0 TDI 150PS Elegance DSG

2019 1700-1899kg

BMW 520d

Touring xDrive M Sport

2019 1900kg+

Land Rover Discovery

3.0 SDV6 HSE

2019 Best Budget 4x4

Dacia Duster

1.5 dCi Ambiance 4x4

2019 Best Plug-In Hybrid

Land Rover Range Rover Sport

P400e HSE Dynamic

2019 Best Ultralight Tow Car

Seat Arona

1.0 TSI 115 FR

2019 Fuel Economy Award

Ford Focus Estate

1.5 EcoBlue 120PS Titanium X

Previous Winners
2018
1700-1899kg

BMW 520d

Touring xDrive M Sport

2017
1900kg+

Land Rover Discovery

3.0 Td6 HSE*

2016
1400-1549kg

Skoda Superb Hatch

2.0 TDI 150PS SE Business

2015
1400-1549kg

Volkswagen Passat Estate

2.0 TDI BMT 150PS SE Business DSG

2014
1400-1549kg

Nissan Qashqai

1.6 dCi (130PS) Stop/Start System Acenta Premium

2013
Up to 1424kg

Skoda Octavia

2.0 TDI CR 150PS Elegance

2012
1725–1899kg

Jaguar XF

2.2D Premium Luxury

2011
1425-1574kg

Volkswagen Passat Estate

2.0 TDI 170 Bluemotion Sport

2010
1900kg+

Land Rover Discovery 4

3.0 TDV6 XS

2009
1900kg+

Volvo XC60

D5 SE Geartronic

2008
1575-1724kg

Ford Mondeo Estate

2.0 TDCi Titanium auto

2007
1575-1724kg

Volkswagen Passat Estate

2.0 TDI Sport 4Motion

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