Tucson vs Sportage
| Hyundai Tucson<br>2024 | Kia Sportage<br>2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | £32,995 | £36,215 |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Fuel | Petrol | Hybrid |
| Engine | 1.6L 4-cylinder turbo petrol | 1.6L turbocharged petrol + electric motor (HEV) |
| Power | 150 PS (110 kW) | 215 PS (158 kW) |
| 0-60 mph | 10.3 seconds | — |
| Top speed | 117 mph | 120 mph |
| Fuel economy | 40.9 mpg (WLTP combined) | 49.6 mpg (WLTP combined) |
| CO2 | 157 g/km | — |
| Boot space | 577 litres | 587 litres |
| Length | 4,640 mm | — |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual (7-speed DCT optional) | 6-speed automatic |
| Drive | Front-wheel drive | — |
| 0-62 mph | — | 7.7 seconds |
| Fuel type | — | Hybrid (petrol) |
| CO2 emissions | — | 125 g/km |
| Warranty | — | 7 years / 100,000 miles |
| Owner rating | — | — |
This is the comparison that rewards a calculator. The Hyundai Tucson 2024 costs £32,995 with a conventional petrol engine; the Kia Sportage 2024 hybrid costs £36,215. So the question is brutally simple: is the hybrid premium of £3,220 worth paying? The answer depends entirely on how you drive, because these two are mechanical cousins wearing different badges — Hyundai and Kia share engineering the way siblings share DNA.
The Sportage hybrid's advantages are all about efficiency and pace. Its 215 PS powertrain hits 60 mph in 8.3 seconds, a full two seconds quicker than the Tucson's 150 PS petrol at 10.3 seconds — that is not subtle, it is a different driving experience. It is also far more frugal: 49.6 mpg versus 40.9 mpg, which works out at £1,063 a year in fuel for 8,000 miles against £1,289. That £226 annual fuel saving is the hybrid dividend, and it is real money. Insurance (£690 versus £664) and maintenance (£495 versus £482) slightly favour the Tucson, but not by enough to matter.
Now the maths that decides it. Over five years, the Tucson's true cost is £33,912 against the Sportage's £35,005 — the Hyundai wins by £1,093. Why? Because at 8,000 miles a year, five years of £226 fuel savings totals £1,130, which does not cover the £3,220 purchase premium plus the slightly higher insurance. Monthly costs are £565 versus £583; on 48-month finance, £751.73 versus £825.09. The hybrid only pulls ahead if you drive significantly more — at 15,000 miles a year the fuel saving roughly doubles and the equation flips in the Sportage's favour.
Buyer profiles: the Tucson suits the average-mileage family buyer who wants a big, comfortable SUV at the lowest total cost and does not want to think about hybrid complexity. The Sportage hybrid suits the high-mileage driver — the sales rep, the long commuter — who will bank that fuel saving every month and enjoy the extra pace as a bonus. The third buyer, the eco-conscious one, may choose the hybrid regardless of the maths, and that is a perfectly valid reason.
Our pick is the Hyundai Tucson for most private buyers, because at typical UK mileages the hybrid premium never pays for itself — you would be spending £3,220 to save £1,130. But if you cover 12,000 miles a year or more, switch the verdict: the Kia Sportage hybrid becomes the smarter buy, and the quicker, smoother powertrain is a genuine upgrade you will appreciate daily.
Hyundai Tucson review → Kia Sportage review →