Ryan, another excellent vid! Would love to see a vid where you summarize recent test drives of vehicles in the same class to hilight their differences: more vehicles compared in one episode. Not asking to advise which you like most 😊, I just find your reviews honest, objective and pragmatic - thanks for the awesomeness 🙏
Thanks for sharing the difficulty of caring for a matte paint job. I really thought that was what I wanted until I heard you talk about the difficulty of care. I won’t be getting that finish.
Remember folks, the purpose of the test is to see how the vehicle's AWD system handles loss of traction, which could happen in lots of scenarios, not whether Ryan can will it to the top of the hill. Maybe a different mode would have helped in this situation, but this is the mode that the car is most likely to be run in. Its inability to redistribute the power, and then its shutting down entirely -- without any obvious "hey, we're overheating here. AWD is disabled" warning -- is a valid data point.
@@tsmatthx2 I have this vehicle and it's always in AWD, so use eyes and see that the cluster had the power distribution to all wheels (17:04). It just shut down and didn't move. Just because you saw 2 wheels spin, doesn't mean it wasn't in AWD. The Sportage is not an off-road vehicle for sure and Kia still has a ways to go if they want it to be one.
The Hyundai/kia hybrid CUVs do not have a torque converter, its a clutch and electric motor. It complicates things trying to crawl and climb from a stop. I notice on my SanteFe Hybrid sport mode keeps the clutch locked as long as possible ( dramatically increasing engine braking as well ). Should try it in sport mode with a little speed so entering the climb with the clutch locked and traction control disabled to keep from pulling power and see what it does.
You do a wonderful job and I appreciate all the effort. I turn to you to determine a vehicle's off-road chops and am often surprised by the results. Thank you!
My conclusion to this video is that I feel so blessed that I bought my 2022 Subaru Outback XT, after considering few other vehicles (this Kia Sportage was one of them). I installed a new set of Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 and I had a lot of fun in the snow over the last winter
Very glad I came across this video - I was surprised to see the many great reviews of this vehicle and thought I should check it out further as I liked the sleek look. This video made me realize however that it is not the vehicle for me. Your comment about it stopping without warning was my first red flag and your test drive raised several others - thank you.
I know that last hill is steeper than it looks but still I’m disappointed it couldn’t make it up. I had been finding a growing interest in a Hyundai Tucson hybrid for my next vehicle. I’d assumed they have the same awd system but now I’ll definitely want to do some more checking.
Excellent video. A journalist with logic understanding the buyers as well as vehicles being reviewed. Lol hyundai and kia always seem to just cut power. Saves fuel haha. If the Sportage had a great AWD setup, Subaru would be in trouble.
I ordered this car 3 times here in OC Ca. 3 times I was bait and switched for a lower model, but at a higher model price. I was without a car for 3 months until I bought a Subaru Forester Wilderness. Love the car, but I get half the MPG, and I sure miss that dash cluster and USB-C ports all over the car. I don’t even have one!? 😂😢.
Very well done and interesting video. I'm trying to decide between a used Mercedes GCL 220/250 plugin hybrid and the Kia Sportage Hybrid. I'm looking to be able to trailer the small T@B320 camper van for traveling throughout Europe and the Caucasus. I was 99.9% convinced to go with a newer (2023) Kia Sportage AWD right up until the end of the video. I'm still somewhat favoring the KIa and am hoping that a better or more aggressive tire choice might make the difference. Thanks for your excellent review! Tom
Definitely very illuminating, and now I am having second thoughts if Kia can’t even conquer that little hill. Shutting down completely is insane. Were we shown all the modes? I would have loved another test besides just that one hill.
I like the cargo area,but not that overly interfering collision prevention. I wonder if that can be turned off or adjusted. If I was to get one I'd probably decline the paint that needed special care. I'm glad you have been testing the cargo area for potential to sleep in it if you wanted.
all the collision prevention stuff can be adjusted. I had mine break very hard when I went to pass a vehicle that was pulling into a parking lot. Maybe I was passing it a bit unsafe, but the jarring from the hard break made me just turn the front collision system off.
99.9% won’t even taking this thing to go off roading. Oh pul ~ease!!!! As long as it drives fine on the pavement, it’s all good. When was last time you see people taking their SUV to off roading???
Don't put it in lock mode .. 👍.. My 4wd Short European 48v MHEV Sportage, did a similar gradient, very well as I was told not to lock, but allow the system to decide by my main Kia dealership, where I bought it from. It's been great on campsites & muddy hilly fishing trips.... 👍👍 Mine has 19 inche wheels
Great review, this SUV is growing on me for the average snowfall PA winter family car. If i'm going somewhere that will have dirt hills, rocks and offroad I can just take the F150. Side question though, what camera setup are you using for the video? Lovely quality and depth of field falloff.
It's unfortunate that in the States, you only get snow mode besides smart, eco and sport. In Canada, in addition to snow mode Kia has mud mode, and sand mode on most AWD models. Still, I don't know if that would have make a difference - that was a sad situation on on little slope.
JUST A SUGGESTION, IF YOU CAN. DRIVE IN URBAN AREAS WITH POTHOLES OR ASPHALT BROKEN UP ROADS AND GIVE US YOUR IMPRESSIONS. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. IT HELPED ME MAKE A CHOICE. NEW SUV NEXT WEEKEND.
I am curious if the hybrid vehicles require a special tire for increased weight. No one has said a thing about the hybrid or plug-in hybrid tires. I noticed one tire shown had a cord and plug symbol on the sidewall close to the rim.
I have a Kia X-pro sportage off-road package none hybrid and I don't have this problem. I was told it's geared differently however snow mode drops the power to nothing. I'll never use it. The bigger off road tires definitely help
They did "cheap out" with the passenger seat; they took out the lumber support. When my wife and I switch on and off, as drivers, on our long drive to fla. I like to lay back and rest but I lose the lumber support.
My neighbors own a Chinese restaurant and have 3 kids. They recently traded in their 2013 Rav4 for one of these hybrid Sportages (in black paint and not fully loaded like this one). I think it looks great, and check it out every time they drive by! They use it for delivering food and love how much money it's saving them! My 2016 Rav4 only gets about 19 mpg around our town, so it must be substantial. Personally, I would never buy a Kia (even though I really like the styling), or a hybrid either. But if you're running any kind of business that requires city driving, it's a no-brainer.
That B-pillar is thick to give you protection in a possible rollover. Hyundai Heavy Industries (Kia's parent company) makes its own high strength steel. No other automaker can say that.
You left traction control on and left it in smart mode. With those tires there was no chance of a smooth accent.. any reasonable person would put it in snow mode, traction off, center diff locked.. the tires would still be a detriment but the vehicle would work better to try and compensate. [yes .. that wasn't snow...but the results would be similar]
The guy should be either idiot or he did it on purpose. All your points for traction control and tyres are absolutely correct but see how many idiots they commented knowing nothing about off roading.
Remember this car doesn't have a torque converter. This makes it difficult to generate power from a stop and relies on the electric motor only until the transmission is going fast enough to utilize the gas engine.
@@4x4.tests.on.rollers The electric motor occupies the space in the trans where the TQ converter would be and uses a clutch to disconnect the engine, the one benefit though is the electric motor gets to utilize the transmission gears for both propulsion and regen breaking.
Greetings from southern Ontario Canada I really enjoyed the video my sister lives in Vancouver and and she just took possession of the 2023 kia sportage hybrid thanks for the presentation
Great channel. I was wondering what you would suggest for a off road / or at lease good for trails that is also hybrid to save on gas for long trips? I am actually planning a trip from here in cali to there in Washington st.
Great video Ryan! I think a Forester Touring would do better all the way around… and equal or beat your highway mpg to boot! Don’t even need the Wilderness version. And you can take it through the car wash afterwards no problem!! 😎
There's no way it comes even close to the sportage for gas mileage or power. Off road, it will definitely be better, but in all other aspects... Not even close.
My ‘23 sportage phev has a “lock” button, which should work as a diff locker but haven’t tested it. I would hope it would’ve worked in this situation but I’ve only driven in paved roads
Hey Ryan, what trail is that? I’m only just getting into off-roading and would love an easier trail to traverse that has such a spectacular view at the end. Please let me know if you can, thanks
I'm in the Seattle area and I ended up ordering my car/leaving a deposit with dealerships out of state because of the huge markup on the west coast. Hopefully my specific model will come in soon
This is on my short list for my wife’s next car. Seems like it would also be great for road trips and the occasional soft roading. We went to Death Valley recently, and I wished we had a SUV for some of the scenic dirt roads.
My one question is why did you test the Sx instead of Xpro which has all terrain tires, and better ground clearance for off roading so of course the Sx isn’t going to preform as well
@@drivingsports thanks I honestly think it would have done better I plan on getting one soon. Thank you again for the reply really appreciated. Now I will subscribe Thanks Ryan
Sadly most of the hybrid city SUV/CUV have absolutely useless AWD systems, even compared to their gas counterparts, same goes for Toyota and Honda. Really waiting to see how Subaru does with their hybrid system in the 2025 Forester. If it's any good I'll finally pull the trigger on a hybrid!
I think this is fantastic if one doesn't intend on doing anything other than dirt roads in it. The styling is great inside and out, and Kia nails it with value. I also like that this has a rear drive shaft in the mechanical AWD, compared to the RAV4 is electric motor. It just a shame they couldn't equip this with something like Toyota's A-Track, that would make a huge difference in capability along with tires. If I were looking to buy a crossover, this would be at the top of my list.
If you drive 4 Runner like a 4 Runner, you get mileage like a 4 Runner. If you drive a Kia Hybrid like a Kia, you might get mileage within 4 below of what it says it is If you drive a Honda CRV Hybrid like a Honda CRV, you might get a mileage it says it is. But probably not. If you drive a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid or Carolla Cross Hybrid, you'll get more than what it says it gets.
Good review on an undervalued SUV. End was a disappointment but better tires might have made the climb less painful (doesn't dismiss the poor computer programming when it comes to the need of transferring power).
Would you get better fuel economy, in this hybrid, if you used the down flappy paddle to downshift gears, and put more charge into the battery, in stead of using the foot pedal brake. The way KIA is doing hybrid, using a motor AND a 6 speed auto gearbox, appears to suggest that you have to downshift the gears, in order to get more regenerative braking.
Same result as when you tested the Tucson Hybrid. Would be great if you could do the same test on the same hill with the 2.5 non-turbo Sportage with the regular 8 speed transmission (not DCT).
I own a Sportage and love it, never trust an AWD system on any vehicle, if you know you need all 4 tires then lock it in to 4 wheel it works great I've taken mine in some areas you wouldn't think it could go.
But there are vehicles that are truly made to use their AWD. Subarus, Jeeps, 4Runner, Land Cruiser. Kia’s AWD is just a gimmick, like most of their stuff.
Sorry I just rewatched and missed that you did. Ughh.. I just bought one of these. I don't need a lot of off road capability, but it's a bummer to think it's not there.
He definitely had a setting\button\software issue at the end? A buddy in our group has the same model that he isn't scared to abuse and the rear wheels never moved in the video and I know I've seen them engage when needed on my friends suv! While it's not for me personally, I think this was a specific problem and not the norm. Or my buddy just got lucky and has a good one or hasn't had problems yet if this is the norm in the forums? 👀🤷♂️
This is a great video. I just put a down payment on a new Sportage Hybrid. The down payment is 100% refundable if I change my mind, and considering I won't get the car for a year and a half, I have a lot of opportunity to change my mind. I'm a bit freaked out at the "resignation" at 18:13. Looks like the car was trying to only draw power from the electric motor, and couldn't get it from a stand-still. Is there not a way to "lock out" the electric motor and only use the gas motor, for times like this? Or is this a sole result of having no torque convertor? Frankly, my only concern is the single one and only steep hill in my life....the top of the lane at my cottage. Could be an issue.....
Most of their vehicles are just marketing with barely sufficient engineering behind it. That’s what you get when most of the budget goes to design and technology.
Great video and nice looking car. I have to admit Kia and Hyundai are on the cutting edge of designs. However, I keep on hearing about engine issues with both brands. Is this true or just over blown?
It’s not overblown. Together Kia/Hyundai lost $2.3 billion dollars in Q3 of 2022, which was about 77% and 55%, respectively, of profits for that one quarter. This was all due to warranty claims on their faulty and failing engines.
Thanks for the review. I'd like to hear more about the HEV performance on longer term testing in terms of consumption. Was this additional battery weight a contributing factor in lack of hill traction OR was it more about fiddling/ understanding the correct traction setting? It looks a great specced vehicle and lots of safety kit. I live on top of a mountain town in Canada, so lots of snow, winter 5 months, sometimes poor road conditions, temperatures of -20F...I really was considering a PHEV Sportage as the pain of gas pricing isn't improving, plus I do a weekly hourly town trip, so 70/30 highway/ city driving... but this review isn't giving me a lot of confidence that PHEV 's are quite there yet. This is from someone who is considering moving away from a Audi Q7 Quattro and who's first natural choice would be Subaru Wilderness/XT...thoughts please?
Don't put your foot to the floor. That's why it could not get up that climb. It was not the car's fault that you had trouble getting up that climb. If you backed off of the throttle more, it would have gotten up that climb much more easily. I thought you knew what you were talking about until I watched that part of the video.
Not that I'm advocating for the Kia Sportage, but to be perfectly fair, hybrids do not get that much better gas mileage on highway if there is no traffic. They do get better gas mileage and pretty much every other scenario though.
Did you disable traction control? I have found in my 2020 Kia SX that the TC system would keep me from moving on ice/snow, but by disabling it, the AWD system worked great.
Ryan, another excellent vid!
Would love to see a vid where you summarize recent test drives of vehicles in the same class to hilight their differences: more vehicles compared in one episode.
Not asking to advise which you like most 😊, I just find your reviews honest, objective and pragmatic - thanks for the awesomeness 🙏
Great idea, this^!!
Love these vids. What a gorgeous location for an off-road test :) I wonder how my outback would’ve performed on that last climb
Thanks for sharing the difficulty of caring for a matte paint job. I really thought that was what I wanted until I heard you talk about the difficulty of care. I won’t be getting that finish.
Remember folks, the purpose of the test is to see how the vehicle's AWD system handles loss of traction, which could happen in lots of scenarios, not whether Ryan can will it to the top of the hill. Maybe a different mode would have helped in this situation, but this is the mode that the car is most likely to be run in. Its inability to redistribute the power, and then its shutting down entirely -- without any obvious "hey, we're overheating here. AWD is disabled" warning -- is a valid data point.
It wasn't in awd
@@tsmatthx2 Didn't he say it was in Smart Mode?
@@Joe-nb3fs use eyes...2 wheels moved.
@@tsmatthx2 He literally said that the center was locked and was in smart mode at 18:00
@@tsmatthx2 I have this vehicle and it's always in AWD, so use eyes and see that the cluster had the power distribution to all wheels (17:04). It just shut down and didn't move. Just because you saw 2 wheels spin, doesn't mean it wasn't in AWD. The Sportage is not an off-road vehicle for sure and Kia still has a ways to go if they want it to be one.
We Need the CRV Sport Hybrid review for the off road capability. Or a comparison between this Kia . Can’t wait to see it . Thanks
Great review, I love to watch you channel. Kia Sportage is a great car but I would not trade it for my Subaru OB 🙂
The Hyundai/kia hybrid CUVs do not have a torque converter, its a clutch and electric motor. It complicates things trying to crawl and climb from a stop. I notice on my SanteFe Hybrid sport mode keeps the clutch locked as long as possible ( dramatically increasing engine braking as well ). Should try it in sport mode with a little speed so entering the climb with the clutch locked and traction control disabled to keep from pulling power and see what it does.
You do a wonderful job and I appreciate all the effort. I turn to you to determine a vehicle's off-road chops and am often surprised by the results. Thank you!
Thank you for the awesome review, guys! Keep them coming! ❤
Kia is really doing a great job in the design department
My conclusion to this video is that I feel so blessed that I bought my 2022 Subaru Outback XT, after considering few other vehicles (this Kia Sportage was one of them). I installed a new set of Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 and I had a lot of fun in the snow over the last winter
You really chose the better vehicle. Congrats on your new Subaru!
Yeah, if you do a lot of off roading, that's a much better choice
Your drone shots are amazing !
Very glad I came across this video - I was surprised to see the many great reviews of this vehicle and thought I should check it out further as I liked the sleek look. This video made me realize however that it is not the vehicle for me. Your comment about it stopping without warning was my first red flag and your test drive raised several others - thank you.
I know that last hill is steeper than it looks but still I’m disappointed it couldn’t make it up. I had been finding a growing interest in a Hyundai Tucson hybrid for my next vehicle. I’d assumed they have the same awd system but now I’ll definitely want to do some more checking.
Better look up all of those fire recalls Hyundai/Kia have been having before you commit to one. Last one was March 23rd.
@@theshadowswithin9896 the sportage isnt on that list of vehicles having that issue.
Don't select lock!
Skip Kia/Hyundai altogether. Get something that’s built well and will last. You’ll save time from having to go to dealership all the time.
Excellent video. A journalist with logic understanding the buyers as well as vehicles being reviewed. Lol hyundai and kia always seem to just cut power. Saves fuel haha. If the Sportage had a great AWD setup, Subaru would be in trouble.
I ordered this car 3 times here in OC Ca. 3 times I was bait and switched for a lower model, but at a higher model price. I was without a car for 3 months until I bought a Subaru Forester Wilderness. Love the car, but I get half the MPG, and I sure miss that dash cluster and USB-C ports all over the car. I don’t even have one!? 😂😢.
Can you please show a comparison footage of another SUV that easily handle the slope?
Very well done and interesting video. I'm trying to decide between a used Mercedes GCL 220/250 plugin hybrid and the Kia Sportage Hybrid. I'm looking to be able to trailer the small T@B320 camper van for traveling throughout Europe and the Caucasus. I was 99.9% convinced to go with a newer (2023) Kia Sportage AWD right up until the end of the video. I'm still somewhat favoring the KIa and am hoping that a better or more aggressive tire choice might make the difference. Thanks for your excellent review! Tom
Just like many things in our modern world, everything for the looks !
Definitely very illuminating, and now I am having second thoughts if Kia can’t even conquer that little hill. Shutting down completely is insane.
Were we shown all the modes? I would have loved another test besides just that one hill.
I like the cargo area,but not that overly interfering collision prevention. I wonder if that can be turned off or adjusted. If I was to get one I'd probably decline the paint that needed special care. I'm glad you have been testing the cargo area for potential to sleep in it if you wanted.
all the collision prevention stuff can be adjusted. I had mine break very hard when I went to pass a vehicle that was pulling into a parking lot. Maybe I was passing it a bit unsafe, but the jarring from the hard break made me just turn the front collision system off.
Please have Kia see this video so they now how bad their AWD system is!!
@@CC-wm1yqAre you sure this version has these modes?
@@CC-wm1yqDoesn’t matter wether it’s for economy or not, 200+hp car should not struggle at this incline in any mode…
@@CC-wm1yq do you own one? Seems like it or you wouldn’t be so salty.
99.9% won’t even taking this thing to go off roading. Oh pul ~ease!!!!
As long as it drives fine on the pavement, it’s all good.
When was last time you see people taking their SUV to off roading???
@@Jgjginkg244 kia is junk
Don't put it in lock mode .. 👍.. My 4wd Short European 48v MHEV Sportage, did a similar gradient, very well as I was told not to lock, but allow the system to decide by my main Kia dealership, where I bought it from.
It's been great on campsites & muddy hilly fishing trips....
👍👍 Mine has 19 inche wheels
Great review, this SUV is growing on me for the average snowfall PA winter family car. If i'm going somewhere that will have dirt hills, rocks and offroad I can just take the F150.
Side question though, what camera setup are you using for the video? Lovely quality and depth of field falloff.
I've been waiting for you to test more Kia and Hyundai products
Thanks!
Great review as always 👍👍 waiting for your review of the 24 Sorento X Pro!
It's unfortunate that in the States, you only get snow mode besides smart, eco and sport. In Canada, in addition to snow mode Kia has mud mode, and sand mode on most AWD models. Still, I don't know if that would have make a difference - that was a sad situation on on little slope.
Those modes should help. In a synthetic roller test the difference was huge.
Have you tried a Subie on the same track with about the same weather conditions?
JUST A SUGGESTION, IF YOU CAN. DRIVE IN URBAN AREAS WITH POTHOLES OR ASPHALT BROKEN UP ROADS AND GIVE US YOUR IMPRESSIONS.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. IT HELPED ME MAKE A CHOICE. NEW SUV NEXT WEEKEND.
I am curious if the hybrid vehicles require a special tire for increased weight. No one has said a thing about the hybrid or plug-in hybrid tires. I noticed one tire shown had a cord and plug symbol on the sidewall close to the rim.
I have a Kia X-pro sportage off-road package none hybrid and I don't have this problem. I was told it's geared differently however snow mode drops the power to nothing. I'll never use it. The bigger off road tires definitely help
18:00 I think I can hear my Subaru laughing in the driveway.
lol, yet when my Subaru saw that interior, it started crying. :p
I'm partly kidding, as I sold my Subaru last fall. ;)
Wow, a brand new car that cannot be driven through a car wash. Thanks for the video & lovely views.
They did "cheap out" with the passenger seat; they took out the lumber support.
When my wife and I switch on and off, as drivers, on our long drive to fla. I like to lay back and rest but I lose the lumber support.
My neighbors own a Chinese restaurant and have 3 kids. They recently traded in their 2013 Rav4 for one of these hybrid Sportages (in black paint and not fully loaded like this one). I think it looks great, and check it out every time they drive by! They use it for delivering food and love how much money it's saving them! My 2016 Rav4 only gets about 19 mpg around our town, so it must be substantial. Personally, I would never buy a Kia (even though I really like the styling), or a hybrid either. But if you're running any kind of business that requires city driving, it's a no-brainer.
Until it break me down and you have to deal with Kia customer service and the dealerships.
That B-pillar is thick to give you protection in a possible rollover. Hyundai Heavy Industries (Kia's parent company) makes its own high strength steel. No other automaker can say that.
I have the EX Sportage hybrid and it does great in snow. I don’t think I’ll be off roading it ever, but for my needs it’s does well.
As a emergency responder, I'll be sticking with my Subaru! Otherwise I'd not be able to get to some of the 9-1-1 calls I'm dispatched to.
Do you have a CrossTrek review video for that hill climb test at that spot?
Try a non hybrid model.. I took mine out and got into a similar situation and no issues at all.
You left traction control on and left it in smart mode. With those tires there was no chance of a smooth accent.. any reasonable person would put it in snow mode, traction off, center diff locked.. the tires would still be a detriment but the vehicle would work better to try and compensate. [yes .. that wasn't snow...but the results would be similar]
The guy should be either idiot or he did it on purpose. All your points for traction control and tyres are absolutely correct but see how many idiots they commented knowing nothing about off roading.
The pseudo AWD lock is a low speed only feature. Once you’re above that speed, the button setting is ignored. Looks like you were above that speed.
Remember this car doesn't have a torque converter. This makes it difficult to generate power from a stop and relies on the electric motor only until the transmission is going fast enough to utilize the gas engine.
Are you sure there's no torque converter?
@@4x4.tests.on.rollers The electric motor occupies the space in the trans where the TQ converter would be and uses a clutch to disconnect the engine, the one benefit though is the electric motor gets to utilize the transmission gears for both propulsion and regen breaking.
@@fredbuzzell117 What kind of clutch is that, some multiplate? Sound like the solution which Mazda is also using.
Greetings from southern Ontario Canada I really enjoyed the video my sister lives in Vancouver and and she just took possession of the 2023 kia sportage hybrid thanks for the presentation
Beautiful ride on 101. Is that 101 in Oregon or California ?
Washington
Great channel. I was wondering what you would suggest for a off road / or at lease good for trails that is also hybrid to save on gas for long trips? I am actually planning a trip from here in cali to there in Washington st.
For light trails the RAV4/Highlander hybrids are fine. For more extreme, the Jeep 4xe or the upcoming Land Cruiser (which is hybrid only.)
@@drivingsports okay great, thanks for the reply :)
Great video Ryan!
I think a Forester Touring would do better all the way around… and equal or beat your highway mpg to boot! Don’t even need the Wilderness version.
And you can take it through the car wash afterwards no problem!!
😎
I 100% agree.
There's no way it comes even close to the sportage for gas mileage or power. Off road, it will definitely be better, but in all other aspects... Not even close.
The Interior is one of the best of the suv hybrids rn imo
My ‘23 sportage phev has a “lock” button, which should work as a diff locker but haven’t tested it. I would hope it would’ve worked in this situation but I’ve only driven in paved roads
Hey Ryan, what trail is that? I’m only just getting into off-roading and would love an easier trail to traverse that has such a spectacular view at the end. Please let me know if you can, thanks
It’s off Hamma Hamma road on the peninsula. No name iirc.
Disagree with your MPG assessment! My hybrid Rav4 averages 41 mpg. What’s a Forester average?
Don’t have one, but I drove my friends forester base model on a road trip and averaged 36mpg. Not bad
When are we going to see some German SUVs tested. Yes they are luxurious but most have pretty capable systems like the BMW X3 for example.
I'm in the Seattle area and I ended up ordering my car/leaving a deposit with dealerships out of state because of the huge markup on the west coast. Hopefully my specific model will come in soon
Did you happen to get a chance to hear the HK sound system? It's been pretty divisive to my understanding.
I've had a PHEV on order since October. Trouble is getting Kia to deliver one to New Mexico!
Couldn’t give me a Kia or Hyundai for its AWD system alone. Wow! Lol great vid though.
I’ve read and seen that a lot of these don’t come with a spare, but a few do. Is that region based or something?
This is on my short list for my wife’s next car. Seems like it would also be great for road trips and the occasional soft roading. We went to Death Valley recently, and I wished we had a SUV for some of the scenic dirt roads.
Do you. Test. Mitsubishi outlander. Phve. 2023??
do they sell on in USA?
My one question is why did you test the Sx instead of Xpro which has all terrain tires, and better ground clearance for off roading so of course the Sx isn’t going to preform as well
We test what the manufacturers have available. They have limited models and trims for us to test every year.
@@drivingsports thanks I honestly think it would have done better I plan on getting one soon. Thank you again for the reply really appreciated. Now I will subscribe Thanks Ryan
Sadly most of the hybrid city SUV/CUV have absolutely useless AWD systems, even compared to their gas counterparts, same goes for Toyota and Honda. Really waiting to see how Subaru does with their hybrid system in the 2025 Forester. If it's any good I'll finally pull the trigger on a hybrid!
Can you please let us know the trail name? I’d like to visit.
This just goes to show all season tires are not meant for off road trails. A proper set of off road tires would make a world of difference.
Does the hybrid battery kick in when driving city driving? (under 40mpg) ?
I think this is fantastic if one doesn't intend on doing anything other than dirt roads in it. The styling is great inside and out, and Kia nails it with value. I also like that this has a rear drive shaft in the mechanical AWD, compared to the RAV4 is electric motor. It just a shame they couldn't equip this with something like Toyota's A-Track, that would make a huge difference in capability along with tires. If I were looking to buy a crossover, this would be at the top of my list.
u think Ford Focus can go up that trail ?
If you drive 4 Runner like a 4 Runner, you get mileage like a 4 Runner.
If you drive a Kia Hybrid like a Kia, you might get mileage within 4 below of what it says it is
If you drive a Honda CRV Hybrid like a Honda CRV, you might get a mileage it says it is. But probably not.
If you drive a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid or Carolla Cross Hybrid, you'll get more than what it says it gets.
From all the rav4 hybrid test like from Alex On Autos, you'd be right. I think he was getting 50mpg on the new carolla cross hybrid
Super! Me gustaría conocer tu impresión en la Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
Good review on an undervalued SUV. End was a disappointment but better tires might have made the climb less painful (doesn't dismiss the poor computer programming when it comes to the need of transferring power).
Would you get better fuel economy, in this hybrid, if you used the down flappy paddle to downshift gears, and put more charge into the battery, in stead of using the foot pedal brake. The way KIA is doing hybrid, using a motor AND a 6 speed auto gearbox, appears to suggest that you have to downshift the gears, in order to get more regenerative braking.
Test the new 2023 Outlander PHEV off-road.
Definitely need to invest in PPF if you get matte paint imo
Same result as when you tested the Tucson Hybrid.
Would be great if you could do the same test on the same hill with the 2.5 non-turbo Sportage with the regular 8 speed
transmission (not DCT).
I own a Sportage and love it, never trust an AWD system on any vehicle, if you know you need all 4 tires then lock it in to 4 wheel it works great I've taken mine in some areas you wouldn't think it could go.
But there are vehicles that are truly made to use their AWD. Subarus, Jeeps, 4Runner, Land Cruiser. Kia’s AWD is just a gimmick, like most of their stuff.
Did you put a Subaru in that list? Lmao...
Did you shut off trash control?
I'm still driving a Sportage that cost me $18,000 when it was new.
What if you locked the wheels?? Or did you?
Sorry I just rewatched and missed that you did. Ughh.. I just bought one of these. I don't need a lot of off road capability, but it's a bummer to think it's not there.
Did you experience the same stuttering issue that you had while testing the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid?
He definitely had a setting\button\software issue at the end? A buddy in our group has the same model that he isn't scared to abuse and the rear wheels never moved in the video and I know I've seen them engage when needed on my friends suv! While it's not for me personally, I think this was a specific problem and not the norm. Or my buddy just got lucky and has a good one or hasn't had problems yet if this is the norm in the forums? 👀🤷♂️
This is a great video. I just put a down payment on a new Sportage Hybrid. The down payment is 100% refundable if I change my mind, and considering I won't get the car for a year and a half, I have a lot of opportunity to change my mind.
I'm a bit freaked out at the "resignation" at 18:13. Looks like the car was trying to only draw power from the electric motor, and couldn't get it from a stand-still.
Is there not a way to "lock out" the electric motor and only use the gas motor, for times like this? Or is this a sole result of having no torque convertor?
Frankly, my only concern is the single one and only steep hill in my life....the top of the lane at my cottage. Could be an issue.....
Steep hills shouldn't be an issue. Only when traction is lost, it kind of "shuts down" power. Not unheard of for the class.
Kia’s marketing team needs to stop marketing their Sportage as off-road capable. It is an on-road vehicle meant for civilization.
Most of their vehicles are just marketing with barely sufficient engineering behind it. That’s what you get when most of the budget goes to design and technology.
Not again, did it get stuck?
Sir, you need to review the new Audi pick up and take it off road!!!
Have he tested the Hyundai Santa Fe hybrid off road???
You should turn on dif lock on gear “N”, otherwise its not going to work :( I just experienced last week with my sportage
It seems like you are driving very fast on the gravel road. I don't think people will normally drive that fast in such a vehicle on this road.
i was thinking that too
Huge hole between this and the Wrangler 4xe. Solterra range and charging is a joke but the Prime system in a Forester would be intriguing.
Great video and nice looking car. I have to admit Kia and Hyundai are on the cutting edge of designs.
However, I keep on hearing about engine issues with both brands.
Is this true or just over blown?
Yeh some of their engines are bad, they even consume Oil 😂
Engine Oil not the Fuel
It’s not overblown. Together Kia/Hyundai lost $2.3 billion dollars in Q3 of 2022, which was about 77% and 55%, respectively, of profits for that one quarter. This was all due to warranty claims on their faulty and failing engines.
Is this Flathead lake?
The MUD mode locks AWD and you should have used that instead of snow mode.
Thank you for exposing these “off-road” CUVs for what they really are. Owners should just keep this to speed bumps in the Olive Garden parking lot 😂
Kia Sportage hybrid car very good
기아자동차 하이브리드 너무 좋아요😊😊😊
Thanks for the review. I'd like to hear more about the HEV performance on longer term testing in terms of consumption. Was this additional battery weight a contributing factor in lack of hill traction OR was it more about fiddling/ understanding the correct traction setting? It looks a great specced vehicle and lots of safety kit. I live on top of a mountain town in Canada, so lots of snow, winter 5 months, sometimes poor road conditions, temperatures of -20F...I really was considering a PHEV Sportage as the pain of gas pricing isn't improving, plus I do a weekly hourly town trip, so 70/30 highway/ city driving... but this review isn't giving me a lot of confidence that PHEV 's are quite there yet. This is from someone who is considering moving away from a Audi Q7 Quattro and who's first natural choice would be Subaru Wilderness/XT...thoughts please?
I've owned one of these for 4 months, and I drive about 20 - 30 miles daily on average. Right now I'm getting about 160 mpg~!!! Love this car."
Don't put your foot to the floor. That's why it could not get up that climb. It was not the car's fault that you had trouble getting up that climb. If you backed off of the throttle more, it would have gotten up that climb much more easily. I thought you knew what you were talking about until I watched that part of the video.
I like the Red interior
Almost seems like a DCT or tranny issue. It had the traction, but it wasn't putting enough torque down to move forward.
Not that I'm advocating for the Kia Sportage, but to be perfectly fair, hybrids do not get that much better gas mileage on highway if there is no traffic. They do get better gas mileage and pretty much every other scenario though.
nice color
Better than CRV, xtrail, rav4, cx5, mg hs, Tucson 🙂🙂
Did you disable traction control? I have found in my 2020 Kia SX that the TC system would keep me from moving on ice/snow, but by disabling it, the AWD system worked great.