Is the Kia Sportage's fuel economy disappointing for a small compact SUV in 2012?
One area where the criticism for the Kia Sportage receives a lot of attention is fuel economy, especially in comparison to versions that do not come with the hybrid treatment. The hybrid models are competitive in terms of efficiency, but the standard gasoline versions have been panned for failing to meet expectations when driven in real world conditions. Many owners complain of real world mpg figures that are much lower than the official EPA estimates, especially in the city. That's led to debates over whether the Sportage's fuel economy is acceptable for a modern compact SUV, given what its rivals in the class can do.
I have the non hybrid Sportage and yep, fuel economy is not great. Mixed driving, I'm getting about 24 mpg, which is a whole lot less than I was expecting. My only real complaint about the car is that.
We must realize that fuel economy of SUVs is a reality. The Sportage is just average, it's not terrible. If you want good fuel economy, get the hybrid, or buy a smaller car. Given that you're expecting to use a spacious, comfortable SUV, you can't expect it to sip fuel like a compact.
The fuel economy is fine for what the Sportage is, I think. The SUV is a comfortable, well equipped SUV with a decent sized engine. It's not the best choice for fuel economy, but if you're like me and a few other things make up for that, the Sportage is a great choice.
This problem is solved completely by the hybrid version. Mixed driving returns me about 38 mpg, fantastic for an SUV this size. As far as fuel economy is concerned, the hybrid is the one to have.
Reviews worried me about fuel economy but in real world driving it's not as bad as some would have you believe. It's not class leading, but it's not awful. I can live with the average 27 mpg that I get, as I like the rest of the car.
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Discussions and Questions Is The Kia Sportages Fuel Economy Disappointing For A Small Compact Suv In 2012
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