AM Awards 2016 - Used Car of the Year

AM Awards 2016 - Used Car of the Year - Kia Sportage

1 March 2016

Kia’s third-generation Sportage has secured the distinction of AM’s Used Car of the Year award as a swan-song to mark its final year of production.

The stylish Korean SUV may be facing replacement by a new model in the first quarter of 2016, but it has ended its reign as a new car strongly, with 23,010 registrations in 2015 according to the SMMT, a 6.65% rise on 2014.

Used markets like the rakish contender too, thanks to strong residuals and main dealer service book stamps delivered as a result of Kia’s seven-year warranty.

According to Auto Trader, the Sportage was the fastest-selling used SUV of 2015 – taking an average of 30 days at an average price of £19,161 – and the fourth-fastest seller overall, behind the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Insignia and Toyota Prius.

A healthy standard specification has enticed many used buyers, with Kia’s aggressive pricing policy meaning that used Sportages often come fitted with sat nav, leather seats and a panoramic glass roof.

Three engines – a 1.6-litre GDi petrol unit and 1.7- or 2-litre CRDi turbodiesels – are available in a range divided into three basic specifications, with four-wheel-drive, an automatic gearbox and sat nav providing further options.

Fuel economy in the outgoing Sportage ranges from 40.1mpg (with CO2 emissions of 149g/km) in the GDi to 54.3mpg with 135g/km CO2 emissions in the 1.7-litre CRDi.

Early, high-mileage Sportages can be bought for as little as £8,000, but AM believes the newer crop of third-generation models is likely to remain a used car hit during the coming year.