We tested the Kia Sportage HEV: a hybrid SUV that uses fuel like a diesel, very comfortable for daily use and with a large boot

Since my first hands-on with the Kia Sportage range back in February 2022, when besides analysing the whole range I was able to briefly drive several versions, I was keen to live with one for a few days and really put to the test the version that, even then, struck me as one of the most interesting: the Kia Sportage Non-Plug-In Hybrid. After spending a long week with the Sportage HEV using it every day -you know, work, shopping, with the family- and also taking advantage of a trip to the beach, I can assure you that if you’re lost and can’t decide amid so many options, the Sportage HEV is a “safe bet”.

I hear you, choosing a new car can be really difficult sometimes. And even more so in this case. To start with, the Sportage range includes petrol and diesel versions, and to complicate things further, some carry a C label while others have MHEV mild hybridisation and an ECO label. And then there’s the Sportage HEV full hybrid and the Sportage PHEV plug-in hybrid. Prices range from 28,300 euros for the entry-level version to over 55,000 for the top of the range.

In the buying guide I mentioned earlier you’ll find an analysis of which options make the most sense depending on your budget and how you plan to use the car, but in short: rule out the C-label versions and choose the MHEVs even if your budget is tight. And if you can, make the leap to the hybrid, available from 37,750 euros with discounts, which is the same price as the 1.6T GDI petrol with 7DCT gearbox -though slightly better equipped- and just 1,500 euros more than a 136 CV CRDi with the same equipment but a manual gearbox… and almost 100 CV less!

Which version to choose and how much should I spend on a Sportage HEV?

To put the figures on the table before going further, note this: the price of the Sportage HEV including the promotional discount, and without financing, is 37,750 euros for the Drive trim. You get an SUV with 230 CV and very complete equipment; you’re unlikely to miss anything. And here you need to crunch the numbers carefully, because stepping up to the Tech trim costs almost 3,000 euros more, in exchange for 18″ wheels instead of 17″, LED headlights with adaptive high beam, darkened rear windows, “Tech” upholstery, smart key with push-button start, electric heated seats and a wireless phone charger.

You can also choose the Sportage HEV with all-wheel drive, which is only available from the Tech trim onwards and costs around 3,000 euros more than the 4×2. You know my opinion on this: barring very, very particular cases (mountain areas with frequent heavy snow, driving on very poor roads and tackling steep gradients), give me the 4×2 and a good set of All Season tyres, and I’ll keep the premium for all-wheel drive to spend on equipment… or on fuel.

And although I wouldn’t be at all surprised if you were drawn to the successful GT Line versions of the Kia, be careful, because that takes us to a starting price of 45,700 euros, 8,000 euros more than the entry-level version. True, besides the eye-catching design details of this trim, you get a “top” car here, with features such as ventilated seats, the hands-free rear tailgate, 360-degree camera, remote parking system, premium audio system by Harman Kardon, panoramic roof, exit collision warning when reversing out of a parking space, rear traffic alert and blind-spot assist with a monitor in the instrument cluster.

Given the prices… how does the Sportage HEV stack up against its rivals? In an unbeatable position, considering everything it offers and -we’ll get to this shortly- how well it drives. For example, focusing on what I consider the best alternatives to the Sportage, a Ford Kuga FHEV with 190 CV starts at 38,500 euros. The Hyundai Tucson HEV, its “cousin”, is around 39,000 euros depending on offers. And there’s the Renault Austral, which I also recently tested thoroughly, from 38,000 euros. You can read the Austral road test here, where I explain why it’s, alongside the Sportage, one of my favourites. Not forgetting the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, which in its Adventure version offers an extra that the others don’t have if what you’re looking for is being able to leave the tarmac with some confidence.

Besides its eye-catching design, the Sportage is also a practical car

I have to confess that from the very first moment, the Sportage’s design struck me as a bit “daring”. But time has passed and I admit that front end, which initially put me off a little, has grown on me. Although the Sportage is one of those cars whose impression depends a lot on the body colour; the green of the tested unit, with the black touches on the wheel arches and the chrome roof rails, looks quite good. But the best is inside.

The initial sensation, as soon as you switch on, is that you’re sitting in a car that’s right up to date in technology, with a very well-finished presentation. That said, I’d personally do without so much glossy black plastic. It looks elegant… as long as it’s clean, something that’s difficult given how easily it attracts dust; and it also produces a lot of reflections.

I like how it works and how easy it is to get used to the multimedia system, with the 12.3-inch touchscreen placed next to the digital instrument display, which is the same size. This unit did not have wireless induction phone charging (standard on the Tech and GT Line) nor wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connectivity -you need to use a cable-, features which, I admit, I increasingly value. Likewise the ability to control the climate without having to resort to the multimedia screen and navigate menus. In the Sportage, as in other KIAs, this can be done through a row of also touch-sensitive buttons and two rotary knobs on the centre console, from which you can easily switch between controlling the climate or the multimedia system.

Good visibility, the comfort the seats offer even on long motorway trips, the quality of the graphics and camera images when parking, the handy spaces for emptying your pockets, the good feel and easy operation of all the controls… Overall, the Sportage is one of those cars you don’t mind driving, that you feel at home in and comfortable from the very first moment. Passengers too, who have rear seats with plenty of space despite the fixed bench, and with details such as a reclining backrest, USB sockets and air vents.

As for the boot, it’s nearly 590 litres in this hybrid version, and with the option of folding the rear seats in a 40:20:40 split, which offers a certain versatility. Here, besides a 12-volt power socket, luggage net anchor points and a light, you’ll find a small compartment under the floor to store a small item next to the electric compressor of the puncture repair kit.

Behind the wheel of the Kia Sportage Hybrid: comfort, performance and low consumption

Some cars stand out from the competition in specific areas; for example, for their agility on winding roads (a Peugeot 3008 or a Mazda CX-5); for their comfort (like the Citroën C5 Aircross); or for their ease of driving when manoeuvring in town (the Volvo XC40 comes quickly to mind). That’s not the case with the Sportage, which doesn’t excel at anything in particular… but it doesn’t fail at anything either, and it scores very highly in any situation.

The optional Tech pack, which includes 18-inch wheels and 235/55 tyres, is a good choice and further proof that very wide, low-profile tyres don’t sit well with SUVs. They help the balanced suspension deliver a noticeable level of ride comfort and give you peace of mind when you get close to a kerb, the road fills with potholes or you decide to venture off the beaten track. Be careful, though: for ground clearance and suspension travel the Sportage isn’t built for much adventure, even with aids such as hill descent control. It’s not especially agile in corners, nor does it aim to be; its character is more family-oriented, and that’s noticeable when you drive it. Just one minor criticism of the driver aids you notice most: the lane-keeping system corrects too much and can become annoying, although it’s easy to switch on and off with a button on the steering wheel itself. And the active cruise control is sometimes a bit slow to pick up speed again.

And the hybrid system? I’d give it a solid grade too, for the balance it offers between performance and consumption, and for how pleasant it is to use. It remembers the pushing power from very low revs thanks to the electric motor, that delivery we loved from the more “refined” turbodiesel engines, which are practically fading into memory in the face of this new generation of hybrids that are smooth, quick and frugal. You don’t even need to select “Sport” mode on the drive programme selector: in Eco mode you may not get the performance you’d expect from a 230 CV car, but I assure you you won’t lack acceleration or overtaking capacity. And always with operation free of vibration or excessive noise.

That’s all you’ll need to worry about, because the Sportage leaves little room for driver intervention: the hybrid system always operates automatically, choosing whether the wheels are driven by the electric motor, the combustion engine or a combination of both. And it does so really well, judging by the consumption figures. It isn’t among the most frugal -the Austral or the Kuga would be my benchmarks- but it’s easy to stay below 7 l/100 km without much effort if you drive smoothly. You can get close to 6 l/100 km if you select eco mode and resort to “tricks” such as alternating between “D” and “N” on the gear selector dial to manually activate “coasting mode”. Because here you don’t even have a “B” mode on the transmission for extra engine braking. There are paddle shifters behind the steering wheel, but they don’t control different levels of energy recovery; they operate the dual-clutch gearbox. In the end you stop using them and let the automatic mode do its thing.

On the downside, as with many hybrid cars, the Sportage’s consumption is very sensitive to your driving pace, especially if you’re coming from a turbodiesel. It’ll also take some getting used to the brake feel, especially in town, where that initial phase of the pedal has less bite and the transition between gentle regenerative braking and stronger hydraulic braking is noticeable.

Kia Sportage HEV – Image gallery

Technical specifications of this car

Off-RoadKIA Sportage18 versions · from 36,190 €