New Kia Sportage JBL Black Edition unveiled

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.

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…