The hybrid variant of the fifth generation Kia Sportage packs 265 horsepower, signaling a strong blend of performance and efficiency in a compact crossover package.
Its sibling, the Hyundai Tucson PHEV, recently completed the same challenge, a reminder that both models share a similar engineering philosophy. Both vehicles rely on a 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbo engine paired with an electric motor, delivering drive to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. Notably, the two crossovers tested with identical equipment, including Michelin Primacys tires, underscoring a fair comparison under controlled conditions.
From a testing perspective, it made sense for the Sportage PHEV to mirror the Tucson PHEV’s results. In practice, the Kia matched Hyundai’s performance, with timing accurate to tenths of a second. Yet driving impressions favored the Kia slightly, describing it as easier and more enjoyable to pilot, a sentiment that contrasted with the elk test experience for the Sportage.
During the initial attempt at 77 km/h, the Sportage PHEV clipped cones and struggled to rejoin the track after the maneuver. The measured passing speed settled at 71 km/h, and the understeer evident in the imagery contributed to the outcome: with the steering turned, the vehicle tended to push straight ahead. By comparison, the Tucson did not exhibit this drawback, maintaining truer alignment through the same maneuver.
Overall, the elk test highlighted how even closely matched powertrains and chassis configurations can yield different handling characteristics in real-world dynamics. The differences observed between the Sportage and Tucson emphasize the impact of tuning, steering response, and weight distribution on cornering behavior and driver confidence, especially when switching from confident highway cruising to precision driving segments.
Photo, video: YouTube