There was this notion that electrification in cars will result in boring vehicles. There are models that proved this wrong but mainly because they were electrified to begin with. The outcome differs for those that have a lineage from the conventional combustion engine.
They have become more efficient for sure. The problem is they are not as engaging anymore. Don’t get me wrong, they are still sporty, but their sportiness has become arcade-ish rather than engaging.
The Kia Sportage Turbo Hybrid is lucky for a simple reason – it’s a Kia. They have the technology to keep you engaged and didn’t scrimp on the powertrain section. The result is a throttle happy hybrid that won’t hurt the wallet at the end of the drive.
We drove 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. At this point, it returned 21.27 km/l 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 attributed to the same 1.6-liter turbocharged hybrid powertrain found in the bigger Sorento HEV. It was alright in the Sorento, but having that 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.
Unlike other hybrids that have relegated the paddle shifters to regenerative braking, Kia’s dual-function genius keeps the control over the transmission. The Sportage HEV’s paddles have three levels of regenerative braking in Eco mode and then takes over the transmission when in Sport mode. You can use the regen to recharge the batteries in descents, then be rev-happy later on, all while being efficient.
Complementing this is the overall behavior of the car on the road. The ride is good, the cabin is quiet, and it has minimal body roll even when taking on the mountain passes. You will enjoy it on the curves if you can forgive its numb steering feel.
Being a passenger is also a delight here in the Sportage Turbo Hybrid. As a wide boy, I truly enjoyed the horizontal space it has both in the front and rear sections. There’s also a lot of legroom that even when the occupant in front was at 5’10, I still have respectable space at the back and I’m at 5’7.
They also put a lot more thought in 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 nothing to complain about really if you’re an occupant here. The seats are cushioned well, the ergonomics are good that long drives didn’t result in any fatigue, and the cabin is quiet so you can enjoy your conversations or music even with heavy rain.
If you’ve had the Sportage before and want something more modern, this Turbo Hybrid version is a must-have. It now uses the now more affordable gasoline fuel, but the diesel isn’t missed. It has more than enough power to get you through mountain roads, steep parking lots, and slow moving cars on the left lane of highways. It’s still sporty, has the space for porting, and will definitely put a smile on your face.
