Kia Sportage Hybrid beats Toyota RAV4 in German review

Kia Corp.’s compact SUV Sportage Hybrid (HEV) was recognized for higher driving convenience and efficiency, alongside better connectivity and shape, than Toyota Motor Corp.'s RAV4, Kia said on Sunday.

In a recent comparative analysis of the two SUV models, German automobile magazine Auto Bild said that the Sportage HEV beat Toyota’s flagship hybrid model RAV4 in four of seven categories and won higher total scores than the Japanese model.

The weekly compared them in terms of shape; convenience; power train; driving efficiency; connectivity; eco-friendliness; and fuel efficiency.

Out of the seven categories, Kia’s Sportage HEV was ahead of the Toyota model in terms of shape, convenience, driving efficiency and connectivity. Both got the same score for eco-friendliness.

In total, the Sportage HEV received 563 points, compared with the RAV4’s 540.

The Kia Sportage HEV was recognized as one generation ahead of the Toyota RAV4 by Auto Bild, one of Germany’s top three auto trade magazines, along with Auto Motor und Sport and Auto Zeitung.

In particular, the Sportage HEV has widened its gap with the RAV4 in terms of driving convenience and efficiency to 13 and 11, respectively, powered by its superior advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and brake capabilities.

The magazine said that the Sportage HEV has built trust with drivers thanks to its fuel efficiency and cost-effectiveness in several aspects. It drives 100 kilometers per 7.1 liters, nearly matching the official driving range for vehicles.

Moreover, Auto Bild spoke highly of Sportage’s agile and accurate driving performance.

In August, Kia and its sister company Hyundai Motor Co. posted record sales in the US. That was in stark contrast with their Japanese rivals’ declining sales in the world’s second-largest automobile market.

Write to Il-Gue Kim at black0419@hankyung.com
Yeonhee Kim edited this article.