I really liked this one and am sad to let her go. The 2025 Kia Sportage SX HEV was an all around, well rounded vehicle.
Coming out of a large car, this smaller one felt nimble, the wheel was so light that it made driving effortless. There is no real standouts or eyesores, making this a fantastic choice for every day driving. Its handling was no brainer and I found it the perfect midsize for my single person occupancy.
I got a lot of responsiveness from the steering to the brakes. You do have to keep your hands on the wheel at all times, otherwise the car does wane to the left. It is also just sporty enough in look to make it feel like a more luxurious option.
I especially enjoyed the surround camera view that had the Sportage in cartoon form at the centre of it, thus showing you everything surrounding it and making parking in reverse a breeze.
For aesthetic features I liked the hook handle door knob, the matte dash control panel, and the patterned plates over the centre console controls. The dash board transitions into the infotainment system, in a minimalist sleek design. And you can hear the quality in the Harman Kardon speakers.
I also appreciated that the start button was right next to the gearshift, which I think makes a lot of sense because one move follows the other. Whereas many other vehicles tend to keep the start button where the traditional key hole was once located, behind the wheel.
It also had one of the best fuel economy I have encountered so far. Over 725km in the tank with gas and battery combined. It was so easy to charge the battery that it never went below half. This was especially so with my daily gym commute up and down Burnaby Mountain.
This coupled with the eco-mode helped to conserve additional energy and gas, which I appreciated. Ten days of driving and I was still left with a quarter of the tank at my disposal.
