MOVING with the times is necessary in the automotive world and adapting established models has become something of an art.

A prime example is the Kia Sportage which first came on the scene in the mid 1990s as a bargain priced no-nonsense everyday 4x4 – an affordable early form of SUV that a lot of people liked.

But in those days Korean manufacturer Kia was still gaining a foothold in the UK and although the old Sportage did not quite fall into the cheap and cheerful slot it was not exactly the 4x4 to aspire to.

But evolution took a hand and the original moved on, culminating in the Sportage of today, a vehicle that is not only wickedly good looking but one that offers a version for just about everybody.

Firstly the styling has joined the crossover cult – a neat and flowing mix of SUV and coupe without losing the high commanding driving position, visibility and stance of an SUV.

It has impressive green credentials plus the option of a two-wheel drive version, cleverly answering the demand of those who love the shape but do not want all-wheel drive.

The 16 model range start at just over £17,015 for the basic 1.6 petrol and tops out at more than £26,000 for the flagship 2.0 automatic diesel.

The line-up includes impressive 1.7-litre turbodiesel options and I drove one recently fitted with the latest – and almost obligatory these – days intelligent stop/start technology which cuts the engine when idling at traffic lights and starts again to move off, so saving fuel.

It also came as standard with sat nav was an indication of just how far Kia has progressed in terms of quality in recent times.

Everything from panel fit to choice of trim materials is light years ahead of the Kias of the 1990s.

Covered by a seven year warranty the 1.7 CRDi was extremely well specified and offered something of an explanation of Kia's amazing success in recent times.

The Sportage aims to attract people who might otherwise have looked at the Nissan Qashqai, Peugeot 3008, Ford Kuga or Volkswagen Tiguan.

It has been designed to meet the requirements of young families – or the young at heart – who lead busy lives.

The car weighs around 90kg less than the previous model and features a sleeker aerodynamic profile, with a Cd down from 0.40 to 0.37.

All of this has ensured that it is not only more stylish and sporty, but also more environmentally friendly.

The 1.7 diesel is capable of a combined fuel economy in some versions of more than 54mpg which really does make it a comfortable five-seater for its time.

On the road it features excellent cornering capabilities and has an agility that many 4x4 offerings do not have.

Suddenly modern requirements have transformed this workaday 4x4 into an inspirational and aspirational crossover.

FAST FACTS

Kia Sportage 1.7 CRDi 3 Eco Sat Nav 18”wheels

Price: £23,190

Mechanical: 114bhp, 1,685cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox

Max speed: 107mph

0-62mph: 11.9 seconds

Combined mpg: 52.3

Insurance group: 12

CO2 emissions: 143g/km

BIK rating: 21%

Warranty: 7yrs/ 100,000 miles