Kia's Sportage plug-in hybrid lauded in Germany

Kia's Sportage plug-in hybrid [KIA]

Kia's Sportage plug-in hybrid took the top spot in two comparative tests by German auto magazines.

Auto Motor und Sport, a German auto magazine, compared four plug-in hybrid vehicles — the Kia Sportage, Toyota’s RAV4, Opel Grandland and Volvo XC40 — in seven categories, including the cars' bodies, safety and comfort.

The magazine was first published in 1923, and is one of the three major auto magazines in Germany along with Auto Bild and Auto Zeitung.

The Kia Sportage plug-in hybrid earned the top scores in comfort, driving dynamics and cost, taking the top spot overall with a total of 649 points. Toyota's RAV4 ranked second with 615 points, followed by Opel's Grandland with 603 points and Volvo XC40 with 566 points.

In the review, the magazine said the Kia Sportage plug-in hybrid has a rear seat space that is wide and comfortable.

Auto Bild, another German auto magazine, also gave Kia’s Sportage plug-in hybrid the highest mark in a comparison with Opel’s Grandland.

Kia’s plug-in hybrid got higher scores in five out of seven categories including body, driving dynamics and cost, beating Opel’s with an overall 559 points. The Grandland received a total of 533 points.

Auto Bild described the Sportage plug-in hybrid as offering a smoother driving experience, and said it was more comfortable for drivers because it has a bigger interior space.

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]