Whenever you see the words compact crossover, two vehicles immediately come to mind: the Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V. Both vehicles were released in the mid 1990s and paved the way for car-based compact crossover SUVs that deliver car-like handling but with SUV styling and ground clearance.

But before both the RAV4 and CR-V came out, Kia actually got a head start with the Sportage. It was first released in 1993, beating out the RAV4 and CR-V, which came out in 1994 and 1995, respectively. It was also compact in size, but instead of a monocoque chassis, the first-generation model had a truck-based body-on-frame design derived from the Mazda Bongo. It had all of the 4x4 capabilities of a traditional SUV but lacked the on-road manners of a crossover, which was starting to become more popular.

From the second-generation all the way to the fourth iteration, Kia switched to a car-based platform and made the Sportage sleeker, more dynamic, and cutting-edge through each generation. It also carved a pretty decent slice of the compact crossover market and became a household name in the Philippines. Unfortunately, the Sportage went away for several years, leaving a sizable gap in Kia’s lineup.

But as demand for electrified vehicles grew in popularity years later, Kia Philippines distributor ACMobility decided now was the right time to bring back the familiar nameplate. After several years away, the Kia Sportage has officially made its Philippine comeback. Now in its fifth generation, the Sportage returns with a bold new look, a Sorento-like cabin & dashboard, and more importantly, a turbo hybrid powertrain that Kia says is both efficient and powerful. But with plenty of new compact crossovers in the market, does the Kia Sportage have the tools to match the hype of its comeback?

Dashing Looks

They say first impressions matter, and boy, does the all-new Kia Sportage deliver in spades when it comes to looks. Since we got the facelifted fifth-generation model, it now has the brand’s updated Opposites United design language. This gives the Sportage a dynamic and SUV-like appearance while retaining the crossover profile.

Like all Kia vehicles today, the all-new Sportage comes with eye-catching daytime running lights that Kia calls “Star Map”. Not only does it complement the front fascia and the headlight design, but the Star Map LED DRLs also form the “Digital Tiger Face”, which combines the headlights, grille, and front bumper into one cohesive look. The result is an aggressive and daring look for the all-new Sportage while also keeping the signature Kia design.

Along the side, the all-new Sportage sports muscular wheel arches that are complemented by two-tone 18-inch alloy wheels. The rear is also worth mentioning thanks to its unique LED taillights that appear to form an F-shaped design and feature blacked-out accents. Combined with faux metal accents on the bumpers and side sills and a blacked-out roof, the Kia Sportage is a sleek-looking crossover indeed.

If anything, the only thing that it lacks is a retro-inspired tiger-nose grille, but perhaps that’s just my personal bias (and age) showing.

High-tech yet ergonomic

Unlike most brands nowadays that are putting almost every feature on the touchscreen, Kia bucked that trend. Immediately grabbing your attention is the Sorento-like dashboard and center console. Yes, it’s not as flashy, but the layout of controls and buttons is almost similar. From the touch-sensitive panel for the media & climate control functions to the rotary-style gear selector, as well as the buttons on the center console, everything is within reach and is easy to remember.

Some of you may be wondering where the button for the electronic parking brake is. Well, Kia cleverly put it on a panel beside the steering wheel, together with the button for the power tailgate. Some may find this layout unusual, but personally, I like how Kia did it since they were able to reposition it for better ease of use.

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Kia’s approach to still giving the climate control area its own dedicated panel is nothing short of ingenious. Instead of cramming it into the touchscreen, Kia cleverly made use of a touch-sensitive panel that includes dials for adjusting the temperature, which makes for an ergonomic design. As mentioned earlier, the panel also doubles as the media system in case you don’t want to use the 12.3-inch touchscreen.

Speaking of screens, the Sportage Turbo Hybrid gets a pair of digital displays, just like the Sorento. Both measure 12.3 inches in size, and one serves as the digital instrument display, while the other is the touchscreen infotainment system. Like every Kia on offer, it has wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which makes connecting your phone easier. It even has a wireless charging pad for good measure in case you forget to bring a charging cable.

Kia could have gone for a touchscreen-heavy setup, but that would mean a not-so-ergonomic cabin. By using both touchscreen displays and physical controls, the Sportage Turbo Hybrid shows that not everything has to be controlled via the screen. You can still control certain functions without having to avert your eyes from the road.

Who says hybrids are boring?

Ever since Kia introduced its 1.6L turbo-hybrid powertrain for the Sorento and Carnival, it quickly garnered attention for being powerful yet efficient. Heck, when I was able to drive the Sorento Turbo Hybrid EX, I was pleasantly surprised that it can average over 22 km/L on the highway and up to 17 km/L in light city driving. So when Kia said the Sportage Turbo Hybrid would also be getting the same 1.6L powertrain that makes a combined 235 PS and 367 Nm of torque, I was eager to find out how it would perform on a smaller crossover.

Despite weighing around 1,685 kg, the Kia Sportage Turbo Hybrid felt spritely and eager to go fast when you drive it spiritedly. We got to test this first-hand at the Nasugbu-Ternate Highway during a recent media drive. With its twisty roads, changing elevations, and tight bends, we were able to test the Sportage’s agility and power.

With 367 Nm of torque on tap, climbing steep hills and overtaking slower cars was a cinch in the Sportage. Put it in Sport Mode and acceleration becomes sharper, with the powertrain lingering on the powerband for longer at the cost of additional fuel and battery power. But despite driving spiritedly, the Sportage Turbo Hybrid was still able to average around 14 to 15 km/L, which highlights the hybrid's ability to still sip fuel despite having fun behind the wheel.

Fuel & Energy Sipper

After you've had your fun along the twisty roads and hillclimbs, the Sportage Turbo Hybrid reverts into a calm and easy-riding crossover. Keep a light foot on the accelerator and the powertrain will cut power from the engine (engine RPM drops to 0), and it will run on battery power should there be sufficient charge. Like the Sorento we drove before, the Sportage Turbo Hybrid's system will teach drivers to be easy on the throttle

In fact, when we were navigating through town roads and along city streets, the Sportage Turbo Hybrid was able to return up to 18 km/L. But what about driving on the highway where the turbocharged engine will see more use?

Well, the same trick applies while on the open road. After reaching a speed of 100 km/h, you can slightly ease your foot off the accelerator to turn off the engine and only use battery power. Do this enough times while there's sufficient charge from the battery and you can easily average up to 25 km/L.

During the two-day drive, we only used two bars of fuel through mixed driving conditions. However, there was one driver who only used one bar of fuel throughout the drive, showcasing Kia's hybrid technology of saving fuel while still having the ability to be a fun crossover to drive.

Verdict

Despite being gone for several years, the Kia Sportage returned with a turbo-hybrid setup, along with a sleek new look and a more high-tech cabin. Its powertrain means you can still have fun while behind the wheel, but also save on fuel when you need to. It also has a soft ride and a long list of features, which add value for money.

Its starting price of PHP 1.978 million for the EX (PHP 2.098 million for the SX) may raise some eyebrows. But looking at its closest rivals, it's actually quite the bargain. In comparison, the RAV4 HEV begins at PHP 2.227 million; the Nissan X-Trail e-Power and Hyundai Tucson HEV are priced both at PHP 2.290 million, and the CR-V e:HEV starts at PHP 2.488 million.

If you're in the market for a brand-new hybrid crossover SUV that's stylish, easy on the fuel bills, packed with features, and won't break the bank, the Kia Sportage Turbo Hybrid ticks all of those boxes. Sure, some might prefer the new wave of Chinese EVs and PHEVS, but for those who still prefer their crossovers with some K-Pop, the Sportage Turbo Hybrid will not disappoint.

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