Sportage Hybrid Real World MPG?

AutumnMiles · 2023-03-07T15:34:38-0500

Today I drove our 2023 Sportage Hybrid on Eco mode to an errand 15 miles away on rural Maine roads with minimal traffic and got 37.8 mpg. Temperature was 35 degrees, drove 35 - 50 miles per hour, and the trip included one long wait at a traffic signal and a couple of hills. My husband likes to see how to maximize the gas mileage each time we drive it.

It was very difficult to part with my Honda Odyssey--that van drove beautifully!--but I do enjoy driving this 2023 Sportage Hybrid. It feels smooth, safe, and nimble, even when driving on rougher/uneven roads here.

Baloo · 2023-03-08T22:14:03-0500

Can you change the default to Smart? Each time I start it back up it goes to Eco and I haven't found a setting in the menu.

SoCal949 · 2023-03-08T22:15:47-0500

Baloo said:
Can you change the default to Smart? Each time I start it back up it goes to Eco and I haven't found a setting in the menu.

As you are well aware, I don't have the car yet, but from what I have seen the car defaults to ECO at startup. Somebody correct me if that's not correct.

casanewt · 2023-03-09T12:19:17-0500

SoCal949 said:
As you are well aware, I don't have the car yet, but from what I have seen the car defaults to ECO at startup. Somebody correct me if that's not correct.

Correct. I do not believe there is a way to set the default to Smart.

Koreanadian · 2023-03-09T14:19:46-0500

For mine, If I have it at either Normal or Smart, it'll stay, but at Snow or whatever else they have on there, it'll go back to what was set before turning to Snow/etc.

Micah008 · 2023-03-09T14:35:45-0500

My HEV always goes back to Eco. So, it might be a HEV/PHEV thing to always default to Eco.

Riverside Rick · 2023-03-09T16:08:24-0500

Micah008 said:
My HEV always goes back to Eco. So, it might be a HEV/PHEV thing to always default to Eco.

Correct

Koreanadian · 2023-03-09T16:26:56-0500

So even if you put it in Normal or Smart, it goes back to ECO?

Riverside Rick · 2023-03-09T17:04:25-0500

Koreanadian said:
So even if you put it in Normal or Smart, it goes back to ECO?

Yes, on the HEV and I assume PHEV, there is Eco, Smart, Sport and Snow, but it always defaults to Eco when you start.

Sportage EX · 2023-03-12T20:03:10-0400

sir5574 said:
I just don't understand how the car is rated for 38mpg on the highway... when driving 60-65mph on the highway, the instant MGP bar rarely even hits 30mpg... (below 25 in this case).

Also attached my fuelly log calculated every fuelup since driving off the lot with the car. Never once getting close to the advertised 38 combined MPG.
View attachment 127392
View attachment 127393

you'd think for a hybrid that prides itself in MPG, the speedo would be more practical. Who are they kidding with the 160mph reading? Why is it even there? Hell, even 120 is a pipe dream. Would be great if they expanded the 0-80 section to the majority of the speedo, and then maybe a few red lines to indicate 90/100/110/120 etc. If you're trying to optimize MPH the 40-60mph area should be the larest area to see.

iErnest85 · 2023-03-13T00:11:01-0400

Based on the Kia Sportage review on Driving Electric the Top Speed is 120 mph.

Kia Sportage Hybrid review | DrivingElectric

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Micah008 · 2023-03-13T11:33:45-0400

Sportage EX said:
Who are they kidding with the 160mph reading? Why is it even there? ...

This is true for most automakers, not just Kia.

They do it mostly to put the most typical operating speeds (55-75 mph) at the top of the speedometer, which makes it easier to read for the driver. It has nothing to do with actually being able to reach 160mph.

Koreanadian · 2023-03-13T12:00:48-0400

Micah008 said:
This is true for most automakers, not just Kia.

They do it mostly to put the most typical operating speeds (55-75 mph) at the top of the speedometer, which makes it easier to read for the driver. It has nothing to do with actually being able to reach 160mph.

This

davesupra · 2023-03-13T12:16:21-0400

Just another data point....

I went for a short drive on interstate with the cruise set to 80mph. There was a light headwind that was about 45 degrees off center. The car ran pretty much entirely on the gas engine, ~28 mpg. Not bad. Still better than our Santa Fe with a 2.4L would get in those conditions.

stargate125645 · 2023-03-13T12:44:44-0400

davesupra said:
Just another data point....

I went for a short drive on interstate with the cruise set to 80mph. There was a light headwind that was about 45 degrees off center. The car ran pretty much entirely on the gas engine, ~28 mpg. Not bad. Still better than our Santa Fe with a 2.4L would get in those conditions.

Given your ND location, I can assume you had HVAC heating up the cabin?

davesupra · 2023-03-13T14:09:50-0400

stargate125645 said:
Given your ND location, I can assume you had HVAC heating up the cabin?

Yes, it was about 20F out so not terribly cold but chilly. hvac was set to 70F.

stargate125645 · 2023-03-15T16:55:29-0400

Kianadian92 said:
To my knowledge it basically acts as a FWD vehicle unless it detects slipping and it will send power to the rear wheels, I think alot of vehicles mpg will dip above 70 mph and a hybrid will get better fuel economy in the city and ICE will typically get as good or could be better on the highway

Some power is always sent to the rear wheels, so it's not quite that efficient.

Sparklander said:
It's barely worth getting the hybrid version of the Sportage if it only averages 33-34 mpg. An ICE Sportage would get that on the highway. Kia is deceiving consumers with their high mpg ratings on the Sportage Hybrid. I own one and probably would have purchased a RAV4 Hybrid or Highlander Hybrid, if I had known.

This doesn't make sense to me. If you are primarily driving on the highways, no hybrid will make sense. If you are driving in the city, outside of winter, you should be in the mid-30s easily. I guess I don't understand your motivations for vehicle choice. Hopefully you learn to love it!

Sparklander · 2023-03-15T20:55:19-0400

stargate125645 said:
Some power is always sent to the rear wheels, so it's not quite that efficient.

This doesn't make sense to me. If you are primarily driving on the highways, no hybrid will make sense. If you are driving in the city, outside of winter, you should be in the mid-30s easily. I guess I don't understand your motivations for vehicle choice. Hopefully you learn to love it!

We normally drive in the city, but never average above 34 mpg.

stargate125645 · 2023-03-15T21:06:18-0400

Sparklander said:
We normally drive in the city, but never average above 34 mpg.

Given your location and season I would think that fine? Still significantly higher than ICE would provide.

Sparklander · 2023-03-16T10:29:52-0400

stargate125645 said:
Given your location and season I would think that fine? Still significantly higher than ICE would provide.

But 10%+ lower than Kia claims in their advertising.

Sportage Hybrid Real World MPG?

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