Kia Sportage GT-Line HEV 2024 Review

The 2024 Kia Sportage GT-Line HEV is the top dog of the range, landing for $55,420 before on-road costs (ORCs) – that’s $2500 more than the equivalent spec turbo-diesel.

If you want the same hybrid experience but with less kit and a lower price tag, the entry level SX HEV is a chunk cheaper at $45,950.

Right off the bat the GT-Line HEV is facing a fight with your accountant in terms of the Sportage range, but it matches up well with rivals such as the $60,400 Honda CR-V e:HEV RS (although this is a drive-away figure) and the $54,410 Toyota RAV4 Cruiser Hybrid (plus ORCs).

Being the top spec, you won’t be disappointed with the level of kit in the 2024 Kia Sportage GT-Line HEV.

LED head and tail-lights, leather/suede upholstery, electronically operated heated and cooled seats with memory function for the driver, heated steering wheel and an electronic tailgate all feature.

Interestingly the GT-Line is fitted with the same 18-inch alloys as the lower-grade SX, meaning there is little in the way of aesthetic improvement to the exterior with the higher model grade.

The Kia Sportage GT-Line HEV is covered by the brand’s impressive seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty with seven years/105,000km capped-price servicing coming in at $4502.

It’s worth noting that the diesel asks $3580 for the same period. This means the overall expense could be less in the long run with the diesel despite its increased fuel usage when you factor in the cheaper purchasing price and servicing fees.

Servicing intervals for the Kia Sportage GT-Line HEV are every 12 months or 15,000km.

Like the rest of the line-up, the 2024 Kia Sportage GT-Line HEV carries a five-star ANCAP safety rating (2022) thanks to a host of active and passive systems as well as eight airbags.

Highlights include autonomous emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection, rear cross traffic alert, active cruise control, lane keeping assist with steering intervention, blind spot monitoring, 360-degree surround view cameras, front and rear parking sensors, trailer sway control and hill decent control.

It’s worth noting that the calibration of the active lane keeping assist can be too intrusive for some as it nibbles away at the steering.

However, the speed sign recognition’s integration in the Kia Sportage GT-Line HEV is a massive improvement over other Hyundai group offerings as the incessant audible warnings have vanished – hallelujah.

The 2024 Kia Sportage GT-Line HEV has lots of toys and tech to play with – all things we expect in a modern mid-size SUV.

While it appears as one large piece of curved screen, there are two 12.3-inch items, one for the infotainment and the other for the instrument cluster. The former is touch-enabled and the operating system supports wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The large digital instrument cluster is clear and concise with visually pleasing graphics and changeable themes. Also, the handy cameras that activate with the turn signals display a live feed of your blind spots.

A tech oversight, one that highlights the fact the Sportage doesn’t run Kia’s latest infotainment software, is the fact there’s no wireless smartphone capability. However, there is a wireless phone charger as well as USB-A and USB-C ports.

The Kia Sportage GT-Line HEV is fitted with a premium Harmon Kardon sound system as well as DAB+ digital radio and Bluetooth connectivity.

This is a familiar powertrain in the Hyundai/Kia family and pairs a 132kW/265Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with the 44kW/264Nm electric motor and 1.49kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Combined, a total of 169kW and 350Nm is channelled to the front wheels alone via a six-speed automatic transmission.

While the hybrid application reaps efficiency benefits, it also adds pep to the Kia Sportage’s step, with our GT-Line HEV recording a 0-100km/h time of 7.4 seconds on a dedicated drag strip.

On paper, the 2024 Kia Sportage GT-Line HEV promises to be the most efficient variant in the range with a claimed average fuel consumption of 4.9L/100km.

Throughout our extended time with the HEV the average fuel consumption came in at 6.4L/100km. However, that included driving conditions like performance testing, so on balance, our result is still impressive.

There is no need to plug in the HEV as the regenerative system takes care of that while you’re on the road while overall CO2 emissions are cut to 110g/km.

Appreciably, the Kia accepts cheaper 91 RON fuel and the ultimate cruising range is a massive 1083km.

In terms of rivals for the Kia Sportage GT-Line HEV, the Toyota RAV4 Edge Hybrid is rated at 4.8L/100km, while we averaged 6.2L/100km on test.

The brief for a mid-size SUV is pretty simple – it needs to be comfortable, efficient and inoffensive to drive. And the 2024 Kia Sportage GT-Line HEV exceeds those basic requirements.

In reality, the electrified Sportage is far more than that, offering a pleasing nature and decent performance from the fresh hybrid drivetrain. While you can’t switch into a dedicated EV mode (Eco, Sport and Smart modes are available), the system is proactive in cutting the internal-combustion engine as frequently as possible to sip fuel.

Acceleration is strong, with combined output figures besting the petrol, turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel powertrains found in other Sportage variants. Taking off from a standstill is usually done via the electric motor, with the 1.6-litre turbocharged unit only kicking in if you’re heavy footed. The transition to dual power sources is relatively seamless, too, and it rarely feels like a clunky progression.

For city driving, the HEV benefits from the extra torque provided by the electric motor, meaning the mid-range pulling power feels diesel-like. That’s paired with overtaking vigour, something you come to appreciate on a single-lane carriageway and especially when compared to the base engine.

It is a bit of a shame to see the downgrade to a six-speed automatic compared to the turbo-diesel’s eight ratios, but the torque-converter-equipped unit operates smoothly at low speeds and shifts cleanly on the run. There are steering wheel-mounted paddles if you feel the need change gears of your own accord.

However, not offering the Sportage HEV with the extra traction of all-wheel drive is a misstep as the total system output can leave the front axle in a fluster on hard acceleration. Even more so when the road is wet where the impact of torque steer and axle tramp is exacerbated.

While Kia traditionally carries out localised dynamic tuning, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it wasn’t possible for the Sportage HEV. As a result, the steering isn’t as refined as it is in other Sportage variants and the front-wheel-drive layout does return some mid-corner kickback over harsh road imperfections.

However, the general ride quality is supple, with enough rebound control in the dampers to offset wallowing and excessive body roll is kept under control. The chubby Hankook Dynapro HP2 235/60 tyres wrapping smaller 18-inch wheels also give a little extra cushioning.

Ultimately, the Kia Sportage GT-Line HEV returns a refined on-road experience.

If you’re familiar with this generation of Sportage, then the 2024 Kia Sportage GT-Line Hybrid won’t come as a surprise. However, if it ain’t broke…

The cabin of the Sportage is up market in terms of design, quality and ambience. While piano black might not be to everyone’s taste or hardwearing over time, it assists in generating the tasteful vibe and there’s just enough ambient lighting to amplify the experience at night.

Attention has also been paid to the sound deadening, with NVH levels being appreciably hushed – something a few luxury brands could learn from. The low-rolling resistance Hankook rubber not only aids efficiency, but also help quell tyre roar at speed, too.

The biggest benefit to Kia offering the extended wheelbase Sportage Down Under is in terms of interior space. Rear legroom is plentiful, as is head, toe and shoulder room. The 60/40-split folding rear seats also recline for extra comfort.

With there rear seats in place the Sportage offers 586 litres of cargo capacity – a figure that is larger than other specifications due to the fact the HEV runs a space-saver spare instead of the full-size wheel.

Seats folded flat there is a capacious 1872 litres to fill, while the boot features levers to fold the rear pews as well as handy hooks to secure various paraphernalia.

The Kia Sportage GT-Line HEV certainly isn’t at a pragmatic disadvantage despite its battery pack and it stacks up well against the mid-size SUV competition.

It’s an easy mid-size SUV to recommend, but there are a few things to consider before going ahead with the 2024 Kia Sportage GT-Line HEV.

At $55,420 before ORCs, the price of admission isn’t exactly a bargain. Weighing up whether you need the extra features found in the GT-Line over the base SX will be the first question to answer – especially when it doesn’t add exterior aesthetic appeal.

Then there’s the fact that the turbo-diesel Sportage GT-Line presents as being cheaper to buy, cheaper to service and more mechanically endowed with its all-wheel drive system. Yes, it isn’t as acoustically refined and offers little benefit in terms of economy, but it could easily make a stronger case for your driveway.

Ultimately, the HEV application works well with the Sportage GT-Line and adds another string to Kia’s mid-size SUV bow.

2024 Kia Sportage GT-Line HEV at a glance:
Price: $55,420 before on-road costs
Available: Now
Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol electric
Output: 132kW/265Nm (electric motor: 44kW/264Nm)
Combined output: 169kW/350Nm
Transmission: six-speed automatic
Fuel: 4.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 110g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: five-star (ANCAP 2022)

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