A PHEV can be a good option for car shoppers who want to clean up their emissions but are skeptical about committing to a true EV in the current market. That said, many folks are overlooking PHEVs, as they aren’t as clean or cool as true EVs like the Tesla Model 3 or the Ford F-150 Lightning. However, there are some great PHEV options. Here’s a look at five advantages the 2023 Kia Sportage PHEV has over the Subaru Crosstrek PHEV.

1. Kia gave the Sportage PHEV a better standard warranty

Kia is one of the more generous automakers regarding warranties. It’s no surprise that, according to Edmunds, the Sportage PHEV has better standard coverage. The Sportage PHEV has a five-year or 60,000-mile basic warranty, a 10-year or 100,000-mile drivetrain warranty, a five-year or 100,000-mile rust warranty, and a five-year or 60,000-mile roadside warranty.

In comparison, the Crosstrek Hybrid has a three-year or 36,000-mile basic warranty, a five-year or 60,000-mile drivetrain warranty, a five-year and unlimited mileage rust warranty, and a three-year or 36,000-mile roadside warranty. 

2. The 2023 Kia Sportage PHEV has a longer electric driving range

The main upgrade of PHEVs over standard hybrids is battery-only driving, and the Kia is much better than the Subaru here. The Sportage PHEV comes with a 13.8-kWh battery that allows it to go 34 miles on battery-only mode. The Crosstrek Hybrid, meanwhile, has an 8.8-kWh battery, and it only allows it to go 17 miles on battery-only mode. This means that the Sportage PHEV has twice the electric driving range as the Crosstrek Hybrid.

3. The Kia also has a more powerful powertrain than the Subaru

Not only can the Sportage PHEV travel a longer distance in battery-only mode, but it’s also a much more powerful car. The Kia’s powertrain combines a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor that gets 261 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The Subaru’s powertrain combines a 2.0-liter flat-four with an electric motor that gets 148 hp and 134 lb-ft of torque. The Sportage PHEV is almost twice as powerful as the Crosstrek Hybrid.

4. The 2023 Kia Sportage PHEV can tow more stuff

That power advantage also means that the Sportage PHEV will be able to tow more stuff when it’s appropriately equipped. According to Edmunds, the Sportage PHEV has a max towing capacity of 2,000 pounds. The Crosstrek Hybrid, meanwhile, has a max towing capacity of 1,000 pounds. That means that the Kia SUV will be able to tow twice the amount of stuff as the Subaru SUV can.

5. The 2023 Kia Sportage PHEV can also carry more cargo

Not only that, but Kia owners will be able to carry far more cargo in the Sportage PHEV than they could in the Crosstrek Hybrid. Without folding any seats down, the Sportage PHEV has access to 34.5 cu-ft of cargo space. The Crosstrek Hybrid only has 15.9 cu-ft of cargo space if its seats aren’t folded down. This means the Kia has over twice the cargo capacity when its seats aren’t folded down.

With the seats folded down, the Sportage PHEV has a max cargo capacity of 65.5 cu-ft The Crosstrek Hybrid, on the other hand, has a max cargo capacity of 43.1 cu-ft. That is a difference of 22.4 cu-ft, which is a lot of extra room that the Kia has access to.