The point of a road trip is to discover unfamiliar places. The fifth-generation Kia Sportage Hybrid is ideal for such jaunts.
This small crossover’s gas-electric hybrid powertrain will get you farther down the road on a tank of gas—the EPA estimates 521 miles (AWD). The 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and electric motor (227 hp total) deliver both sprightly performance and impressive fuel economy (38 mpg combined).
On the pavement, the suspension delivers a decent ride and acceptable (but not sporty) handling in daily motoring. If you come across an interesting dirt road, the AWD version is up for some mild off-road exploring.
Now built on the same underpinnings as its larger Sorento cousin, the new Sportage is some 7 inches longer than before, so there’s 3 more inches of rear-seat legroom. The Sportage also boasts one of the largest cargo holds in the compact crossover segment—up to 74 cubic feet.
The Sportage’s quiet interior also has a more upscale feel, with better materials. High-tech details include a 12.3-inch center-mounted touch screen and lots of advanced safety features. Kia’s only misstep is the row of tabs used to control the audio, climate, and navigation systems. They just aren’t as intuitive to use as good old-fashioned knobs and buttons.
