Inside the Sportage dispenses with conventional gauges, replacing it with a wide, shallow, digital computer tablet display. There is a vehicle info display in front of the driver, with infotainment functions reflected over the centre console. Climate controls use knobs for the duplex climate system, with the remaining functions handled by touch surfaces. Ultra premium trims feature a push-button gear selector, with lesser models employing a conventional gear lever. The screen and the dashboard it is attached to is slightly banana shaped, with the right side curved slightly toward the driver. The tablet is flanked with bizarrely shaped dash vents. The passenger faces a plain dash that is closer to the windshield at its right end that in the middle. The rest of the cabin looks interesting, with some two-tone cabin combos offered and some interesting shapes and patterns, like the chevron sew patterns on the centre seat panels of premium trims. The Sportage is essentially a Kia version of the Hyundai Tucson. Cabin and cargo space are ample.

The standard powertrain available is a 187 horsepower, normally-aspirated 2.5L four. Front-wheel drive is offered in the base LX trim, but most Sportages will send power to all wheels via a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission. The HEV version twins a 1.6L turbo four and an electric motor to create 227 total system horsepower. The PHEV uses the same engine and an electric motor to furnish 261 horsepower.

On the road, the Sportage PHEV runs in full electric mode a lot of the time. Transitions from electric to gas engine mode are near seamless and quiet. The PHEV powertrain accelerates briskly and refinement is impressive at all times, even under full acceleration. The ride is supple and handling is predictable.

All-wheel drive is a $2000 on the base LX trim but is standard on other models. The base LX, with alloy wheels, L.E.D. headlights, deep tinted glass, roof rails, heated front seats, the iOS-Android cellphone interface, a forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking and a lane keep assist system. Moving up to the X-Line includes larger wheels, turn signals on the door mirrors, a power driver’s seats, heated steering wheel, leather wraps for the steering wheel and shift knob, wireless cellphone charging and blind spot and rear cross traffic warnings, is very good value. The EX upgrades brings along fog lights, a panoramic sunroof, a heated windshield, navigation, active cruise control, rain-sense wipers, garage door opener buttons and junction turning intervention and is very good value. The X-Line Limited upgrade adds a Harman-Kardon audio system, rear auto braking, a ride-view monitor and a 360 degree camera system but is significantly overpriced. Only the EX versions of the conventional and hybrid variants intersect, with the hybrid costing $5000 more. The plug-in versions (PHEV) of the hybrid are priced $5000 more than the “conventional” hybrid models. There were no government incentives available for the PHEV in mid-February 2025.

Average to reliability predicted during the warranty period. Engine durability unproven. Some complaints have been received about unfixable problems with the hybrid models once the cars get to two or three years old.