2017 Kia Cerato Sport and Sportage Si Premium special editions arrive in Oz

Kia has expanded its Cerato small car and Sportage medium SUV ranges with the addition of two new models, both designed to add equipment at the existing lower-grade models while maintaining a sharp price point.

6

The Sportage range grows with the Si Premium grade, which is based on the existing Si 2WD petrol model and adds 18-inch alloys, climate control, LED daytime running lamps, front parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, self-dimming rear vision mirror and a seven-inch touchscreen display with integrated sat-nav.

6

As with all other existing Sportage models, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring is also standard on the Si Premium.

There are no mechanical changes, with the Si Premium utilising the same 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol inline four as the existing petrol base model. Power peaks at 114kW while torque tops out at 192Nm, with all of it going to the front wheels exclusively via a six-speed automatic. Retailing at $30,990, the Sportage Si Premium rests squarely between the existing Si and SLi 2WD petrol variants.

6

| 2017 Kia Rio Review

The Cerato Sport, meanwhile, is specced to sit above the current Cerato S automatic with AV pack and the mid-grade Cerato Si auto. Effectively superseding the Cerato S Premium and available as a hatch or sedan, it adds 17-inch alloys, faux leather steering wheel upholstery, chrome interior door handles, more soft-touch plastics on the upper door cards, ‘aero blade’ windscreen wipers and a rear spoiler for the sedan.

6

Like the Sportage Si Premium, the Cerato Sport also boasts a seven-inch colour sat nav display with integrated Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

6

But though it may wear ‘Sport’ badges, don’t expect anything different to the 112kW/192Nm 2.0-litre petrol four-cylinder that already powers the Cerato family. An automatic is standard, and average fuel economy is a claimed 7.2L/100km – the same as that of every other Cerato model.

At $22,450, drive-away, the Cerato Sport has slightly more equipment than the outgoing Cerato S Premium for $2540 less outlay.