2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid

The Kia Sportage Hybrid makes a strong case as one of the most practical compact SUVs on the market, which is saying a lot considering the excellent competition. It gets an outstanding fuel economy rating of up to 43 combined mpg, has the best warranty in its class, and boasts a huge interior for an SUV this size, with tons of seating and cargo space. With class-leading horsepower, it also proves that hybrids don’t have to be boring.

The Sportage family also includes traditional gas and plug-in hybrid variants, which we review separately. The Kia Sportage Hybrid competes with the hybrid variants of the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Hyundai Tucson.

Having been introduced as an all-new model for 2023, changes are minimal to the Sportage Hybrid for 2024. New standard features include projector-type LED headlights and rear seat-mounted airbags.

The Sportage Hybrid has the lowest starting price among its key competitors, with the Honda CR-V Hybrid, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, and Hyundai Tucson Hybrid all asking at least a couple thousand dollars more.

Before buying a Sportage Hybrid, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Resale value is about average for the segment.

The Kia Sportage Hybrid is powered by a 227-horsepower hybrid powertrain matched with a 6-speed automatic transmission and front- or all-wheel drive. It’s not just more efficient than the gas-only Sportage, it’s quicker and more powerful, too. The gas-electric interplay isn’t as polished and seamless as in the CR-V Hybrid, however. There can be some unevenness when accelerating or braking — most noticeable when running around town — but not to a deal-breaking degree. On the highway, we’ve found the cabin rather hushed and the ride comfortable, thanks partly to a relatively long wheelbase.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating the current collection of hybrid SUVs, including this Kia Sportage Hybrid.

Fuel Economy

With front-wheel drive, the Sportage Hybrid is rated to return 43 mpg in mixed city/highway driving. The corresponding non-hybrid Sportage is rated at 28 mpg. Using common assumptions, that’s a difference of about 15 gallons per month. Even at $3 per gallon, that’s savings of $45 — and one trip to the gas station — every month.

Our reviewers have collectively described the interior of the Kia Sportage as an attractive mix of sport, luxury, and tech. The dual 12.3-inch digital displays married beneath a curved sheet of glass dominate the first impression, but that’s just the beginning. Angular air vents hugging the curved display add a technical look. An asymmetrical center console puts buttons and controls within easy reach of the driver. And when not needed to hold your drink, the cupholder area cleverly transforms into an extra bin that can accommodate larger items. We like the idea of the dual-purpose digital control panel, but with a knob that increases volume or temperature depending on the mode, it’ll always be a little extra cognitive load.

Rear legroom measures 41.3 inches, which is as good as this class gets. Kia also claims class-leading cargo room with 39.5 cubic feet of space behind the split-folding rear seats, which is virtually the same as the non-hybrid Sportage. Folding down the rear seats opens up a cavernous cargo hold measuring 73.7 cubic feet.

Efficient Hybrid Powertrain
The Kia Sportage Hybrid has an outstanding fuel economy rating of up to 43 combined mpg, making it 53 percent more efficient than the most efficient non-hybrid Sportage. It also has a class-leading 227 horsepower rating.

Blind-Spot View Monitor
When you activate a turn signal, a video image of the Sportage Hybrid’s rear three-quarter blind spot is displayed on the digital instrument panel, helping make lane changes safer. It’s supplemented by the Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, which automatically applies selective brakes to keep the Sportage from changing into an occupied lane.

The hybrid powertrain in the Sportage Hybrid has best-in-class horsepower and returns excellent fuel economy.

1.6-liter turbocharged hybrid 4-cylinder
227 total horsepower
258 lb-ft of total torque
EPA combined fuel economy (2023): 43 mpg with front-wheel drive (42 city, 44 highway), 38 mpg with all-wheel drive (38 city, 38 highway)

Class-Leading Warranty

The Kia Sportage Hybrid is tied with the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid for the best warranty in its class. It’s backed by a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.