THE arrival of a common rail diesel engined version of Kia's rugged, yet stylish, all-new Sportage completes the model's line-up and presents the small SUV market with its most attractive and challenging vehicle.

In a market sector that continues to see healthy growth - despite the whines of the anti 4x4 brigade - Kia can now provide the growing number of mid-range car buyers and an all-weather, all-terrain alternative to the traditional medium-sized saloon or hatchback. And with prices starting from just £15,695 the Kia Sportage diesel range will significantly challenge many of the established names in this sector.

Kia's own research prior to the introduction of the new Sportage range in January 2005 discovered that many car drivers would like to trade up to an SUV but felt that 'real' 4x4 motoring was out of their reach. But initial sales of the new diesel-engined Sportage's petrol stablemates have shown that those motorists see Sportage as the answer to their aspirations.

Designed to provide safe and economical on-road characteristics with the ability to handle demanding conditions away from the highway, the Sportage is set to take on the established hierarchy as well as offering the real SUV alternative to saloon and hatchback drivers.