This is the Kia Sportage JBL Black Edition - a new special edition version of the latest version of Mia’s mid-size SUV. It’s available to order now, with prices starting from £28,545.
Changes over the standard Sportage include black 17-inch alloy wheels, body-coloured door handles, new front and rear skid plates, a new radiator grille and gloss black roof rails. The special edition model is also exclusively available in Phantom black metallic paint, while its interior is trimmed in black leather upholstery.
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The JBL Black Edition is based on the Sportage “3,” which means it gets a decent selection of standard equipment, including front and rear parking sensors, a panoramic sunroof, LED headlamps and a 360-degree parking camera. Buyers also get an eight-inch infotainment system, heated front and rear seats and a heated steering wheel.
Kia has added an eight-speaker JBL stereo system, which features a subwoofer, a standalone amplifier and a new front centre speaker for the dash. Buyers also get a free wireless JBL speaker included in the price.
There are two engines available in the Sportage JBL Black Edition. The range opens with a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which develops 174bhp and 265Nm of torque. The unit offers a 0–62mph time of 8.9 seconds and claimed WLTP fuel economy figures of 35.3mpg.
Above that sits a 1.6-litre four-cylinder diesel engine, fitted with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. The powertrain has an output of 134bhp and 320Nm of torque – and while its 0–62mph time is slower than the petrol units at 10.8 seconds, fuel economy is vastly improved with claimed WLTP figures of 50.4mpg.
Both powertrains are mated to a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, although the two units can be had with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic for an extra £1,215.
What do you make of the new Kia Sportage JBL Black Edition? Let us know in the comments section below…