CHANGES are being made to Kia's top-selling Sportage range with a new trim level and upgrades to connectivity on all versions.

Prices now start from £23,445 for a level 2 trim model - an increase of some £700 - with the previous entry level 1 grade dropped from the line up.

Out also is the 2.0-litre diesel engine with all Sportages now using a 1.6-litre block for both petrol and diesel choices.

The range now tops out at £33,330 for a 174bhp GT-Line S model with a turbocharged petrol engine and seven speed dual clutch automatic transmission.

New to the line up is a 3 trim grade which joins 2 grade and GT-Line and GT-Line S specifications. The previous level 4 grade is also being discontinued.

The 3 grade features a panoramic sunroof, power adjustable front seats, a ‘smart' entry system and an electronic parking brake among its standard equipment while all models in the Sportage range now come with an eight-inch touchscreen sat nav system with Kia's UVO Connect telematics system and full smartphone compatibility.

Externally, the 3 grade comes with black wheel arch body mouldings and side sills with a chrome insert, silver painted front and rear skid plates and LED headlights among its features.

Every Sportage now has alloy wheels, heated front and outer rear seats, dual automatic air conditioning, privacy glass, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, rain sensing front wipers, automatic light control, electrically folding, adjustable and heated door mirrors and cruise control with speed limiter in its manifest.

There are now three engines available on the Sportage with the line-up starting with a naturally aspirated 130bhp 1.6-litre GDi petrol engine with emissions of 177g/km and fuel economy of up to 36.2mpg. Top speed is 113mph and 0 to 60 acceleration takes 11.1 seconds.

The turbocharged 1.6 engine - available on all trim grades - produces 174bhp and has emissions from 183g/km which equates to a best fuel consumption figure of 34.9 for front-wheel-drive models and 33.2mpg and 192g/km for 4x4 variants.

Diesel versions cost from £25,150 and are rated at 52.3mpg with a CO2 figure of 141g/km, a top speed of 112mph and a 0 to 60 time of 10.3 seconds for two-wheel-drive models.

Last year Kia sold some 35,000 Sportage models in the UK making it the Korean car maker's top selling model in Britain.