Kia Sportage (2017-2021) review

Out on the road, you can feel the mild hybrid’s extra engine braking as the starter motor turns into a generator and sends some of the ‘lost’ energy into the li-ion battery. Then when you approach a junction, the car switches to coast mode and kills the engine, ready to fire back up when you need it. It’s all seamless stuff, but hardly rocket science given what full hybrids and EVs are capable of these days.

The suspension is carried over lock-stock, so like the pre-facelift car it feels lighter on its feet than you’d give it credit for. But sadly that means the poor ride quality is also present again. It’s nothing serious, but when the rest of the car does a generally good job of isolating you from the world outside, the fidgeting suspension isn’t ideal.

GT-Line cars get their own specially tuned suspension and ‘athletic handling’ – in other words, they also don’t ride particularly well. Smaller wheels would help, but overall it’s not as cosseting as it should be.