It isn’t a Netflix movie, it is what it is. The Kia Nightfall Edition, a stopgap model name update, a late appetizer, a false flag edition to distract you before the all-new generation Kia Sportage arrives in 2022. And if it earns Kia a bit extra dosh on the side, why not. After all the marketing teams need to justify why they exist. Most people won’t notice, I mean look at us we certainly didn’t and we are a highly decorated and authoritative car blog (AHEM!) known across the world with billions of views per month. Of course, we’re lying out of our skins. Our web servers don’t have the capacity to cope with traffic surges which are comprised of the dog, next-door neighbors cat and Jeff Bezos.

But I do digress. Specifically for the American market, the updated Kia Sportage model line now reads like an updated model line; LX, Nightfall Edition, EX and SX Turbo. This can be translated as more money, more money, more money SHOW ME THE MONEY! The entry-level LX starts from $24,000 and rides on entry-level spec 18-inch alloy wheels. That’s a good start. It also gets a panoramic sunroof.

Driver safety systems such as lane-keeping assist, lane departure warning, driver attention warning, blind-spot warning, and high beam assist is standard across the range. FWD is standard while AWD is optional or standard depending on model trim. Wisley Americans don’t do manual transmissions. The sweet spot of the model range is the Kia Sportage Nightfall Edition. At $28k it’s affordable and comes with all the equipment you will ever need.

The USA Sportage is powered by a 2.4-litre, 4-cylinder 181 bhp engine, the exception being the range topping SX turbo which is powered by a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder 240bhp turbo engine.