2024 Kia Sportage GT-Line Hybrid review

The medium SUV segment has been heavily saturated for a long time now, but a lot of brands have been slow on the uptake when it comes to creating hybrid versions of their best sellers. 

Up until recently, the main staple for customers in the market for a hybrid medium SUV has been the Toyota RAV4, with the hybrid version accounting for 80 per cent of the RAV4's overall sales, before Toyota made the switch to an all-hybrid line-up. However, high demand has resulted in significant wait times for that car and now other mainstream brands are offering some compelling alternatives.

Kia is relatively late to the party with a hybrid version of the Sportage. It’s launching with just two variants – the SX and the top-spec GT-Line, which I have been custodian of for the past week. 

Is it going to be a good enough alternative to become the other big name in the hybrid medium SUV category? Let’s find out.

The GT-Line Hybrid is front-wheel drive and starts at $55,420 before on-road costs, which makes it officially the most expensive Sportage in Australia. It costs $just over $3100 more than the all-wheel drive diesel GT-Line, $5500 more than the petrol GT-Line and notably $4010 more expensive than the roughly equivalent Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Cruiser 2WD (but $2940 less than the RAV4 Hybrid Edge AWD). 

The Sportage Hybrid SX is positioned as a more affordable proposition, priced from $45,490 before on-road costs.

Kia is launching the hybrid model conservatively, hoping to sell about 300 units each month, which is about 20 per cent of all Sportage sales. Given Toyota’s success with the RAV4 Hybrid, I suspect demand for the Sportage Hybrid may outweigh this monthly goal.  

As standard, Sportage Hybrid models come with with a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, dual-zone climate control, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, 18-inch alloy wheels, and a rotary-dial gear shifter, which is only available in the GT-Line variant in the petrol and diesel models.

The GT-Line Hybrid model also comes with keyless entry, push-button start, a leather-appointed seat trim (as opposed to cloth in the SX model), a panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats, eight-way power-adjustable driver and passenger seats and two-way lumbar support (this is six-way manually adjustable in the SX). 

After a long spell of the RAV4 dominating the options for a hybrid mid-size SUV, there’s now some tall competition in market. 

The hybrid Honda CR-V and Nissan X-Trail are both similarly priced to the hybrid Sportage and RAV4, although I think it's definitely worth calling out that there are more variants to choose from with the Toyota RAV4 and the Nissan X-Trail. That means potential owners may be impressed by a mid-spec model within those line-ups and save on initial purchase costs as a result. Meanwhile, the GWM Haval H6 Hybrid is an excellent alternative if you’re looking for a top-spec hybrid under $50K. 

Worth noting too that Kia’s parent brand Hyundai has its own mid-sized hybrid SUV alternative coming out later this year with the launch of the Tucson hybrid.   

The Kia Sportage Hybrid doesn’t look all that different from its petrol counterpart. Unlike other brands that have opted for a more futuristic design for their EV and hybrid line-ups, Kia’s kept to the status quo here and stuck to a look that’s familiar alongside its petrol and diesel counterparts. As a result, the car’s design may not be super exciting, but I think Kia is onto a good thing here, as I suspect this design will stand the test of time whereas some others may not. 

This model carries the Sportage’s signature black grille and there is black cladding around the wheel arches and rear, which has become a bit of an SUV trademark. There are also projector LED headlights, daytime running lights and fully LED tail-lights and – the only real giveaway that this is a hybrid model – a small HEV badge on the rear.  

The hybrid Sportage is 4660mm long, which is just a smidge bigger than the RAV4 Hybrid (4615mm) and smaller than the Honda CR-V (4704mm). Inside the car there is a sense of premium quality about the cabin. There's plenty of space and the materials used look – and feel – smarter than the hard plastics you'll find in the lower-spec model.

There is wood-effect panelling and some soft-touch plastics. The central console, meanwhile, is covered in piano black trim, which looks sleek but will show up every fingerprint, every scratch, every bit of wear and tear that the car faces over the years.

The seats are covered in a rather sporty-looking leather and suede-look material. These can be heated or cooled, along with a heated steering wheel, which is exclusive to the GT-Line variant.

And then, of course, I need to call out the big glass roof that casts light all over the cabin – or at least when the sun’s out. Again, this is exclusive to the GT-Line.

Other features that give the GT-Line variant a bit more of a plush finish include the eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system and ambient LED lighting that you can customise to suit your mood. For those interested, I chose a raspberry pink to offset the fact that I'm outnumbered by boys at home.

Atop the centre console, you've got the rotary dial gear selector, a drive-mode selector, and buttons to control seat and steering wheel heat or ventilation. There are two adjustable cupholders with some extra storage space around them, and a deceptively deep storage bin underneath the padded armrest. 

There is also a wireless phone charger, two USB ports and a 12V charger, and a little lidded spot for your phone, too, although this probably isn’t big enough for some plus-sized phones. 

While a lot of the functions are housed within the infotainment screen, there is also a panel of buttons that allow you to control either the media or the dual-zone climate. These buttons are touchscreen, which isn't my personal preference, but Kia has designed the panel so that you can flick between the two different control systems, thus making the panel very compact.

The second row is helpfully spacious. I’ve said it before, and I undoubtedly will say it again – so often the second row feels like an afterthought in SUV designs. But not in the Sportage. I’m 171cm and have plenty of leg and head room, but a passenger over six-feet tall (183cm) was comfortable enough in the back, and there are enough amenities to keep everyone happy too.

There are cupholders in the fold-down armrest, map pockets, drink bottle holders in the doors and directional air vents, and a couple of USB-A ports as well.

It is a thoroughly practical car (why do I feel like it has been designed by a parent?). There are coat and bag hooks in the second row, the doors open particularly wide, which means won't have to organise a chiropractor appointment every time you get your kid in or out of the car. And talking of kids, there are ISOFIX points in the rear outer seats and top-tether points for all three back seats as well.

The boot is 586 litres when the second row is up or 1872L if it's folded. There is a panel in the floor of the boot that can be lifted if you're looking for extra space. This size is just about on par with the RAV4 and the X-Trail. In real-world terms, that means you can fit your pram or your weekly shop or a couple of small suitcases. Or a combination of all of those items if you're willing to balance something very precariously.

The car also comes with a retractable cargo blind, electric tailgate and a space-saver wheel, whereas a lot of hybrid and EV rivals only come with a tyre repair kit. 

The infotainment screen and driver's display are set up under one continuous panel, although the two separate displays measure measure 12.3 inches separately.

The car does support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but both require wired connections, which feels a little outdated especially in the highest-spec model. That said, the connection once my phone is plugged in has been flawless.

There is a sat-nav and multimedia system built into the car and this is very easy to use. It’s not super high-tech but it’s functional with access to AM/FM/DAB radio, Bluetooth plane and audio streaming, and a range of in-car manues. You don’t have to scroll through several pages to get to where you want, and the graphics are clear.

While Kia Connect remote connectivity via a paired smartphone is available on other vehicles in the range, the Sportage goes without this feature for now.

The Kia Sportage received a five-star ANCAP rating back in 2022, which lasts until December 2028 and covers petrol, diesel and hybrid variants of the car. It received a score of 87 per cent for both adult occupant protection and child occupant protection. Vulnerable road user protection was awarded 66 per cent and safety assist 74 per cent.

It's fitted with dual frontal, side-head, and side-chest protecting airbags. There is also a centre airbag fitted in the front.

This car is fitted with a 360-degree camera with rear-view visibility and moving guidelines, front and rear parking sensors, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, lane-centring assist, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert and traffic sign recognition.

Almost all of the safety technology is available in both the Sportage Hybrid SX and GT-Line, but there are a small number of features that are only in the GT-Line. This includes the blind-spot view monitor, surround-view monitor, and parking collision avoidance assist.

I’ve found the extensive list of safety technology has been particularly helpful without being too intrusive. The 360-degree camera when I’m trying to squeeze into a tight parking spot, for example, and the blind-spot view monitor when I’m in a particularly busy spot, such as a school zone when there are lots of cars and kids trying to escape at once. 

Kia offers a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and 12-month roadside assistance, which is topped up with every service if you receive your service at a Kia dealership. Service intervals are annually or every 10,000km, whichever comes first.

The first year costs $353, year two is $714, year three is $423 for $1490 total. Five years of servicing will cost $2930. Comparatively, Toyota offers much cheaper servicing costs of $260 yearly for the first five years (as well as a 15,000km distance as opposed to Kia’s 10,000km), while Nissan is also slightly cheaper averaging $508.50 a year. 

To insure the car, however, the Sportage is one of the most inexpensive hybrid medium SUVs. One leading insurer quoted $1523 to insure the GT-Line annually. This is based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.

Using the same details and insurer, I was quoted $1612 to insure the highest-spec Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and $1706 to insure the highest-spec Nissan X-Trail.

My overall fuel consumption was 6.0 litres per 100 kilometres: a little bit higher than Kia’s claimed fuel consumption of 4.9L/100km, based on a mix of suburban, city and highway driving. This number lands slap-bang in the middle of what Drive recorded when the RAV4 Hybrid (5.8L/100km) and the Nissan X-Trail hybrid (6.1L/100km) were both tested.

Given where it sits among its closest rivals, I'm happy with this overall fuel reading, and the good news is that the car accepts 91-octane regular petrol, so owners will be able to keep running costs down by avoiding premium petrol costs.

The Kia Sportage GT-Line Hybrid is FWD with a 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol engine matched with a 44kW/264Nm electric motor, 1.49kWh lithium-ion polymer battery and six-speed automatic transmission, which produces a combined 169kW of power and 350Nm of torque. This segment, and in fact this type of vehicle, is the perfect example of buyers not 'needing' AWD if they operate exclusively on sealed roads.

If you're a numbers junkie, you'd compare the Sportage Hybrid to the segment favourite, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, given its long standing popularity in our local market. Hybrid RAV4s are equipped with a 2.5-litre petrol engine and a front-mounted electric motor – developing up to 160kW combined and 221Nm. All-wheel-drive hybrid RAVs add a second, rear electric motor that increases power to 163kW.

Despite having a smaller engine than some of its peers, the Sportage GT-Line Hybrid has the highest power output against its main competition. Both on paper and out on the road, the Sportage drivetrain feels accurate on for the segment. If you need to accelerate quickly up hill, it can feel like the Sportage might need more power than it generates, but for day-to-day, around town work, it's always effortless and easy to drive.

That's why it shines brightest when it’s just tootling around the suburbs. It's a compact enough SUV to handle tight turns in the city traffic with ease, but large enough (especially in the cabin) to retain a commanding presence on the road. A valuable point for city buyers is the turning circle, which has been reduced from 12.2m to 11.4m. While that reduction might not seem like a lot just looking at the numbers, it actually makes it feel much more manoeuvrable than before. That's especially the case when you're tackling three-point turns or tight parking spots.

Based on this summation, you won't be surprised to read my largely un-creative one line summary: the Sportage GT-Line Hybrid is simply a really lovely car to drive. The suspension errs on the firm side, but the local ride and handling tune ensures it makes light work of our local road network, and it's never uncomfortable even on nasty road surfaces. The cabin is quiet and insulated, visibility is expansive thanks to the big windscreen, and general driving is also aided by the extensive safety technology that's fitted as standard in both variants of the Sportage Hybrid.

So you've got a winning combination here of effortless driving, cabin comfort and reliable safety features. You can see why this car and more broadly this segment, is so popular amongst Australian families. It may not be the most powerful or speedy model but it will still manage a long road trip comfortably.

The powertrain moves smoothly from electric power to petrol power, but when the Sportage is in full petrol propulsion mode driving in petrol, it’s not quite as refined to drive as I’d like. Maybe that's because the electric drive is so smooth and quiet, you notice the petrol engine more, but there's a definite difference between the two.

The diesel GT-Line has been marked favourably by the Drive team, even winning the coveted Drive Car of the Year award in 2022. So, you could expect us to recommend the diesel for those of you who head off on long drives more regularly. However, this hybrid GT-Line is arguably the engine to opt for if you want an efficient, comfortable SUV to drive around town, but can handle a longer drive just as well. And, some of you just don't like diesel engines, so this is the one to have in that case.

The Sportage has a towing capacity of 1650kg braked and 750kg unbraked. This means that while it does have the capacity to tow, you could only get away with something reasonably light. Both hybrid and regular turbo-petrol Sportage are rated at a maximum of 1650kg, whereas the Sportage diesel has a slightly higher 1900kg tow rating.

Remember too that the weight you're carrying impacts how much fuel the car is consuming, so expect to see a higher fuel reading if you're towing.

Kia has played it safe here by creating a hybrid Sportage that isn’t a world away from its petrol sibling, but if the recipe works, why mess with it?

It’s a practical car that will suit the suburbs and still has a bit of bite in it when you kick it into Sport mode and head down the highway. 

It’s a shame that Kia has decided to be so conservative with its monthly allocation, because I think this will be a really popular car, but unfortunately customers might end up experiencing long wait times. 

It would also be nice to see another variant between the SX and GT-Line as there is a big price gap between the two. Given both models have the same engine and power output, I’m not sure I think it’s worth spending an extra $10K on the GT-Line model – unless you’re hell-bent on getting a panoramic sunroof and a few other luxury details. 

All in all, though, I think given the practicality of the car, Kia’s relatively efficient ownership costs and the brand’s reputation for reliability, the hybrid Sportage will give the reigning champion, the hybrid RAV4, a run for its money. 

It’s a bold claim to make without having driven it, so I will just caveat that. But in my opinion, the SX model will suit customers looking for a hybrid family SUV just fine. 

We know that Kia is being conservative with its monthly allocation of hybrid Sportages, so my recommendation would be to head down to your local Kia dealership for a test drive. If you leave it too long, you might experience some frustrating wait times. You can find your nearest Kia dealership here.

As is always Drive's recommendation, be sure to test-drive a few rivals in order to make a thorough comparison. The RAV4 Hybrid, Nissan X-Trail and Honda CR-V would be the obvious choices.

The next step on the purchase journey is to check the Kia website for stock of your preferred Sportage variant. You can also find Kias for sale at Drive Cars For Sale.

If you want to stay updated with everything that's happened to the Sportage since our review, you'll find all the latest news here.