The Sportage is one of the roomiest small SUVs, and the hybrid version is unequivocally the best pick. The hybrid is quicker, quieter, has a smoother ride, and managed 36 mpg overall—an 11-mpg gain over the gas-only model. All of those positives combine to make the hybrid the slam-dunk Sportage choice.
The mainstream EX trim we tested packs lots of desirable features that buyers are sure to appreciate, such as dual-zone automatic climate control, a power driver’s seat with lumbar adjustment, heated front seats, and automatic high beams. But its tepid standard engine makes it a bit boring to drive, and the Sportage is burdened by some annoying controls.
The Sportage’s standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder produces a respectable 187 horsepower. But after an annoyingly-abrupt first burst off the line, it feels lackluster—okay, downright slow—after that. It’s one of the few vehicles today that needs 10 seconds to run from 0 to 60 mph. The eight-speed automatic transmission also isn’t the smoothest shifter, a trait that becomes quite noticeable because it needs to downshift a lot on the highway just to keep up with surrounding traffic.
The hybrid’s combination of a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and electric drive yields a much more responsive 227 hp. It leaves the line with a silky electric push, then transitions smoothly back and forth between gas and electric as needed. The hearty mid-range power means the six-speed automatic transmission doesn’t have to change gears anywhere near as often as the eight-speed, and the gear-changes are smoother. Plus, the hybrid shaves more than two seconds off the gas-only model’s jog from 0 to 60 mph.
In most other ways, the differences between the two Sportage models are small, though some are significant. The hybrid’s ride is slightly more comfortable—it does a better job absorbing bumps than the conventional model, as the latter allows more impacts to punch through in a pronounced way on rougher roads. The hybrid’s cabin is quieter because it can drive on electric power up to about 30 mph (with a light throttle foot), and its turbocharged engine is less buzzy. But, the hybrid isn’t quite as nimble or capable of a handler as the regular version; it feels softer with more body roll through turns, and was 3.5 mph slower through our avoidance maneuver. The hybrid also needed five more feet to stop during our panic-brake tests, and the brake pedal feels a bit grabby—particularly at low speeds.
Drivers liked the front seats in our Sportage test models, thanks to ample side bolstering which holds you in place through corners, although some found the seatback’s “pocket” a bit narrow. The best seats in this house may be in the second row, thanks to generous head- and legroom, and good leg support. As with most small SUVs, the Sportage is quite easy to get in and out of, and it can hold a large amount of cargo.
The majority of the regular controls are easy to use, but we don’t like that a horizontal touch-capacitive panel below the main infotainment screen does double-duty for climate and basic audio controls. Toggling back and forth between the two systems requires touching a specific spot on the panel, which isn’t easy to do while driving, in part because of how low the display is located on the center stack. It’s important to remember which mode you’re in, because the knob on the left side of the display serves as either the driver’s temperature control or the audio system’s volume.
The hybrid model has a rotary gear selector which takes some familiarity because you have to press a separate button to shift into Park, rather than just turning the dial to Park as would seem more logical. We appreciate the Sportage’s thoughtful details, such as the USB ports built into the back portions of the front seats so rear-seat occupants can charge devices. And the monolithic dashboard display—which makes the instrument cluster and infotainment screen look like one giant unit—along with heavy use of glossy-black plastic trim are sure to enhance the Sportage’s showroom appeal.
Forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure warning, lane centering assistance, lane keeping assistance, and automatic high beams are standard. Blind spot warning and rear cross traffic warning aren’t available on the base LX, but come standard on higher trims.