How to Optimize Fuel Efficiency in a Kia Sportage Hybrid (BOOST MPGs)

Kia Sportage Parts/Accessories I use:
Rear cargo mat - amzn.to/3Moqwl0
Floor mats - amzn.to/3pwrOkW
Hitch - amzn.to/3mvCnmX
Wiring Harness - amzn.to/3msX2YK
Trailer Connector - amzn.to/3IPCwct
Hitch Tightener - amzn.to/3Mfpfwj
Cabin Air Filter - amzn.to/3FB1Bqa
Engine Air Filter - amzn.to/3QzZzNx
Oil Filter Kit - amzn.to/41P0ZqL
Oil - amzn.to/3IWBf34
Magnetized Spark Plug Socket - amzn.to/3H9RyJr
OEM Spark Plug Set (of 4) - amzn.to/48llKgP
Power Inverter - amzn.to/49eolds
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[@Funkydood]

Dude! I got my wife a 2023 gas engine Sportage (2.5L, 8-shift tranny). The manual recommends 0W-20 synthetic motor oil, but we live at Puerto Rico, where temperatures run around the 80s-90s, Fahrenheit. So I upgraded to 5W-20...Man, I'm getting an average 38-42 mpg, highway miles!!! We're in love with the little SUV!!!

[@RivermanTV-]

Interesting, thanks for sharing!

[@mitchdunn3813]

I don't know about the Sportage as yet, but I've owned two of the Prius (2016 in the last one), and I found that if you are in a part of town that has a lot of hills, that the sport mode in that one gets better mpg. Less work for the transmission etc so though you are not speeding, you are rolling easier in the hills. Also what you discribe in the breaking is the same in the Prius. Light breaking as much as possible keeps them charged, also it is slowed down by the recovery generator vs the actual breaks. This does tend to irritate other drivers that don'e understand why you are "Riding your breaks" lol. Another thing I found was that if I'm going to be running at a single speed for a while I will always use my cruise control as much as possible. This also saves you fuel because you are not fluctuating the gas pedal all the time. This way when I'm in town on a main road at 40 mph, my mpg is awesome. Also on the freeway, I'll jump into the Truck lane, and do the same speed they are. Five mph actually has a great impact on mpg. Even maintaining 65 is much better than 70mph.

[@Windjammer1969_]

On our 3rd hybrid - Prius, Ioniq, and Sportage, the last 2 of which we still own - and your recommendations seem spot on based upon our experience. Noticed that while you started out with high MPG - on non-freeway roads - by the end of your trip you were down to the rated mpg of around 38. My guess is that the Sportage simply pushes too much air around to get spectacular mpg at highway speeds, and the elevated height of the AWD versions clearly makes that worse (38 mpg rated vs 44 rated for the FWD version, which sits closer to the ground). One way that the Sportage resembles our older hybrids - and particularly the Ioniq - is that it likes to run when "warmed up" - short trips, even on surface streets, return much lower mpg when the engine starts out cold. Our Sportage still has relatively low miles on in (around 2,700), and mpg trend has been upward since purchase - not dramatically, but consistently. Currently sits at 33.3 overall (per its own computer), with the current tank sitting at 35.5. My "goal" is to achieve 34+ on trips, and to come close to the 38 mark in daily driving - something you achieved on the recorded trip in this video. Thanks for posting!

[@RivermanTV-]

Totally agree. It can perform well at highway speeds but the amount of air resistance is an important factor in my opinion. Any sort of headwind will keep the vehicle from using the electric mode. I've still averaged over 40 on mostly highway trips, but the external factors have to fall into place for that to happen. Glad my experience and interpretation wasn't too far off with this car.

[@johncasino9643]

Taking notes right now. Hopefully to get my sportage ex hybrid but it's 7 months and counting. Greetings from Toronto CA. Thanks for the tips buddy

[@contemporaryprimitiveman3469]

We waited 355 days for ours.

[@keithtrap8693]

Tried to get one in summer of 2022 but they wouldn't allow us to order the Navy gray interior until January 2023. Ended up not getting the 23 and they shipped us to 24 and got it the end of February. We paid an extra $1,500. So basically took us almost 2 years to get ours. Was disappointed that the Vesta Blue turn out Navy Blue, which was not the color on the internet or brochures.☹️​@@contemporaryprimitiveman3469

[@RivermanTV-]

You're welcome. Hope your Sportage arrives early!

[@contemporaryprimitiveman3469]

I go to the hybrid icon on the touch screen so I can monitor the gas v electric energy flow. When I’m not in traffic I do a lot of coasting and I can keep the batteries over 50%.

[@keithtrap8693]

Does your battery ever go up to full charge? Ours seems like the electric motor kicks out when it gets just below half battery charge. Vehicle is 3 months old and wondering if there is an issue with the battery. Supposedly has a 68 kilowatt battery which should run the Electric Motor for quite a ways. On the interstate when I back off it only goes about a mile before kicking in the engine. I just wish they would have engineered so I didn't have to let off the pedal all the time to get the gas mileage. Just seems redundant compared to Toyota who gets much better gas mileage driving it normally. Glad to have your input though and thanks for the video.

[@RivermanTV-]

It rarely goes to full charge in my experience. It does happen but it's infrequent. I agree with what you are saying though. My experience has been that the more miles I've driven, the better it has gotten with switching and staying in electric mode.