2025 Kia Sportage Diesel Mild hybrid: Real-World Fuel Economy โขFalls Short of Official claims
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FRANKFURT, Germany -โข October โ24, 2025, 08:12 CET – โindependent testing reveals the โ2025 Kia Sportage dieselโ mild hybrid achieves considerably โคhigherโข fuel โconsumption in โขreal-world driving conditions than the manufacturer’s official figures suggest. Theโ discrepancy, uncovered by Auto Motor und Sport during a comprehensive โroad test,โฃ raises questions aboutโ the accuracyโ of WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light vehicle Test Procedure)โ ratings and impacts prospective โbuyers considering the fuel-efficient variant of the popular SUV. The โคfindings come as European regulators increasingly scrutinize โคthe gap between laboratoryโ tests and on-road performance,possibly leading to revised testing protocols and โขincreased pressure on automakers.
the โtest, conducted โon public โroads simulating typical driving scenarios, demonstrated an โคaverage fuel consumption โof 6.8 liters per 100 kilometersโ (41.5 โmpg) for the Sportage 1.6 CRDi mild hybrid. Thisโ contrastsโค sharply with Kia’s official WLTP โcombined figure of 5.2 liters per 100 kilometers (54.3 โคmpg). The difference is particularly pronouncedโ during highway driving, where the test vehicleโฃ consumed 7.8 liters per 100 kilometers (36.2โฃ mpg) comparedโค toโ the official 6.1 liters per 100 kilometersโ (46.3 mpg). The results affect owners and potential purchasers across Europe, where theโข Sportage is aโ key model in Kia’s lineup, and highlight the importance of independentโ verification of fuel economy claims.
Testing Methodology & Results
Auto Motor undโค Sport subjected the 2025 Kia Sportage 1.6 CRDi mild hybrid, equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, to a rigorous testing regime. The test route encompassedโค a mix of urban, rural,โ and highway driving, mirroring real-world conditions experiencedโ by โคmost drivers. Data logging โฃequipmentโค precisely measured โfuel consumption, speed, andโค other โrelevant parameters throughout โthe test.
The publication reported the following key findings:
* Average Consumption: 6.8 liters per 100 kilometers (41.5 mpg)
* โโค City Consumption: 6.2 liters per 100 โฃkilometers (38.2 mpg)
* โค Highway Consumption: 7.8 liters per 100 kilometers (36.2 mpg)
* โ Country Road โConsumption: โ 6.5โค liters per โข100 kilometers (36.3 mpg)
These โfigures represent a substantial โincrease compared to the official WLTP numbers, indicating a meaningful divergence between laboratory results and on-road performance.
Mild โคHybrid System & Performance
the 2025 Kia โSportage diesel mild hybrid utilizes aโฃ 48-volt system designed โขto assist the engineโ during acceleration andโข improve fuelโข efficiency. the system incorporates a starter-generator and a small battery, enablingโฃ features like regenerativeโ braking and extendedโข engine-off coasting.โ Despite these technologies, the Auto Motor und Sport โข test revealed limited real-world benefits in terms of fuel savings.
The vehicle’s performance was also assessed,with the โฃ1.6-liter โฃdieselโ engine producing 136 horsepower and 320 Nm of torque. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) was measured at 10.