ANY car company serious about shifting significant numbers of new vehicles may as well be trying to push a wheelbarrow with a flat tyre if it is trying to keep up with the competition without at least one SUV or crossover in its range, writes William Scholes.
The 8.8 per cent growth in Europe's car market last year was chiefly fuelled by the new wave of small and compact SUVs and crossovers.
Half of the top 20 models that gained the greatest market share in 2015 were crossovers, for example, and models like Nissan's Qashqai and Renault Captur are now firmly established bestsellers.
One of the Qashqai's biggest rivals is the Kia Sportage, the last version of which was the South Korean company's breakthrough model in Europe.
Chunky styling that managed at once to appeal to mums and dads was a big part of its appeal, as was its strong value-for-money and practicality. It was even decent to drive.
Following up a model which has proved so significant to the company was not going to be easy, and while Kia is to be praised for 'trying something different' with the latest Sportage's aesthetics, it is less clear-cut whether the results are wholly pleasing on the eye.
Away from matters subjective, the new Sportage promises a step up in quality, refinement and frugality.
The car has just gone in sale in Northern Ireland, priced from £17,995, with a choice of 18 variants based on four engines, three gearboxes, front- and four-wheel-drive and six trim levels.
The top model, at least to begin with, is the £31,645 First Edition, though the sporty styling of the GT-Line models, from £24,350, should help them become popular.
Engines include 1.6-litre petrols and diesels of either 1.7-litre or 2.0-litre capacity and the full gamut of the latest safety and connectivity kit is available.
The Sportage will face strong competition when Seat dealers get their hands on the Ateca, the VW satellite's first foray into the land of the SUV and crossover.
It arrives with us in September, sporting the usual dizzying range of engines, gearboxes and front- and four-wheel-drive options with which we have become accustomed from Volkswagen Group products.
The Ateca is the first of three new crossovers Seat will debut over the next few years.
It should be a strong package, and its handsome styling distances it from its Volkswagen Tiguan sibling, a handy advantage when the VW is just about The Most Boring Car on sale today, though the Touran runs it close.
One of the most unboring crossovers must surely be Audi's bonkers RS version of the demure Q3.
Clearly not unboring enough for someone in Audi HQ, for they have just unleashed an 'RS performance' version of the A3-on-stilts.
That means the fettled five-cylinder petrol turbo engine returns from the gym with a jump in power and torque, to 362bhp and 343lb/ft respectively.
Top speed is pegged at 167mph and 0-62mph is demolished in 4.4 seconds. Price? A mere £49,175...
