The arrival of the European-built Sportage Series 2 has had an immediate effect with the SUV topping the Kia class by almost doubling sales when compared to June last year.

The 79.6 per cent jump for June has also helped lift the award-winning Sportage's year-on-year improvement to 23 per cent.

The Sportage Series 2, built at Kia's Zilina factory in Slovakia, comes with upgrades including HID headlamps, static cornering lamps, aero blade front wipers, partial leather seat trims, rear seat warmer, front wiper de-icer and an Active ECO mode on the diesel automatic.