After Buying Kia Sportage L, My Kids Want to Return to Haval – Owner Review

Suneel: Assalamualaikum, PakWheelers! I’m Suneel, and I’m back with another episode of our User Review series.
Today, we’re reviewing a new car: the Kia Sportage L. There have been many new launches in Pakistan lately. With me is Rizwan Bhai. We often chat on WhatsApp about upcoming cars and exchange suggestions.

So Rizwan Bhai, what make, model, and variant are we reviewing today?

Rizwan: Suneel Bhai, this is the fifth-generation Kia Sportage L Hybrid —the top-of-the-line variant.

Booking Experience

Suneel: I remember our conversation about this at the PAPS 2024. You told me you were thinking about the Sportage, and the prices were revealed that morning. I was on the motorway, and you called, saying you were rushing to book it.

Rizwan: Exactly! The day bookings opened, I was at the bank by 9 AM and got the pay order by 9:20. First, I went to a dealership, and they said they’d start bookings at 11. Then they said if I wanted the car in February (the first month), I’d have to pay Rs. 1 million, otherwise Rs. 500,000. I refused.

Then I went to the dealership you suggested. Thanks to your reference, they treated me nicely with coffee and biscuits. But they also quoted the same “ON” price. You then recommended I go to a company dealership. I went there and booked the car without any hassle, and thankfully, the car also arrived on time.

Price

Suneel: The car’s listed price is Rs. 13.1 million, right? That’s a peak price in itself. People usually add “ON” as well, but you booked it at list price.

Rizwan: Yes, but even on the first day, people showed up with cash to pay the “ON” amount. I was shocked at how desperate some buyers were.

Why This Car? Any Alternatives?

Suneel: Before this, you also owned hybrid cars. Why choose this over the competition?

Rizwan: This is actually my third hybrid. First, I had the Toyota Corolla Cross, which I sold because the rear seats were too cramped for my grown-up kids. My son is taller than me, and he couldn’t sit comfortably.

Then I bought the Haval H6 Hybrid. Drove it for over a year and was really satisfied. Only two issues bothered me:

1. It had no spare tyre, which is a problem in cities like Lahore or when visiting villages.

2. It felt too bulky, like it was looming over the road.

I liked the Sportage Hybrid because it feels more grounded and nimble. I’ve driven it around 600 km so far.

Comparison: Haval vs Sportage

Rizwan: To be honest, the Haval Hybrid was better in some aspects:

• It had multi-layered sunroof glass, so the cabin never got too hot.

• Sportage glass gets extremely hot under the sun.

• Only the driver-side window is automatic; the others are manual.

• No Head-Up Display (HUD), which I found super helpful in the Haval.

But Sportage has some great features too:

• The cockpit design is beautiful—same as Kia’s N Line.

• The 360-degree camera and blind spot camera view when turning are excellent.

• The interior color theme is arguably better than Haval’s.

• Space is about the same as Haval.

Fuel Average

Suneel: What fuel average are you getting?

Rizwan: Around 14 to 14.5 km/l within city, with AC on. I drive a bit aggressively though.

Suneel: That’s decent for a hybrid of this size.

Drive Feel

Rizwan: The pickup is good, but there’s a noticeable jerk when it switches from electric to petrol. I didn’t feel this in either the Corolla Cross or the Haval, and their transmission was super smooth.

Tech & Features

• Android Auto/Apple CarPlay: Wireless, but I haven’t used it yet.

• Wireless Charger: Present.

• Heated Steering & Seats: Available, but mostly useless in Pakistan. Ventilated seats would’ve been better.

• Sound System: Harman Kardon—excellent sound quality.

• Seat Comfort: Very comfortable.

Auto Brake System

Rizwan: The auto brake system is overly sensitive. Once, I almost got rear-ended because the system braked too hard for no apparent reason. I’ve now turned it off—Lahore roads aren’t suitable for such features.

Exterior & Looks

Suneel: How do you find the new design?

Rizwan: Haven’t driven the previous generation, but have seen it. This one looks way more modern and premium. Road presence is strong. As you say, the only old thing is the name “Kia”—everything else is new.

Missing Features

Rizwan:

• Head-Up Display is missing.

• Glass quality is subpar—UV sheets are necessary.

• Heat insulation is weak.

• For the price, they should’ve added a few more features for customer satisfaction.

Competitor Comparison

Suneel: Did you consider the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid?

Rizwan: Yes, but it’s a 7-seater, and we’re a family of five. Didn’t need extra seats. Also, “bigger isn’t always better.” I would’ve gone for a Santa Fe if that were the case. My kids now want to return to the previous brand (Haval). They think it was better.

AC Performance & Controls

Rizwan: The AC is fantastic. The dynamic control system is nice—you can toggle between touch and buttons. Cooling is excellent.

Paddle Shifters

Rizwan: Tried them once. Pretty standard—not too fancy, but gets the job done.

Registration & Insurance Costs

• Registration: Rs. 303,000

• Insurance: Rs. 184,000

Suneel: Do get insurance for such cars, as parts are expensive. You can check PakWheels’ insurance page for options. We don’t sell insurance, just provide comparisons.

Outro

That was today’s user review. Hope you enjoyed it! If you haven’t already, subscribe to our YouTube channel and click the bell icon to stay updated on future videos.

Thanks for watching. See you next time!

Suneel: Thank you, Rizwan Bhai. Much appreciated!