Like most of the compact SUVs launched this decade, the new Kia Sportage is not intended for conquering muddy hillsides, it's aimed squarely at the small family market previously dominated by hatchbacks.Ostensibly, the car is a replacement for the dowdy old model the manufacturer introduced in 1995, but one look at the latest version confirms almost everything has changed about the SUV in the last 15 years, and Kia intends to take advantage of it.We'd hesitate before describing any family transport as a head turner, but the first car ushered from paper to pavement under Peter Schreyer (the man responsible for the Audi TT) comes as close as any. The Sportage is a bitingly handsome combination of well-proportioned lines and sculpted flanks which gets better every time you see it.Rightly confident that the average crossover buyer is likely to be swayed by good looks, Kia dispatched the top-spec Sportage First Edition to the UK early in 2010 to soften up the ground before it unleashed the full 16-model range. The 2.0-litre diesel in that car is now joined by an all-new 1.6-litre petrol engine, a smaller 1.7-litre diesel and another 2.0-litre petrol. The 1.6-litre will prop up the range as the entry level choice, but the diesel will be the car of choice for those on a budget as it is capable of mid-50smpg and emits just 135g/km CO2.While all the powerplants are competitive with Kia's rivals, don't expect any to stir the soul. The Korean manufacturer has (rightly) opted for economy over performance, but that fact doesn't make the chore of overtaking any easier. Despite the underwhelming sense of urgency lurking under your right foot, there's little to grumble about behind the wheel. Four-wheel drive practicality is on offer if you desire it, but most Kia customers will be more than satisfied with the cheaper two-wheel drive variants. Few SUVs are genuinely exciting to drive, and although the Sportage continues that trend, its potential buyers are likely to value its comparative comfort, manoeuvrability and general good manners. It's a similar theme inside, where Kia has continued the exterior's good looks for just as long as its budget allowed. As such it's all pretty well reconciled - the chunky squared-off theme extends to the air vents, for example - but also pretty cheap to the touch.Nevertheless, in between the plastic there's plenty of kit. The Sportage comes in Kia's three familiar trim levels - imaginatively titled 1, 2 and 3 - but all benefit from a decent spec. Even the cheapest model gets 16-inch alloy wheels, air-conditioning, LED running lights, electric mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, iPod cable and Bluetooth connectivity.The generous level of kit is further evidence that Kia has done its homework on the requirements of crossover buyers. In fact, the whole car feels like the product of studious attention to detail. The Koreans have become remarkably good at pulling segment leaders from its industrial hat, and the Sportage is no different. Its European competitors may pip it at the post in terms of refinement or interior quality, but Kia's crossover is a proficient and very good looking alternative to the current family favourites.