The latest iteration of the Kia Sportage is now out, and it continues to occupy a very crucial part of Kia’s local lineup. Specifically, it faces giants such as the Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V as its first-generation once did all those years ago. 

To do just this, the model was provided with new weapons in its battle. For starters, it is now a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) with loads of tech and amenities. 

But what exactly are the reasons to pick the all-new Kia Sportage Turbo Hybrid over its competitors? Let’s look at the three biggest reasons why it is worth considering. 

Good handling, peppy powertrain

To start, the Kia Sportage Turbo Hybrid has a lot of potential as an all-around daily driver. It even has the pep for effortless highway driving and the muscle to carve up curvy roads. 

The aforementioned was confirmed by Zigwheels Philippines during a two-day media drive up to Tagaytay. 

Notably, both variants of the Kia Sportage Turbo Hybrid, the EX and SX, utilize the same electrified powertrain. Specifically, it is the 1.6-liter turbocharged Gamma II that goes together with a 1.49-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery and a single permanent-magnet synchronous motor. 

With that kind of setup, the latest version of the Sportage can generate up to 231 horsepower (hp) and 367 Newton-meters of torque, making it one of the peppier compact crossovers in the market. This makes it on par with the Toyota RAV4 HEV - one of its closest competitors in the compact crossover segment. 

Besides its powertrain, the model comes with responsive steering and power delivery. Its six-speed automatic transmission is also quite engaging due to having real gears. 

On the one hand, the Kia-made crossover is far from being a gas guzzler. In fact, the unit Zigwheels Philippines used returned an average fuel consumption of 16 kilometers per liter on a mix of provincial, city, and highway roads. Thrown into the mix are uphill routes and the twisties in Kybiang. In the end, that fuel reading is good, given the power and torque it delivers. 

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Well-designed, appointed interior

Another huge reason to get the Kia Sportage Turbo Hybrid is the clear care and thoughtfulness that went into its interior design. 

It is supremely spacious, and even the author’s five-foot, eleven-inch girthy frame had no issues with the front seats and back seats. This is despite sharing the car with two other occupants. Legroom in the Sportage Turbo Hybrid is quite the highlight from the back as it still has more than five inches of clearance even when the front seat is slid back to accommodate a six-foot-tall guy up front. 

Notably, finding one’s preferred driving position on the SX trim was easy-peasy, as it has a tilt-and-telescopic steering column with plenty of range of motion. This is combined with a power-adjustable driver’s seat. 

The control surfaces of the Kia Sportage Turbo Hybrid are also a joy to use. Everything is well-placed and easy to remember. Plus, we highly commend it for using physical knobs for its dual-zone automatic climate control system. 

Plenty of techy people will likewise appreciate the presence of Type-C USB ports, a very secure wireless smartphone charging pad, and its pair of 12.3-inch dual screens, with one serving as a digital gauge cluster and the other as the car’s main infotainment display. 

The Kia's main screen comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It is also linked to an eight-piece Harman Kardon speaker set that promises a wide dynamic range, solid bass performance, and excellent clarity. 

Other features available to the Kia Sportage Turbo Hybrid include the following: 

• Ambient lighting
• 60:40 split-folding rear seats
• Push-to-start button
• Electro-chromic rearview mirror
• Front cabin armrest
• Power tailgate

 

Tons of safety equipment

Those wanting to purchase the Kia Sportage Turbo Hybrid as a family car will like its abundance of safety equipment. 

For its array of passive safety gear, it has dual front airbags, side airbags, curtain airbags, anti-lock braking, an electronic parking brake, electronic stability control, downhill brake control, hill-start assist, ISOFIX, tire pressure monitoring, and a rearview camera. 

The aforementioned are backed by a suite of advanced driver-assist systems, which include: 

• Forward collision avoidance assist
• Advanced smart cruise control
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Lane departure warning
• Lane following assist
• Lane keep assist
• Blind-spot monitoring and collision avoidance

Final thoughts

Overall, the Kia Sportage Turbo Hybrid does a lot of good things for a crossover. It is spacious, has plenty of creature comforts, and is equipped with tons of safety gear. With all of these elements combined, it makes for a highly sensible daily driver in settings like the Philippines where traffic can get tiring and, in some instances, chaotic. 

On the one hand, the model adds to those with its ability to wow its drivers with its power and drivability. It is huge for a compact crossover, yet it feels like a smaller car thanks to its strong powertrain and power delivery. There’s also the fact that it doesn’t drink gasoline willy-nilly. Instead, it is a highly efficient fuel-sipper - an element that even the staunch driving enthusiast will appreciate. 

For reference, the Kia Sportage Turbo Hybrid EX retails at P1.978 million, while the top-spec SX is priced at P2.098 million. So, if you like what you’re seeing in this model, do visit the nearest Kia dealership near you for a test drive. 

Also read:

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Kia PH opens Bohol dealership

Kia PH reaches 10K-unit sales milestone for Sonet

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