In the world of car buying these days, it’s not just about what brand and vehicle you want, but about what type of powertrain you want to get.

Some buyers are fully committed to EVS, others are “ICE only” types, and in the middle are a couple of options that make a lot of sense in today’s climate — full hybrid options, and plug-in hybrid options.

A full hybrid, offering a gas engine but much better fuel economy and longer trips between gas station visits, is perhaps the smartest choice right now, until infrastructure and pricing catches up to allow for mass EV adoption.

I recently tested the 2026 Kia Sportage hybrid, a compact SUV, and I’m back with a full review on how it holds up in this highly competitive segment — battling against hybrid offerings from Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Ford and others.