The 5th-gen Kia Sportage L (Longwheel) looks sharp – like it’s trying too hard to be futuristic, but hey, it works. The interior? Feels premium for the price, especially the top variant with its flashy red seats and those massive 12.3-inch screens. But let’s, from our local market perspective, whether it actually delivers in Pakistan’s pothole-riddled roads and chaotic traffic. Let’s break it down by variant without sugarcoating.
Base: The base 2.0L SmartStream variant cuts corners—no front parking sensors or fog lamps – a hassle for tight parking or low visibility. The cabin has manual-adjust fabric seats (no leather), no panoramic sunroof, and an analog instrument cluster (not digital). Safety stops at two airbags – no blind-spot alerts, lane assist, or adaptive cruise control. Audio is basic, skipping the Harman Kardon system. Higher trims offer these; the base feels stripped down.
Top HEV variant: Now we’re talking about the beast trim which is the HEV one. The hybrid engine is punchy, and the tech here is loaded – paddle shifters, wireless Android Auto and CarPlay, all the collision avoidance goodies. But let’s not ignore the elephant in the room: hybrid tech in a market where fuel quality and mechanic expertise are… questionable.
Editor’s opinion: Harman Kardon tuned speakers in the top-trim are one of the best-sounding car speakers in the competition. The highs were crisp and solid, mids were perfectly balanced and the bass hits hard with deep focus on the low end frequencies.
Engine Specs
Here are the engine specs differences of all three trims:
| Trims | Base Trim | Mid-Trim | Top Trim |
| Displacement (CC) | 1999 | 1999 | 1598 |
| Transmission | 6 AT | 6 AT | 6 AT |
| Hybrid | X | X | ✓ |
| Max Power (Hp) | 154 | 154 | 227 (Combined) |
| Max Torque (Nm) | 192 | 192 | 350 (Combined) |
| Drive Modes | Normal, Eco, Smart, Sport | Normal, Eco, Smart, Sport | Eco, Smart, Sport |
Interior Features
Here are the interior differences of all three trims:
| Trims | Base Trim | Mid-Trim | Top Trim |
| Heated Seats | X | ✓ | ✓ |
| Panoramic Sunroof (One-Touch) | X | ✓ | ✓ |
| Heated Steering Wheel | X | X | ✓ |
| Wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay with Voice Recognition | X | X | ✓ |
| 8 Harman Kardon Speakers Premium Sound System | X | X | ✓ |
| Basic Digital Driver Cluster with 4.2″ Multi-Function LCD Display | ✓ | X | X |
| 8″ Color Touch Screen Infotainment | ✓ | X | X |
| 12.3″ Digital Driver Cluster + 12.3″ Touch Screen Infotainment | X | X | ✓ |
| Seat Material | Fabric / Cloth | Leather | Artificial Leather |
| Seat Color | One Tone Black | Two Tone Navy / Misty Blue | One Tone Carmine Red |
| Paddle Shifter | X | X | ✓ |
Exterior Features
Here are the exterior differences of all three trims:
| Trims | Base Trim | Mid-Trim | Top Trim |
| Wheel Size | 17″ | 18″ | 18″ |
| Panoramic Sunroof (One-Touch) | X | ✓ | ✓ |
| LED Head Lamps | LED Lamps (Multi MFR) | Dual LED Lamps (Low & High Projection) | Dual LED Lamps (Low & High Projection) |
| LED Daytime Running Lamps | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fog Lamp (Front) | X | LED MFR | LED MFR |
| Rear Combination Lamp | LED + Bulb | LED | LED |
Safety Features
Here are the safety feature differences of all three trims:
| Trims | Base Trim | Mid-Trim | Top Trim |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| PCA (Reverse Collision Avoidance Assist) | X | X | ✓ |
| LKA (Lane Keeping Assist) | X | X | ✓ |
| LFA (Lane Following Assist) | X | X | ✓ |
| FCA (Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist) | X | X | ✓ |
| BCA (Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist) | X | X | ✓ |
| BVM (Blind Spot View Monitor) | X | X | ✓ |
| HBA (High Beam Assist) | X | X | ✓ |
| DAA (Driver Attention Alert) with Lead Vehicle Departure Alert | X | X | ✓ |
| RCCA (Rear Cross Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist) | X | X | ✓ |
| SEW (Safe Exit Warning) | X | X | ✓ |
| Smart Cruise Control | X | X | ✓ |
| Rear View Monitor with Dynamic Parking Guidelines | ✓ | ✓ | X |
| Parking Sensors (Front & Rear) | X | X | ✓ |
| SVM (Surround View Monitor) | X | X | ✓ |
| Driver & Front Passenger SRS Airbags | 2 | 6 | 6 |
Let us know what you think about this comparison and which one you will buy.
