Grab or Hard Pass: The Most Fuel-Efficient Small SUV
Gas guzzlers are nightmares for drivers looking to save money. Some drivers choose SUV models based on their fuel efficiency with costs of ownership in mind. The most fuel-efficient (non-PHEV or EV) small SUV isn’t wildly popular yet. It could become a best-selling model in 2023. Should you get this fuel-sippin’ Kia model, or is it a hard pass?
The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid is the most fuel-efficient small SUV
Kia’s small hybrid SUV gets 42 miles per gallon in the city and 44 miles per gallon on the highway. It gets 43 miles per gallon combined.
The Kia Sportage Hybrid has a 13.7-gallon tank size. So, the SUV can travel for over 589 miles on a full tank of gas. That’s incredible driving range for a small SUV. To put that number into perspective, the Toyota RAV4 gets 27 miles per gallon in the city and 35 miles per gallon on the highway. It has a 14.5-gallon tank. The world’s most popular SUV can only travel for about 449 miles on a full tank of gas.
Today’s national average gas price as of May 8th, 2023, is $3.53. It costs about $48.36 to refuel the Sportage Hybrid. It costs $58.18 to refuel the RAV4, yet the Sportage Hybrid gets more driving range.
Kia’s hybrid SUV is more efficient than the world’s most popular SUV and is cheaper to refuel. The SUV’s fuel economy is just one aspect of what it offers consumers.
The Kia Sportage Hybrid is a grab for the budget-conscious
If you want to save money on your next new vehicle purchase, the 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid is affordable and cost-effective. It starts at $27,490. The Sportage Hybrid uses a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and an electric motor to make 227 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque.
The small hybrid SUV has auto rain-sensing windshield wipers, remote keyless entry, and rear parking sensors. It also includes Drive Mode Select with Normal, Smart, Sport, and Snow modes. The Sportage Hybrid features lane-keeping assist, driver attention warning, and forward collision avoidance assist with car, pedestrian, and cyclist detection.
The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid is more affordable than some gas-powered SUV models despite having a more complex powertrain system. Kelley Blue Book praises its roomy interior, standard features, and gas mileage. Its upper trim level configurations offer more tech and creature comforts without breaking the bank.
Which 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid configuration should you get?
The Sportage Hybrid EX is a great middle ground between value and affordability. It starts at $31,190 and comes with a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel, wireless phone charger, and SynTex seating trim with heated front seats.
If you want every available feature the small hybrid offers, the SX Prestige final configuration is the way to go. The 2023 Kia Sportage SX Prestige starts at $36,390. It has a blind-spot view monitor, a surround-view monitor, and a Harman Kardon premium eight-speaker audio system. The small hybrid SUV features 12.3-inch dual panoramic displays with navigation, a panoramic sunroof with power sunshade, and navigation-based smart cruise control with stop and go.
Let us know which Sportage Hybrid trim you prefer in the comment section below.
