Vehicle purchase inquiry

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2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid X-Line AWD? Hey everyone — I’m pretty close to pulling the trigger on a **2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid X-Line AWD**, but before I do, I’d love to sanity-check my decision and make sure I’m not overlooking a better option in the same price/size range. I’ve been test-driving a bunch lately. I went to a **Balise Toyota** yesterday and tried out: * **RAV4 Hybrid XLE** * **Tacoma** * **RAV4 Prime SE** Honestly, I was disappointed by Toyota’s **driver-assist systems**. The RAV4 Hybrid didn’t seem to keep the car centered — it would drift or just not engage properly. The Tacoma worked a little better (it lit green when active), but still felt rough and not especially confidence-inspiring. By comparison, I test-drove the **Sportage Hybrid**, and its **adaptive cruise + lane-centering** felt *way* smoother and more natural. It tracked well and felt almost on par with more expensive systems. The only downside was it randomly cut out once mid-drive, which was a bit sketchy — but otherwise, I was impressed. For reference, I also drove the **CR-V Hybrid**, and while I liked a lot about it (interior comfort, driving feel, general refinement), its lane-centering had that annoying “ping-pong” behavior people talk about — constantly bouncing between the lane lines instead of holding steady. What I’m looking for: * Smooth, trustworthy, excellent **adaptive cruise + lane-centering** * Comfortable, quiet ride * Reliable long-term ownership (low hassle, low cost) * Good fuel economy (mid/high 30s mpg or better) * Roof rails strong enough for occasional **4×8 plywood** carrying (I do some woodwoorking) * Ideally under **$40K out-the-door,** but could go a bit higher if needed Here’s the **Sportage Hybrid X-Line AWD** quote I got from **Tasca Kia (Johnston, RI):** * MSRP: $37,135 * Dealer add-on (“Triton Ceramic”): $1,595 * Taxes/fees: \~$3,200 * Trade-in: $4,800 for my 2011 Prius * Final OTD: \~$37,128 * APR: 0.9%, 1.9%, or 3.9% (48/60/72 mo) https://preview.redd.it/60rb8xctp90g1.jpg?width=2799&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3ad0856322e0c5c89fd4e0b8bc90889d6d4482e7 The Sportage checks most boxes for me — it’s comfortable, efficient, and tech feels refined — but I’m slightly hesitant about **long-term reliability** and **resale** versus something like a RAV4 or CR-V. I don't like the combined menu/hvac controls but seems like I could probably learn to live with it. Given all that, is there anything else I should be seriously considering before committing to the Sportage Hybrid X-Line? Eg also considering Sportage SX Prestige... Would love to hear what others think, about anything above, Kia’s hybrid reliability lately, and/or whether that dealer quote looks fair. Misc other context; I'm in RI. Prob finance. Bought one car ever before, which is the 2011 Prius with \~67k miles on it. Thanks!