The world is paying a lot of attention to EVs right now, but PHEVs can be a great transitional point between hybrids and true EVs. Even though PHEVs are an overlooked corner of the market, automakers have many PHEV options available, so it can be worthwhile for car shoppers to compare and contrast them. Here’s a look at the 2023 Hyundai Tucson PHEV and its two advantages over the Kia Sportage PHEV.

1. The 2023 Hyundai Tucson PHEV is the more affordable option

Price is one of the most important things to consider when buying a car, and the Tucson PHEV has the lead here, according to Edmunds. The Tucson PHEV has a starting price tag of about $35,500. The Sportage PHEV has a starting price tag of about $38,500. This makes the Hyundai SUV about $3,000 cheaper than the Kia.

Thanks to that price difference, car shoppers can pocket the difference or spend some of that money by adding some options or packages to the Tucson PHEV. That said, both PHEVs have one other trim option available to customers, and they’re priced similarly at about $43,000. 

2. Families can carry more stuff in the 2023 Hyundai Tucson PHEV

Another crucial consideration car shoppers have is cargo capacity. Once again, the Hyundai is the superior option. Despite being a slightly smaller SUV in terms of dimensions, the Tucson PHEV has a higher max cargo capacity than the Sportage PHEV. The Sportage PHEV will have more cargo capacity if folks don’t fold the seats. 

The Tucson PHEV has a 31.9 cu-ft cargo capacity without folding any seats. Without any seats folded down, the Sportage PHEV gets 34.5 cu-ft of cargo capacity. When the seats are folded down, the Tucson PHEV has a max cargo capacity of 66.3 cu-ft. In comparison, the Sportage PHEV has a max cargo capacity of 65.5 cu-ft. 

The 2023 Hyundai Tucson PHEV is very similar to the Kia Sportage PHEV though

Overall, car shoppers interested in a plug-in hybrid SUV should find that the Tucson and the Sportage are very similar. This isn’t too surprising since Hyundai and Kia, while they are separate companies, work very closely with one another. As a result, many of their cars share similarities. The Tucson and the Sportage were built on the same platform. As such, while the two have different dimensions, their wheelbase is the same. 

Not only that, but Hyundai and Kia gave their two SUVs the same powertrain, as both feature a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that works with an electric motor to get 261 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Since their powertrains are the same, their towing capacities are also the same, as both can tow a max of 2,000 pounds. Both also come with all-wheel drive as standard, the same gas tank capacity of about 11.1 gallons, and the same ground clearance of 8.3 inches. 

That being said, they’re not identical cars, and there are areas where the two are slightly different. For example, despite having the same powertrain, their fuel economies are different. The Tucson PHEV gets about 80 MPGe combined, while the Sportage PHEV gets about 84 MPGe combined. And even though both come with a 13.8-kWh battery, the Sportage PHEV can get 34 miles of electric driving range from that battery, while the Tucson PHEV only gets 33 miles.