2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige: Review, Prices, and Specs

Text by Tom Appel

2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige 4WD

Specs

Class: Compact Crossover

Color: Shadow Matte Gray

Seating Capacity: 5

Miles driven: 173

Real-world fuel economy: 37.3 mpg

CG Report Card

Room and Comfort	B+
Power and Performance	B+
Fit and Finish	B+
Fuel Economy	A
Value	A

Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup.

Big & Tall Comfort

Big Guy	A-
Tall Guy	B

Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester.

Drivetrain
Engine Specs	217-horsepower, 1.6-liter
Engine Type	Turbocharged hybrid
Transmission	6-speed automatic
Drive Wheels	AWD

Driving mix: 55% city, 45% highway

EPA-estimated fuel economy: 38/38/38 (city, highway, combined)

Fuel type: Regular gas

Base price: $37,490 (not including $1375 destination charge)

Options on test vehicle: Special paint ($595), cargo mat ($95), floor mats ($175)

Price as tested: $39,730

Pros and Cons

The great: Smooth and strong hybrid drivetrain, classy cabin

The good: Plenty of adult space, expected hybrid fuel economy

The not so good: Rear seatbacks don’t fold completely flat

Review

With electric-vehicle sales growing at a slower-than-industry-expected pace, carmakers are scrambling to realign their product portfolios with an assortment of powertrain options, including internal-combustion engines (ICE) hybrids (HEV), plug-in hybrids (PHEV), and full-electric cars and trucks (BEV). And, for the truly masochistic brand, fuel-cell (hydrogen) vehicles, too.

And while Kia does not currently retail a fuel-cell vehicle, corporate sister brand Hyundai does, in the form of the NEXO small crossover. And, in case you were wondering, Hyundai managed to sell 77 NEXOs in the first half of 2024, all of them in California, and all of them near Los Angeles, where the only public hydrogen fuel stations in the country are located.

But Kia’s lack of involvement in the dubious fuel-cell segment doesn’t mean the brand isn’t well positioned to enjoy the public’s current enthusiasm for hybrid vehicles—which has reached new levels. In fact, Kia may be among the carmakers best able to meet growing consumer demand for alternative powertrain offerings.

For 2025, in addition to its conventional ICE offerings, Kia also offers the following:

Kia Hybrid Models

Niro (small crossover)
Sportage (compact crossover)
Sorento (midsize crossover)
Carnival (minivan)

Kia Plug-in Hybrid Models

Niro
Sportage
Sorento

Kia Electric Vehicles

Note that though the Niro is offered with three drivetrain options, not all are offered in every state. Check out the Kia website for details.

Of course, selling a hybrid is one matter, and selling a good hybrid is another. We’re happy to report that the Kia Sportage Hybrid, which we are reviewing here, is especially impressive, in terms of both general operation, and overall efficiency. We’ll get to both in a moment.

Prices and Trim Levels

For 2025, Kia offers the popular Sportage in seven conventional trim levels, three hybrid variations, and two plug-in hybrid trims. Starting with the base offering, the Sportage Hybrid comes in LX ($29,965), EX ($33,765), and SX Prestige ($38,965) trim levels.

Engines

While the conventional Kia Sportage is fitted with a 2.5-liter normally aspirated (not turbocharged) engine, the Sportage Hybrid is powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged mill fitted with a pair of electric batteries and mated to a 6-speed automatic system. Total system output is a claimed 227 horsepower, a significant bump over the standard Sportage’s 187 horses. The Sportage hybrid is available with front- or all-wheel drive.

Note that no significant changes are expected for the 2025 model, though a significant update may arrive for 2026.

Test Drive

Consumer Guide recently spent a week behind the wheel of an AWD 2024 Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige in Shadow Matte Gray. Including destination charge, our test crossover came to $39,730.

Cabin and Connectivity

Like so many small crossovers today, the Sportage, especially in high-zoot SX-Prestige trim, feels more like a luxury car than a mainstream, popularly priced vehicle. The two-tone cabin upholstery is both classy and sporty, and the single-piece instrument panel/touchscreen looks modern and clean. We found the primary infotainment controls to work well, and the touchscreen icons easy to identify at a glance.

One odd control element that we didn’t love was the dual-use touch-panel controls below the touchscreen. The controls alternate between climate and audio and functions, and offer no haptic feedback when touched. In practice the controls work pretty well, but are not a welcome substitute for rear, tactile, switchgear.

Room and Comfort

As for space, the Sportage boasts plenty. There’s a generous amount of big-guy space in the front row, and only slightly less in the second seating row. Additionally, the seats are firm and long-trip supportive.

Power and Performance

Under way, the Sportage Hyrid acquits itself well, with plenty of power, and smooth hybrid operation. Unlike Kias of the past, which suffered from balky hybrid engine/motor interaction, the Sportage boasts refined power delivery and quiet operation. Better still, we saw 37+ mpg in routine drive. Excellent mileage given the power.

Ride and Handling

Ride and handling are also class leading. The Sportage Hybrid feels generally athletic, and ride quality is impressively refined, in a sort of German-luxury sort of way.

Cargo Space

There plenty of room in the cargo area, though the second-row seatbacks do not fold completely flat, leaving a small “curb” or sorts for larger parcels to be pushed/wrestled over.

Value

At less than $40,000, the Sportage Hybrid is less of an alternative-fuel option for Kia shoppers, and more of a premium option. The Hybrid offers not only better fuel economy than the conventional Sportage, but better performance, as well. Plus, hybrids models of any make have demonstrated greater value at trade-in time than have their conventionally powered counterparts.

In this segment, it makes sense to also test drive the outstanding Honda CR-V Hybrid, and the hybrid Toyota RAV4. All offer impressive fuel economy in practical and refined packages. And, if design and styling matter much to you, you’ll want to take an extra close look at the Sportage.