It’s surprising that it was Kia that bucked the trend of electrification getting boring. My biggest gripe with hybridizing sporty cars is that it reduces engagement. Remember how Honda’s paddle shifters in the Civic and CR-V e:HEV were relegated to controlling the braking levels instead of the transmission? That annoyed me a lot (Although they made something better in the Prelude called the S+ Shift).
This is why the new Sportage Turbo Hybrid is instantly one of the best hybrids to drive. It has the technology to keep you engaged and doesn’t scrimp on the powertrain. The result is a throttle-happy hybrid that won’t hurt the wallet at the end of the drive.
Kia made us drive it from Ayala Malls Manila Bay to Tagaytay but on a different route. Instead of driving straight through SLEX, we went to Cavite and Batangas before heading back to Tagaytay. The Kia Sportage HEV went through a lot of mountain roads and curves before settling at the hills of Twin Lakes. It showed 21.27 km/l at that point but it only consumed 1 of the 12 fuel bars. One car in our convoy even had all 12 intact when we reached the hotel.
This can be credited to the 1.6-liter turbocharged hybrid powertrain that’s also found in the bigger Sorento HEV. It was alright in the Sorento, but having 235 horses and 367 Nm in this much lighter Sportage resulted in a more dynamic drive thanks to better power-to-weight ratio. I don’t have 0-100 figures but you can feel it in the Sportage’s response. It’s always ready to overtake at a flick of the paddle, which is another wonderful thing.
Kia has a dual-function technology for the strip of controls on the dashboard. It alternates between media and aircon controls at a press of a button. Now, Kia implemented that (sort of) in the Sportage HEV’s paddle shifters. It controls the car’s regenerative braking but when in Sport mode, it will act like a traditional paddle shifter. You can use the regen to recharge the batteries in descents, then be rev-happy later on, all while being efficient.
This is complemented by the overall behavior of the car on the road. It has a good ride, the cabin is quiet, and it has minimal body roll even when taking on the mountain passes at speed. The steering wheel might be a bit numb, but you can forgive it once you’re having fun.
Passengers will also find comfort in the Sportage Turbo Hybrid. As a wide boy, I truly liked the horizontal space it has in both the front and rear sections. There’s also a lot of legroom; even when the occupant in front was 5’10, I still had respectable space in the back, and I’m 5’7.
They also put a lot more thought into the implementation of tech in the Sportage HEV. I like that the rear occupants won’t have to go low for the USB ports because they’re at the backrest of the front seats. They’re all USB-C too so you won’t have to buy a separate cable for them if you have a more modern device. One of the ports in front also has a dual-function of charging only or mirroring. This is so you can use Wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto with the wireless charger, and have someone else charge on that port without disrupting your interface on the touchscreen.
There’s really nothing to complain about when you’re sitting inside the Sportage. The seats are well-cushioned, the ergonomics are spot-on, and even long drives don’t leave you feeling fatigued. The cabin is also impressively quiet, allowing you to enjoy conversations or your favorite music—even when heavy rain is pounding outside.
If you’ve owned or driven a Sportage before and are looking for something more modern, this Turbo Hybrid version is certainly worth considering. It runs on more affordable gasoline, but the diesel is hardly missed. There’s more than enough power to tackle mountain roads, steep parking ramps, and slower-moving cars occupying the left lane of the highway. It remains sporty, practical, and spacious enough for your gear, while still being the kind of SUV that can put a smile on your face.
