I went in wanting a RAV4. I bought the Sportage.

I had it in my head for about a year that we were getting a RAV4 Hybrid. Everyone I asked said RAV4. Then I actually drove one, and drove the Sportage the same afternoon, and the whole thing flipped. The RAV4 was fine. Nothing wrong with it. But the wait was the killer for us — we were being quoted well into next year, and we needed something before the baby arrived. The Sportage GT-Line was available, felt more premium inside for the money, and the warranty sealed it. Six months in: the boot is genuinely bigger than I expected, the infotainment is the best I've used, and fuel use around Melbourne sits around 5.6L/100km. The one thing I'd flag is the ride is firmer than the RAV4 on rough roads — if you live somewhere with bad surfaces, drive both back to back before you decide.