I’m considering getting the 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid EX. For those who’ve owned one, what’s it been like for you? If you could go back, would you pick something different?
I have the PHEV, which is almost the same but with a larger battery and a plug-in. The only downside for me is the fuel economy on highways. Initially, it was in the high 20s, which worried me, but it settled around 30-32 mpg after a few thousand miles. It’s better than the regular gas Sportage, but some competitors do better in this area. That said, I’m still happy with my choice.
@SallyKiaChatter
My wife’s PHEV has a similar issue… amazing around town, but on longer trips, especially with all the elevation changes here in Idaho, we get about 27-31 mpg on the highway. A bit lower than I expected.
@SallyKiaChatter
Had similar mpg on my PHEV too. Really wish they’d added a heat pump instead of relying on the engine for cabin heat.
Lauren said:
@SallyKiaChatter
Had similar mpg on my PHEV too. Really wish they’d added a heat pump instead of relying on the engine for cabin heat.
Yeah, me too. But it would’ve raised the price, and I chose the traditional AWD over the eAWD and heat pump, especially since the RAV4 was more expensive.
@SallyKiaChatter
I actually tried to get a RAV4 Prime, but all the dealerships had crazy markups. Sorry, but no way am I paying almost $60k for a RAV.
@SallyKiaChatter
It depends on what you mean by ‘highway speed.’ When I’m between 50-70 mph, the mpg stays close to the rated 38. But once I hit 75 mph or higher, it drops to around 29-30 mpg. Some competitors might do better at high speeds, but I don’t think the difference is huge.
@SallyKiaChatter
I get terrible mpg on my 2023 PHEV, especially on highways.
Adam said:
@SallyKiaChatter
I get terrible mpg on my 2023 PHEV, especially on highways.
For me, it’s mostly above 70 mph where it drops. But in town, I usually get about 38 miles on electric, which is more than the rated 34. If I keep it under 50 mph, I get over 40 mpg. Short trips on gas, though, aren’t great.
I have a 2023 Hybrid SX, and it’s been great! Almost a year and a half with no regrets. Only minor complaints are mpg on super short trips (like under 3 miles) and the lack of power-folding mirrors or extended ambient lighting. Compared it to the RAV4 and CRV, and the Sportage just felt better to me overall. Plus, I’ve had good experiences with Kia in the past, so that reliability stuff people bring up with Honda/Toyota didn’t bother me much.
@CharlotteAmelia
The lower mpg on short drives is probably because it takes a bit for the engine to warm up. Switching between EV and gas when the engine is cold would cause extra wear. But yeah, I think the software that handles hybrid mode could be improved a bit.
I have the 2024 EX Hybrid, with only floor mats and a cargo cover as extras. We looked at the RAV4, CRV, and Tucson hybrids too. They all had their pros, but we liked the Sportage’s styling, inside and out, plus the color scheme of the EX (Vesta Blue and Misty Gray) was our favorite. Style isn’t the most logical factor, but it still mattered to us.
After 8 months and 4,700 miles, we wouldn’t pick a different car. Our experience with my wife’s 2017 Ioniq Hybrid (now over 80,000 miles) reassured us that Hyundai/Kia know how to build a solid hybrid.
Short trips and a cold engine hit mpg hard, which we’ve seen with the Ioniq and even the Prius before that. For example, we have a regular 10-12 mile trip, and on the way out (cold engine), mpg is in the low 30s. On the way back (warmer engine), it’s in the high 40s to low 50s.
If you do get one, definitely read the manual, at least the key parts. Follow the break-in, don’t block the battery’s air intake, and plan to follow the ‘severe duty’ maintenance schedule. I changed the oil myself at 3,000 miles, and it had a slight metallic sheen, which is normal but confirms why early oil changes help. Also, ‘Sport Mode’ and paddle shifters have been a nice surprise… but if you use Sport Mode a lot, expect mpg to drop.
I’m loving my hybrid but…
The EX hybrid goes for around $32.5k, while the gas SX is $32.7k and includes radar cruise. For me, radar cruise is a must-have.
CHRISTINE said:
I’m loving my hybrid but…
The EX hybrid goes for around $32.5k, while the gas SX is $32.7k and includes radar cruise. For me, radar cruise is a must-have.
Wait, the 2023 SX doesn’t have adaptive cruise?
@Dexter
The EX doesn’t have it, but the SX does… at least according to their website.
I’ve had my Hybrid LX for just over a year and still love it. When I worked from home, my short trips meant I only got about 32 mpg. Now with a 20-mile commute, I’m getting around 37 mpg. I did assume I could add roof rails later, but turns out that’s not an option with the LX.
I recently upgraded from a 2023 LX Hybrid to the 2025 SX-Prestige, and I’m loving it! When I got the 2023, my wife decided to buy a 2024 Seltos…